Sacred Heart Athletic Director in 19^th Season

Not many grade school athletes receive letters from university athletic directors for athletic accomplishments. Louisvillian Donna Moir was another story.

From an early age, Moir was called to athletics. Now, she is athletic director and head basketball coach for Sacred Heart Academy. When she discusses SHA athletics, she speaks with the same passion as she did when she attended and played basketball for the school.

“I get pumped up every time I turn into the school parking lot,” said Moir. “I work every day with a driven staff and students, and we have had a lot of success along the way.”

Moir has admired athletes since she was young. Her father, Robert Bender, played football at the University of Louisville and is now part of St. Xavier and University of Louisville’s Hall of Fame.  Her mother was an athlete as well and attended Mercy Academy.

“My parents presented us with opportunities, and we had a basketball court in the backyard growing up where all the neighbors would come play,” said Moir. “I played a lot with my brother, Bob.”

She played basketball during grade school at St. Margaret Mary, all the way through a scholarship career at the University of Cincinnati. She reflected on a city championship from her 7^th grade year at St. Margaret Mary, and the fact that she always had her eyes on one specific high school to attend.

“I always wanted to go to SHA. They had a lot of good coaches,” said Moir. “I followed SHA in the newspapers, and I remember the first day at SHA. My mom introduced me to Bunny (Dougherty), and said, ‘Donna’s going to play basketball for you’.”

Moir, who was a basketball standout for the Valkyries, thinks of Coach Dougherty in the highest regard and says that Dougherty had very high expectations for her players to win. When she looks back to her favorite memories as a player, Moir said she remembers the championships.

“Winning the state basketball championship in ’76. Bellarmine sold out and we beat Butler, that was a great memory,” recalled Moir.

As an AD and coach, her favorite memories are still championships.  “2004 was our best year all around when we won five championships in sports,” said Moir. “It was a unique class. As an AD, it’s great to see athletes from different sports going to different sporting events and cheering for one another. At SHA, students think ‘Championships or bust. We want a banner. We want a ring.’ The expectations are so high.”

This is Moir’s 19^th year as the SHA basketball coach, and she has seen women’s athletics and women’s facilities improve year after year. She says that’s an exciting element in itself.

“I left SHA in 1979 and went to play (basketball and golf) for Cincinnati, and I remember the importance of Title IX coming into play,” said Moir. “It’s so great to see where woman have come from in terms of transportation, equipment and scholarships. Now, more than ever, female athletes have so many resources at their disposal.”

Moir explained that she has seen athletic development improve dramatically at SHA. With that said, the amount of athletes, coaches and scholarship offers continue to be an impressive discussion for SHA.

“Every year it seems something bigger comes up,” said Moir. “Last year, 608 out of 825 students participated in sports, and right now, we have 55 coaches on staff. In 2010, we had 17 girls that signed with Division I Schools.”

Moir added that she loves her job and SHA, and that she has been blessed both professionally and personally. She is married to Rick Moir, and they have four children – all of whom are active in sports themselves. Michael is a junior baseball player at Transylvania, Megan is a sophomore golfer at University of Kentucky, Mackenzie is a senior golfer at SHA, and Megan attends St. Margaret Mary where she excels in golf as well. Moir said she works to teach her kids a positive message when it comes to sports.

“You have to surround yourself with good people and stay positive. You have to have faith in your kids and support them always. My dad always had the right thing to say when things were not going well. I try to do that too,” said Moir.

But Moir’s family goes beyond the four people she goes home to at the end of the day. It extends to hundreds of athletes that she has the pleasure of watching grow right in front of her eyes.

Said Moir: “I love that I get to spend time with my athletes, and follow their careers after high school. That’s one of my favorite parts of the job.  I don’t do it for the money. I get to go on trips and car rides to games, and watch the kids grow up. At SHA, you play for the legacy left before you. We always dream big. You keep thinking about the next year. There’s no time to rest on your laurels.”