Dr. AJ Moore has been named NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at Rider University. Moore takes over for Dr. Kelly Bidle, who began her appointment as dean of Rider's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on July 1. Moore, who's served at Rider for the past 13 years, is an Associate Professor of Sports Media and the Director of Internships for the Communications and Journalism Department.
An NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative is a member of the faculty designated by the University to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletics department, and also as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. The role of the FAR is: "...to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics."
"It is an honor to be able to take on the position of FAR at Rider University because I have seen over my 13 years at the school how well academics and athletics can be intertwined together to help create valuable learning experiences for our student-athletes," said Moore. "A balance can be struck between successful academics and athletics and I see it first hand on a daily basis. The ability to combine academics and athletics so well at the Division I level is a bi-product of our athletic department, student-athletes and the previous FAR, Dr. Kelly Bidle. I'm excited to continue and follow through all the hard work and effort Dr. Bidle has done for our student-athletes in and out of the classroom."
The creator of the Rider University BRONCast Sports Media Academy for high school students, Moore is a sports journalist who has written for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, Sporting News, YESNetwork and Basketball Times Magazine. He is a member of the United States Basketball Writers Association and a former varsity high school basketball coach in the Philadelphia region. He currently coaches travel basketball programs in Mercer County. Moore is Rider's fifth FAR, following Bidle, Dr. Jonathan Husch, Dr. Joseph Gowaskie, and Mr. Alan Sumutka.
"Serving as the FAR over the past eight years has been a true pleasure," said Bidle. "While I will miss working with our student-athletes and coaches on a daily basis, I know they are in good hands with Dr. Moore, as he recognizes the importance and value that athletics brings to the university."
Bidle oversaw tremendous academic growth within Rider's athletic department, culminating in a Spring 2019 semester in which 18 of Rider's 20 athletic teams posted a grade-point average of 3.0 or better. Rider had 154 varsity athletes from 19 teams named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll for having a 3.2 or better grade point average. Rider's 20th sport, wrestling, had three of its athletes honored on the national level as members of the All-Academic team. Several Rider athletic teams were also honored by their sports' coaches associations for academic success.
"Dr. Bidle was an invaluable resource to our coaches and student-athletes during her tenure as our FAR," said Greg Busch, Rider's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Internal Operations. "Her passion for the position and her dedication to our department will sorely be missed. That said, we're excited for Dr. Moore to take over this responsibility and are confident his personal and professional experiences with athletics and with our student-athletes and coaches in particular will make him a worthy successor to Dr. Bidle."
