Like Father, Like Son: Kori Moates

It is not at all uncommon in a small town to have a star athlete either stick around after graduation or come back and make a lasting name for themselves as a coach, parent, or both. That is the case at Woodruff, who features a father-son duo that goes back to the father’s days in high school.

Amos Moates – now an assistant on Head Coach Brett Sloan’s staff, has been doing so since 2023. But, before that, he played Wide Receiver for the Wolverines from 2006-2009, getting the news that would change his life as just a sophomore in high school. What was that life-altering news? He was going to be a father.

Fast forward to today, and his son, Kori, is following in his dad’s footsteps, excelling as a senior wideout that proudly dons the maroon and gold. But, with the cool added bonus that he gets to be coached by his father.

“The biggest influence on my life is by far my dad”, said Kori. “He has always made sure that I am confident in everything that I do, and that is something I carry into everything I do in my everyday life. I am close to my dad, with him having coached me all my life. We have a bond that is so strong that we are more like best friends. I know I can come to him about anything, and that relationship has been built around our mutual love for and involvement in sports.”

Kori’s love for sports goes back to when he was just a toddler, forming some of his first core memories sitting in the stands watching his dad play. It is safe to say that he was destined to be a star athlete, playing both football and basketball at WHS.

“I started getting into sports and playing them, I believe, when I was three years old,” said Kori. “My parents have told me stories of how when I was little, it seemed like I was always holding a football in my hand. I love playing football more than basketball. It just comes naturally. Balancing 2 sports with schoolwork and life is tough, but I manage it knowing that without good grades, I will not be successful in life. So my grades always come first.”

The bond between father and son is not the only familial influence that has helped shape Kori into the outstanding young man that he is. He is a hard-working individual – which is a trait he considers his best. It has helped motivate him to set a good example for his brothers and aspire to do the same when he has children some day.

“I am driven and motivated by waking up every morning knowing that I have 2 younger brothers that look up to me in each and every thing I do. My family and I have a great relationship and have each other’s back. We are supportive and they motivate me to work hard – just like my parents did for me. Mom and dad worked so hard to ensure I was happy growing up, and seeing them thrive for me and my brothers is an eye opener that makes me want to be like that for my future family”, he said.

Having grown up as a legacy of a Woodruff star, Kori has embraced where he grew up and has built his own name, even taking comfort in the mundane things many do not enjoy.

“I enjoy Woodruff. I have made some of the best memories of my life playing for them such as beating Clinton for the first time in a while when I was a junior last year and having a 99 yard touchdown against Emerald when I was a freshman. The best thing about it is the community and the love that people in town have for one another. It is a place that has taught me to always do the right thing no matter what” said Moates. “I enjoy the every day routine – the structure – of being a student athlete. You get up, go to school, go to practice, and then go back home. It is oddly addictive when the experiences are the same and you can just do what you are supposed to.”

As his senior season runs down to the final 3 weeks of the regular season, Kori reflected on a piece of wisdom that he has taken from Coach Sloan over the last 3 years and would share with any young athlete that might be reading this.

“Football will always be there, but we will not. We have to have something else to do when the time for us to play the game has passed us by”, said Moates. “You always have to have a plan for everything in life. Have a dream and chase it, not letting anybody tell you not to. That is your dream and what you love to do, so go and do it without giving up. But, never lose sight of what is the most important thing.”

Fortunately for Moates, he has a plan and a path to make it happen for his days beyond football, which he hopes will continue at the next level.

“After my football career, I want to go to college and major in business”, said Moates, who currently has just one college offer from UNC Pembroke. “God willing, I will get more offers, but I plan on being a financial manager.”

As far as the present goes, Kori’s plan is to make an impact on the field in one of the biggest games of his career this Friday night. You can see Kori and his dad’s relationship exemplified at historic Willie Varner Stadium as the Wolverines (6-1, 1-0) host the Mountain View Prep Stars (7-0, 2-0) with a shot to put themselves in the driver’s seat for the region 3-3A championship. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.