Nathan Moran, a Lipscomb University and Battle Ground Academy graduate, became the 11th head coach in Trevecca Nazarene University men’s basketball history prior to the 2025-26 season. Moran spent two seasons as an assistant coach under Kevin Carroll, including the 2024-25 season as associate head coach, helping guide a dramatic turnaround of the Trojan program.
Working alongside Carroll, Moran helped Trevecca produce its highest two-year win total in its NCAA Division II era with a 35-23 overall record and a 25-17 mark in conference play. The previous six seasons produced a combined 37-127 overall record and a 23-95 conference mark.
TREVECCA HEAD COACH
2025-26: FIRST SEASON SUCCESS
In his first season as head coach, Moran guided Trevecca to an 18-10 overall record and a 13-9 mark in the Gulf South Conference, tying for fifth place after the Trojans were picked eighth in the preseason coaches’ poll. Trevecca advanced to the conference tournament quarterfinals for the third consecutive season, while Moran recorded the second-most victories by a first-year head coach in program history.
The Trojans featured one of the nation’s top freshman classes. Fred Bailey was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year and earned All-GSC Third Team honors after receiving six GSC Freshman of the Week awards, the most by any player during the season. Fellow freshman Jax Abernathy earned All-GSC Third Team honors and collected three GSC Freshman of the Week awards, while Jeremy Jackson Jr. added another weekly honor, giving Trevecca 10 GSC Freshman of the Week selections during the season.
Trevecca finished No. 3 in the Gulf South Conference in scoring offense and turnover margin, No. 4 in 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goal percentage defense, and No. 5 in scoring margin, field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense and defensive rebounds.
The Trojans also rewrote portions of the program record book. Trevecca established a school record by shooting 71.4 percent from the field, making 35-of-49 attempts in a 98-75 victory at Tusculum. The performance surpassed the previous record of 69.4 percent set against Delta State during the 2024-25 season.
Trevecca broke the program’s single-game rebounding record with 57 rebounds against Valdosta State, surpassing the mark of 55 set earlier in the season against Oakwood. The Oakwood performance had broken the previous record of 54 rebounds established against Shorter during the 2015-16 season.
Brett Wright tied the Trevecca single-game record with nine 3-point field goals against Union, matching the mark previously set by Jacob Williams and Evan Ragsdale.
Moran’s first Trojan team also produced several historic victories. Trevecca earned its first road win at Alabama Huntsville since Dec. 14, 1984, and became the first team since 2012 to defeat Valdosta State by at least 30 points with a 107-71 victory. The Trojans also set the program record for field goal percentage at Tusculum and remained in contention to host a Gulf South Conference Tournament game until the final week of the regular season.
TREVECCA 2023-25: ASSISTANT COACH
Moran served two seasons as an assistant coach under Carroll, helping guide the Trojans through one of the most successful two-year stretches in the program’s NCAA Division II era. Trevecca compiled a 35-23 overall record and a 25-17 conference mark while advancing to the postseason in both seasons.
The Trojans established consecutive NCAA Division II-era records for victories in a season, winning 16 games in 2023-24 and 19 in 2024-25.
In 2023-24, Trevecca finished 16-13 overall and 11-9 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference after being picked 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Trojans improved by 14 overall victories and 10 conference wins from the previous season.
Trevecca appeared in the D2CSC Midwest Region Poll for nine weeks, received votes in the NCAA Division II Top 25 for the first time in a decade and produced the highest-scoring offense in the program’s NCAA Division II era at 78.8 points per game.
In 2024-25, Moran was promoted to associate head coach as Trevecca transitioned to the Gulf South Conference and the NCAA Division II South Region. The Trojans again exceeded preseason expectations, finishing 19-10 overall and 14-8 in conference play. Trevecca placed fourth in the GSC after being picked 10th in the preseason coaches’ poll.
The Trojans spent 12 consecutive weeks in the D2CCA South Region rankings and earned the program’s first home conference tournament game of its NCAA Division II era. Trevecca led the Gulf South Conference in assists and blocks per game, ranked No. 16 nationally in fast-break scoring and established multiple NCAA Division II-era program records, including season 3-point field goals made (273), assists (29), field goals made (42), field goal percentage (69.4 percent) and blocks (13).
BEFORE TREVECCA
MISSOURI WESTERN
Moran began his coaching career during the 2019-20 season as a graduate assistant at Missouri Western State University, serving on the staff of Sundance Wicks.
Moran helped Missouri Western earn its most victories in more than a decade, its first winning season in 10 years and its most conference wins in 18 years. He coached All-MIAA First Team selection Tyrell Carroll and honorable mention selections Tyus Milhollin and Will Eames.
Wicks later led Wisconsin Green Bay through one of the most significant program turnarounds in NCAA history before taking over the Wyoming program.
LEE UNIVERSITY
Moran’s next stop was with coach Bubba Smith at Lee University. As a top assistant, Moran helped the Flames earn a Top 25 ranking and the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory.
He also coached Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Year Quay Kennedy and All-GSC Second Team selection Beyuan Hendricks.
COPLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Moran earned his first head coaching opportunity at Copley High School in Copley Township, Ohio. He guided Copley, the alma mater of his wife, Brooke, through a season of transition that included an upset of No. 13 seed Berea Midpark in the opening round of the state tournament.
ON THE COURT
LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY
Moran played collegiately for Casey Alexander at Lipscomb University. Alexander awarded Moran a scholarship after one season as a walk-on.
Moran scored 1,140 career points, recorded 405 assists, collected 258 rebounds and added 110 steals. He shot 85.4 percent from the free-throw line and 37 percent from 3-point range. His teammates selected him as a team captain during his junior season.
Moran helped Lipscomb produce three consecutive 20-win seasons during his four-year career. The Bison won the 2018 ASUN Tournament championship and advanced to the program’s first NCAA Tournament. Lipscomb also recorded its first victory over a nationally ranked opponent.
In 2019, Lipscomb won the ASUN regular-season championship and advanced to the NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden. Moran was part of a senior class that produced the most victories in a season during Lipscomb’s NCAA Division I era.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and entrepreneurship.
BATTLE GROUND ACADEMY
Moran played at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, where he helped the Wildcats win the 2014 TSSAA state championship. He was named the championship game’s most valuable player after scoring 17 points.
As a senior, Moran led BGA to a 31-3 record while averaging 18.3 points and 4.8 assists per game.
PERSONAL
Moran’s wife, Brooke, is a Lipscomb University graduate and was a four-year starter for the Bison women’s soccer program. They have two children, Roman and Remi.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DAN BOONE SAID:
“In looking for a coach, we prioritize our mission of shaping young men to be Christian, Scholar, Athlete. Nate Moran is a leader who embodies these values. He brings passion and energy to the team. We have embraced Nate as a member of the Trevecca community and are glad he is our head coach.”
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MARK ELLIOTT SAID:
“There is an energy in the building whenever Nate is in it. He brings confidence and humility to our program,” Elliott said. “His superpower is forming a connection with our players. Nate brings his own style of leadership and coaching, developed from playing and coaching under successful coaches. He has fully bought into our athletic department’s philosophy of Christian, Scholar, Athlete.”
KEVIN CARROLL SAID:
Carroll knew he was hiring his potential successor when he added Moran to Trevecca’s staff ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“Nate has an infectious personality and coaches with the same passion he displayed on the court,” Carroll said. “He has also proven himself to be a phenomenal recruiter, tactician and developer of young men.”
NATE MORAN SAID:
ON HIS EXPERIENCE WITH DAN AND DENISE BOONE AT TREVECCA
“Since joining Trevecca, it’s been clear no other athletic program receives the kind of support from its president the way we do. Dan Boone, his wife, Denise, and their family are consistently present at games and invested in relationships beyond the court,” Moran said. “That kind of commitment makes Trevecca truly special.”
ON BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP CULTURE FOCUSED ON PERSONAL AND ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
“We are committed to establishing a championship culture that emphasizes both personal and athletic development,” Moran said. “Our mission is to guide our student-athletes toward success in every avenue of life they pursue.”
TO TREVECCA ALUMNI
“To the past and present players and the Trevecca community, I can’t express how grateful I am,” Moran said. “We are working to build a team that not only performs on the court but also inspires others through our values and community impact.”
ON HIS WIFE, BROOKE
“I want to thank my wife, Brooke. She has stood by my side through every high and low and has been my rock,” Moran said. “Her Christ-centered focus constantly reminds me that God is in control. Being a coach’s wife isn’t easy, but she makes it look effortless. This wouldn’t be possible without her commitment to our family and this calling.”
ON KEVIN CARROLL
“Thank you to Coach Carroll for giving me the opportunity,” Moran said. “Kevin taught me an incredible amount about the game of basketball. While my understanding of the game has grown tremendously under his leadership, he has taught me even more about being a better man, husband and father. Most importantly, I’ve gained a best friend.”
ON MARK ELLIOTT AND TREVECCA’S ADMINISTRATION
“I want to thank Mark Elliott for the opportunity. I’ve come to know Mark not only as a great athletic director but as a friend and mentor in Christ,” Moran said. “Working alongside a man of such integrity is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I’m incredibly thankful.”
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