WATCH: Isaiah Moore Talks About What it Means for Him to be NC State’s Linebackers Coach for the Military Bowl

When Tony Gibson took the head coaching job at Marshall on Sunday, it left two voids. There was a need for a Defensive Coordinator and a Linebackers Coach. Former NC State Linebacker Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, who has been coaching the Nickels for the Wolfpack since 2020, is serving as the Interim Defensive Coordinator. Former NC State Linebacker Isaiah Moore is stepping in as the Interim Linebackers Coach.

Moore met with the media after Bowl Practice yesterday to give his thoughts on the opportunity, and what it means to him.

You can watch the video ABOVE, and read the transcript BELOW.

Hearing the word coach, is it still something that you’re getting adjusted to?

Yes, it’s different.

I had that same experience across the street at Cardinal Gibbons, sharing my expertise with all the coaches and players. So I got to hear Coach Moore a little bit there, but no, it’s a privilege, man. I thank Coach Doeren and Coach Freddie for giving me the opportunity and trusting me with the group.

I can’t wait to do get on the grass with these boys, and do what we do.

How has your time at NC State, both success and some injuries, how has that helped prepare you for your role?

Yeah, I think playing the position and being at the MIKE Linebacker in this defense, being able to call it, see it, kind of being an on the field coach for the guys prepared me a lot to be verbal and vocalize what I wanted, that it would be clear, concise, and give them the exact direction of what they need to do.

So my experience there has helped me a lot, with the injuries and stuff like that that I’ve been through. It’s just stuff that I can pass on to these young guys. I’ve had to deal with a lot in my life and in my time here.

If I can prevent some of those things from happening to guys coming after me, any guys in this room, that’s all I want to do.

How much does it help that you were Devon Betty, where you’re the veteran, and you’ve been to every practice for four or five years. But then at one point, you’re also the Cannon Lewis, who is still learning his craft. How do you kind of impart where obviously the veteran is in one position and younger guys are learning?

The biggest thing, just follow the vets. The vets, they know what to do and they know what not to do as well. So basically, I tell my young guys to watch the people in front of you.

Yu can be a great mimicker or you can be a great learner. From watching, you can be a great learner in every other aspect as well.

How do you view this opportunity? Is it kind of a thing that gets your feet wet in coaching? Or is it kind of an audition maybe for a role like this?

It could be both.

But I mean, this opportunity for me, it’s not about me. It’s about getting these guys being the best that they can be on December 28th when we play ECU, and then if it turns into something further, it will.

But my entire focus is on putting all my energy and getting these guys to play the best football they can.

Getting a taste of Cardinal Gibbons football is different at that level in terms of, you know, just you’re not dealing with NIL. You’re not dealing with some of the other stuff. You’re getting a taste of what it’s like at this level. Do you have a preference moving forward, what level you’d like to be at?

Not really a preference. I just want to coach ball.

And wherever grass is and football is, that’s where I want to be. So that’s my whole thing. I know coaching at Gibbons helped me a lot. That is a lower level than where we are here.

So you have to be very clear and very concise and very exact, in what you want from your players. I think that’s helped me translate that here with our guys right now.

What was it like for you when you found out that this was an opportunity you were getting?

I don’t take it for granted, at all.

It’s a big responsibility. I do feel ready for it. Not to get overly emotional about it, but it definitely means a lot to me. What better opportunity to be able to coach at your university, the position you played, under the coach you played for? It’s like a storybook.

Dave mentioned that he likes to give former players an opportunity, for the reason you just mentioned. How unique of an opportunity is it to coach somewhere where you have all of those things that you just listed out?

It’s extremely unique. Like Coach Thunder, we have a lot of former players working in the building. It just speaks to what kind of family we have at NC State, right? Guys want to come back, guys want to work, they want to give back to the program.

I think that speaks volumes to the culture that we have here not only on the football team, but across the campus as well. You always see alumni coming back, whether it’s giving money, volunteering their time, or speaking, they’re always trying to pour it back into the kids here. That just speaks to what a great community we have at NC State.

At the beginning of the season, you were working with recruiting and then you’ve been on the sideline all season with the headset on. What’s your role been like, for this whole season? How has it developed?

I worked in recruiting for a little bit, but as soon as that ball hit the field, I needed to be on the grass. So I said, whatever you need, Coach Gibson, when he was here, whatever you need from me on the grass, just allow me to be out there.

They had no problem doing that, and it’s just been transitioning. I’ve worked alongside Coach Gibson on the sideline.

I’ve worked alongside Coach Freddie on the sideline. It’s just been a natural transition, not immediate, but I’ve been dropping notes, saying ‘Hey, man, I can be on the field for you if you need me to be.’

I’ve just been doing that. It’s been good.

Did you talk much with Grayson McCall after his transition, since you kind of have a similar background in terms of being around the same age?

Yeah, I just told him to take as much time as he needs to process.

Dealing with my situation, when I had to stop playing football, it was definitely tough mentally. Grayson is a super strong kid, super, super mentally strong, but for anybody when your football life ends, it’s very emotional and it can be very traumatic in that sense.

So to take as much time as he needs and whatever he needs to do, whoever he needs to talk to, I’m always, always here for him.

You’re in a new role. What’s it like seeing Coach Freddie be able to lead the defense as the coordinator for the Bowl?

I’m excited, man, super excited.

Coach Freddie has always been a very vocal guy around our defense, and I know all the guys on the team trust him and believe in him, and we as coaching staff believe in him as well. He’s going to do a great job. He’s already done a great job throughout his time here.

Now that’s elevated, he’s only going to continue to elevate our team.

How would you describe his coaching style?

It’s very him, I would say. Coach Freddie’s not a super loud guy.

He’s not like a super outwardly spoken guy all the time. He kind of plays the role that he’s in, and now he’s in an elevated role. Now you’re seeing him speak out more and direct the entire defense, not just his position group.

But  we would always hear Coach Freddie on the field talking to his nickels, and now we hear him talk to the whole defense, which is a great sight to see.

Between your coaching staff & strength and conditioning staff, who has the most tackles?

I think Coach Thunder is second all time, right? I think Coach Thunder has it.

I don’t know, me and Freddie combined might, but it’s close, though.

Your perspective on football, how’s it changed since you became a coach? How much has your knowledge of the game has grown since you made this transition?

I think for me, I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned, at least over the past year, is that this game can be taken away from you at any given moment for a variety of reasons, and that it is truly a gift anytime you step on the field and are around football.

That’s my biggest point to these guys, that every moment we step on grass is a gift. Don’t take it for granted, because when that life ends, when your football life ends, you’ll miss those times where you got to suit up with that helmet on, and be out there with your guys, so don’t have any regrets.

Knowledge of the game?

I said I ran this defense for four or five years, playing the MIKE position.

I had my opportunity with the Chiefs, learned a great deal from them, and that’s been able to help me transition back. I’ve played the four down. I’ve played the three down. All that factors into why I feel like I can get these guys ready to go.