Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Monmouth Names Kevin Morris As New OC

Greg Viscomi
Asst. Athletics Director
Communications & New Media

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan has announced the hiring of Kevin Morris as Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach, effective immediately.
“I’ve known Kevin for a number of years and I’m excited to have him join our coaching staff at Monmouth. His many years of experience and his extensive knowledge of the quarterback position will be a great asset to our program. Kevin has recruited the state of New Jersey throughout his career and that will enhance our overall recruiting efforts. His experience not only as a coordinator but also as a head coach will be extremely beneficial.”

With nearly 30 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, Morris has coached five different teams ranked in the top-20 and was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach when The University of Massachusetts played in the 2006 FCS National Championship game.  Additionally, the Westfield, N.J. native has coached 17 players who have joined the ranks of the National Football League and his offenses have set over 50 school records.

“I think it’s a great time to be a part of the Monmouth football program’” said Morris. “I’m really excited to be working with Coach Callahan, who I’ve known for many years, and his staff. Monmouth is an excellent University both academically and geographically and obviously with the move to the Big South the football program will continue to gain prominence. Being a New Jersey native, I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Morris most recently served as the offensive coordinator at Yale for the past two seasons.  Eight different Bulldogs earned All-Ivy League honors during his time in New Haven, including first team selections Deon Randall (WR) and Tyler Varga (RB).

Prior to his time at Yale, Morris was the Head Coach at the University of Massachusetts from 2009 to 2011. During that span he led the Minutemen to a number of high profile wins, including an upset of No. 4 New Hampshire in his first season as head coach. While at the helm at UMass, the program produced its highest NFL Draft pick in more than 40 years as All-American offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse was selected in the second round by the New York Jets. Five other UMass seniors from the class of 2009 signed as NFL free agents for 2010 training camps.

For the five seasons prior to being named head coach, Morris was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach of the Minutemen during one of the most heralded runs in program history. During that five year span UMass had a 69.3 winning percentage, including wins in 30 of 40 CAA contests and a pair of conference championships. Under Morris’ tutelage the Minutemen offense set more than 40 school and individual records, had 36 all-conference selections and featured a pair of Walter Payton Award Candidates in quarterback Liam Coen and running back Steve Baylark.

Under Morris, UMass developed a high-powered offense averaging nearly 30 points and 400 yards of total offense per game over his five seasons. All-American quarterback Liam Coen set nearly every passing record in school history and graduated among the top 15 passing leaders in FCS history in yards and completions. After his senior season, Coen was first among all active passers in FCS in terms of touchdown passes and second in passing yards, completions and attempts.

From 2000 to 2003 Morris was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northeastern University where he led one of the top offensive attacks in the Atlantic 10 Conference. During his time with the Huskies, Northeastern broke 24 school offensive records and in 2003 led the A-10 in total offense (431.8 ypg) and ranked second in scoring offense (34.5 ppg).

Morris first became a head coach in 1993 when he took over the reins at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he first served as an assistant coach from 1988-90. Morris led the Engineers to a Freedom Football Conference Championship in his first season and would go on to coach a total of six seasons (1993-1998) at WPI before leaving for a one-year stint at Stony Brook in 1999.

A 1986 graduate of Williams College, where he played quarterback and was a pitcher on the Ephs’ baseball team, got his start coaching at the University at Albany for the 1986 and ’87 seasons.

Morris takes over for Scott Van Zile who left to take a position at Elon after 14 years with the Blue & White.

Monmouth football begins a new era in 2014, its first season in the Big South Conference. The Annual Blue/White Spring game is slated for April 27, while the 2014 opener is at home against Delaware State on August 30. 

Follow Monmouth football on twitter @MUHawksFB.

 

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