Porter Moser: 5 Things To Know About The Naperville Native

NAPERVILLE, IL — As the Loyola Ramblers head into their first Final Four tournament since 1963, we take a moment to get to know a little bit more about the man behind the plaid suit jacket: head coach Porter Moser (who wasn't even born when Loyola clinched its last national title).

1. Moser grew up in Naperville and played basketball in Lisle.

Loyola Head Coach Porter Moser was born in Naperville in 1968 and spent his childhood there. His passion for basketball took root in high school when he played at Benet Academy in Lisle. During Moser's time playing at Benet Academy he won multiple West Suburban Catholic Conference titles and was named most valuable player his senior year.

2. You can thank Moser's dad for the Naperville Riverwalk

The Loyola coach's father, Jim Moser, is credited as one of the two founders of the Naperville Riverwalk after helping to raise funds for the initial project and working on its design. The elder Moser was also instrumental in creating the DuPage Children's Museum and Safety Town as we know it today.

3. It might be time for a raise.

Moser, who started coaching at Loyola in 2011, had his contract extended until the 2021-22 season. He currently makes around $420,000 a year, according to the Sun-Times. Moser is known for raving about how much he loves Chicago, but some fans worry he could get snatched up by another school (and land a more lucrative contract) after his new-found popularity.

4. Moser once worked for —and was fired by— the athletic director for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Before taking the job as Loyola's head coach, Moser worked at St. Louis University and at Illinois State. Moser was head coach at Illinois State for four seasons until he was fired in 2007 by then-athletic director Sheahon Zenger. If that name seems familiar, it's because Zenger now works as athletic director for the Kansas Jayhawks — the team Loyola could be up against if both teams make it to the National Championship.

5. He has a special good luck charm.

Moser, whose father passed away in 1998, is known to keep a photo of his dad in the breast pocket of his jacket when he coaches. At the start of Moser's head coaching career at University of Arkansas Little Rock, he kept his dad's photo in his pocket during games. When he moved on to coach at Illinois State, Moser retained the tradition of keeping his father's photo in his pocket during basketball games.

Moser will lead Loyola as they take on Michigan at the semi-finals Saturday, March 31, in San Antonio. Tune in to TBS to watch the game live and subscribe to Patch emails to get Loyola news as it breaks.

More Loyola Coverage on Patch:

• Loyola Beats Nevada: Ramblers Soar Into Elite Eight
• When Sister Jean Met Mariah: Watch The Sweet 16 Sweethearts Chat
• Loyola's Sister Jean Gets Push To Go On 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'
• Loyola's Bus Gets Lost Going To Arena? That's March Madness
• From a YMCA Kid to the Sweet Sixteen

>>>Image credit: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox/Staff