Michigan Native Maxine Moore Tabbed As Assistant Women's Basketball Coach At Ferris State

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball program, which has reached the NCAA Division II Tournament four of the last five years, has landed a new full-time assistant coach as Maxine Moore has officially joined head coach Kurt Westendorp's staff.

Moore, who most recently has served as the video coordinator for the past year at NCAA Division I Oakland University, will fill the role previously held by Bulldog alum Mallory McCartney, who departed for another career opportunity.

"I'm thrilled to have Maxine joining our Bulldog family," said Westendorp. "I've had the opportunity to coach against Maxine as a player and follow her journey into the coaching profession. She brings great experience from her time as a NCAA Division I student-athlete and staff member as well as time in the GLIAC, having competed at Wayne State for her final two playing seasons. 

"Maxine brings a passion for the game and the student athletes that will have a big impact on our program," he added.

Moore was heavily involved in the Oakland University program this past year as the video coordinator, which followed two seasons on the staff as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Michigan from 2023-25. In her time at the Division I level, she's assistant with recruiting, coaching, skill development, scouting and video analysis among her other roles.

Prior to her time at Michigan, Moore served as the head coach of the Michigan Storm Elite AAU team in 2023 and was a lead coach at the Detroit Pistons Academy where she managed and trained youth summer camp coaching staff in addition to leading daily camp drills and competitions along with being a mentor for youth athletes.

"I'm honored to join Coach Kurt Westendorp's staff and contribute to the championship culture of Ferris State Women's Basketball," said Moore. "I'm excited to develop and mentor our student-athletes on and off the court while helping recruit future Bulldogs who align with the program's standards and values. I am grateful for the opportunity and ready to get to work."

Moore was selected as a participant for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program in the class of 2023 where she was chosen to attend the prestigious coaching development program at the Division I Women's Final Four. She also served as a color commentator for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball State Championships in 2023.

Additionally, Moore was an intern for the NBA's New York Knicks in 2018, assisting the general manager with daily team operations. She also performed an internship with Herta Communications and Marketing.

As a collegiate student-athlete, Moore played on the NCAA D1 level at both Western Michigan and Detroit Mercy before closing out her career at fellow GLIAC member Wayne State. She played in 55 games over two seasons with the Warriors while making 27 starts. Moore was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team and was a 2023 recipient of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award in addition to being a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District choice.

Moore served as a team captain at both Detroit Mercy and Wayne State and was also a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member on the college level. She was named to the Horizon League Captains Council in 2020 and served on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group. The standout student-athlete also was a National Society of Leadership and Success member along with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Before her collegiate career, Moore was a four-year starter on the prep level at Detroit Country Day High School, leading the Yellowjackets to a 95-11 mark and three state championships. She was an all-state selection as a senior and tabbed as a top 20 player in the state.

Moore earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies from Wayne State in 2023 and a master's in sports management at Michigan in 2025.

This past season, the Bulldogs reached the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fourth time in five years under Westendorp's direction. FSU concluded the year with a school-record tying 26 wins. The Bulldogs also reached the NCAA D2 National Semifinals two seasons ago.