MADISON, Wis. – Former Wisconsin player and assistant coach Howard Moore received a standing ovation in his first public appearance at the Kohl Center since a 2019 car crash that killed his wife and daughter and left him with serious injuries.
Wisconsin honored Moore's family during a ceremony before the Badgers' game Saturday afternoon against No. 13 Illinois. Moore made a surprise appearance when former teammate Rashard Griffith carried him to midcourt after a tribute video aired on the scoreboard.
A moment we have been waiting for almost five years…
Welcome home, Howard Moore ❤️pic.twitter.com/JEV6j5ieDX
– Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) March 2, 2024
During a halftime ceremony, Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh said the school's men's basketball offices will be renamed the Howard Moore family basketball offices.
“Howard Moore represents the best of what it means to be a Badger,” McIntosh said. “His love for this university runs deep and his impact on this program is immeasurable and deserves to be commemorated.”
After being carried to midcourt during the pregame ceremony, Moore was joined by former teammates Michael Finley, Chris Conger, Shawn Carlin and Tracy Webster. Moore was surrounded by the current Wisconsin team to take a photo in front of one of the baskets.
Moore was working as an assistant on Wisconsin coach Greg Gard's staff when his family was involved in a car crash in May 2019 in Washtenaw County, Michigan, that killed his wife, Jennifer, and their 9-year-old daughter. , Jaidyn.
Authorities said a 23-year-old woman was driving west in the eastbound lanes of the Detroit-area freeway when she crashed head-on into the car carrying the Moore family. The woman was also murdered.
Moore suffered severe burns from the accident and later suffered a heart attack during his recovery. Moore was transferred to a long-term care and rehabilitation facility.
Moore's son, Jerell, was 13 years old when he was injured in the car accident. He spoke to the Kohl Center crowd at halftime while accompanied by Moore's brother and parents.
“I would just like to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you all,” Jerell Moore said. “You have made this journey for me and my family so much easier and so much more powerful for us to move forward.”
Howard Moore played for Wisconsin from 1993 to 1995 and was an assistant coach with the Badgers from 2006 to 2010 and 2016 to 2019. Moore was also the head coach of Illinois-Chicago from 2010 to 2015.
Wisconsin warmed up Saturday with T-shirts that read “Be Moore. Be Moore 4 Moore” and included the number 34 that Moore wore during his playing days.
