POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River Community College has announced new leadership for its archery program. Pearl River Director of Athletics Michael Avalon has announced the hire of Kyle Moss as the program's new head archery coach.
"Kyle brings valuable collegiate-level experience to our program, both as a former athlete and as a coach during his time at Mississippi State University," Avalon said. "He is well known and highly respected within the local archery community and came to us with strong recommendations. Kyle is passionate about coaching and teaching the sport of archery, and we are confident he will do a tremendous job helping our athletes grow and develop."
Moss said the relationships built during the hiring process confirmed Pearl River was the right fit.
"From the very first phone call, everyone made me feel like family," Moss said. "After meeting with Coach Avalon, Dr. Long and touring campus, it just felt right. I'm really excited to be here and excited about the potential of this program."
GETTING INTO THE SPORT
Moss' archery journey began in high school which helps him bring both competitive and coaching experience to Poplarville.
"I started archery my sophomore year of high school when my school started a team," Moss said. "That was when archery in Mississippi schools really began to take off, and I immediately fell in love with the sport — not just for what it teaches you on the range, but what it teaches you in school and in life."
Moss said archery's ability to bring together people from different backgrounds helped shape his love for the sport.
"It's a sport that attracts all kinds of people," he said. "Some grow up hunting, some love the competitive side, and others find it almost therapeutic. There's something about hitting the target just right that gives you that sense of calm and accomplishment."
Moss carried that passion to Mississippi State University, where he helped launch the school's first archery team, serving as both a student-athlete and coach.
"When I got to Mississippi State, there wasn't an archery team, and that wasn't something I was ready to give up," Moss said. "I wanted to continue competing, but I also wanted to bring the sport to other people."
After becoming a certified coach, Moss worked hands-on with student-athletes, helping them learn the sport and guiding the program into organized competition.
"I loved my time there," Moss said. "We built something from nothing, competed, and I made lifelong friends through that experience."
LEADING A PROGRAM
Moss emphasized development and character as the foundation of his program, while also expressing the importance of academics.
"The biggest thing I look for is coachability," Moss said. "It doesn't matter where someone starts. If they're already great, awesome. If not, we'll get them there. What matters is their willingness to learn.
"I want students who take the classroom seriously, show up consistently and feel comfortable coming to us if they need help," Moss said. "We want them to succeed in every area of their life."
Moss added that success extends far beyond archery.
"I want our students to be successful whether they move on to a four-year university, enter the workforce or take another path," he said. "I just want them to leave here better prepared for what's next."
With the program still in its early stages, Moss said his immediate focus is growth and culture.
"My main goal for this first semester is for every archer to be better than they were when I arrived," Moss said. "I want to expose them to competition, help them get comfortable under pressure and build strong team chemistry. I really missed being able to bring people into the sport and help them grow. When this opportunity came along, it was incredibly humbling."
PERSONAL
Moss began his collegiate studies at Mississippi State, studying industrial engineering from 2015-19, before transferring to The University of Southern Mississippi, where he studied computer engineering from 2019-21. He is currently continuing his education at Southern Miss with a focus on cybersecurity.
He has earned the Google Cybersecurity Certificate (November 2024) and CompTIA Security (January 2025).
Moss and his wife, Raye Anna, are active members of Temple Baptist Church. The couple has two dogs: Stella, a 5-year-old rescued mixed breed, and Nala, a 3-year-old Australian shepherd.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).