Arthur Moreira Named Head Coach of Vandal Women’s Basketball

MOSCOW, Idaho – Arthur Moreira has been named the University of Idaho's head women's basketball coach, Director of Athletics Terry Gawlik announced Monday. With Moreira's elevation, he keeps Drew Muscatell on staff promoting him to associate head coach.

"I am thrilled to name Coach Moreira as our next head women's basketball coach," Gawlik said. "Arthur's strong recruiting skills, his quest for improving our program, and relationship building within the community made it a clear choice to promote him to head coach. He brings in a great depth of international ties and connections in the northwest. He is an exemplary leader and is passionate about our student-athletes on and off the court. The team is in good hands, and I can't wait to see Arthur's impact on the program and the Vandal community."

Moreira becomes the 11th women's basketball coach in Idaho history. He is also the first-ever Brazilian head coach in NCAA DI history. He earned the title after serving last season as associate head coach under former head coach, Carrie Eighmey.

Moreira has released a statement in reflection of his promotion:

"I am deeply honored and grateful to become the next head women's basketball coach at the University of Idaho. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to President Scott Green and Terry Gawlik for this incredible opportunity to lead a program with such a proud and winning tradition.

The University of Idaho and our community hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to working tirelessly to build a program rooted in excellence both on and off the court. This will be a players-first program, where our student-athletes will thrive and have a positive, enriching experience. Together, we will cultivate a championship culture while providing our student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary to excel in their academic and athletic pursuits.

It all begins with people. We will assemble a dedicated staff and a talented roster that will make every Vandal alum and fan proud. We are committed to representing our institution and community with the highest regard. I am thrilled for our fans to meet our incredible group of young women. We will be active in the community, connecting with people, recruiting top-tier players, engaging fans, and bringing unparalleled excitement to the ICCU! We have the best arena in the country, and I would love to see that place sold out! Go Vandals!"

Head coach Moreira has already hit the ground running, working behind the scenes this summer and bringing in top-tier talent. Since taking over the program, he has recruited six athletes to Moscow including Kelbie Washington from Oklahoma. Washington made waves at Oklahoma as the starting point guard and was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. She is among the highest-ranked recruits to come through Idaho, having an overall ranking of No. 66 and No. 10 guard in the 2021 high school class per ESPN.

In his first season with the Vandals, Moreira helped lead Idaho to a 15-16 overall finish. As the head recruiter, Moreira brought in Kennedy Johnson, the Vandals' leading scorer and All-Big Sky First Team selection. He was responsible for the recruitment of Hope Butera, the team leader in blocks and rebounds before her season-ending injury. With his move to Idaho, Moreira also brought Amalie Langer with him. Langer went on to be named to the inaugural Big Sky All-Defensive Team and started all but one game for Idaho.

In the 2023-24 season, the Vandals landed top 30 in the nation in three different statistical categories including fouls per game (14th), free throw percentage (21st), and scoring defense (29th). Idaho set a new program record allowing an average of 57.2 points per game, dethroning the previous record set in the 1979-80 season. The Vandals also posted their highest NET ranking in program history at 125 in January '24 after a 7-1 record on the road.

Moreira brings a great depth of international connections and knowledge, serving as an assistant coach for the Brazilian Basketball Federation. He was part of the coaching staff that led the U19 National Team in the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup last summer. He served as the defensive coordinator and was responsible for scouting and game preparation ahead of every contest. He is also involved in youth development ranging from U16 to U19.

Prior to Idaho, Moreira spent seven seasons at the University of San Francisco as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2016-23. At USF, Moreira led the Dons' international recruiting efforts, increasing the number of international student-athletes by 550%. He increased the diversity of the team, bringing in student-athletes who represented nine foreign countries on the 2019-20 roster.

In his recruiting role, he brought in one WCC Newcomer of the Year, five All-Conference selections, and one Sixth Woman of the Year. He welcomed student-athletes from 17 different countries and has established recruiting relationships in more than 26 countries.

Moreira kicked off his coaching career as a student assistant for the men's basketball program at Sonoma State University for five years. He received a degree in business marketing from Sonoma State in 2016. He is a native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and attended high school at Colegio Marista Dom Silverio.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Kennedy Johnson: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Amalie Langer: G; 5' 9"; Graduate Student

#11 Hope Butera: F; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#10 Kelbie Washington: G; 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#21 Kennedy Johnson
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#5 Amalie Langer
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student
: G

#11 Hope Butera
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: F

#10 Kelbie Washington
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G