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Eric Morris (American football)

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Eric Morris
Morris while playing for Texas Tech in 2008
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamNorth Texas
ConferenceAAC
Record11–13
Biographical details
Born (1985-10-26) October 26, 1985 (age 39)
Littlefield, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
2004–2008Texas Tech
2009Saskatchewan Roughriders
Position(s)Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2010Houston (AOQC)
2011Houston (GA)
2012Washington State (IWR)
2013Texas Tech (co-OC/IWR)
2014Texas Tech (OC/WR)
2015–2017Texas Tech (OC/IWR)
2018–2021Incarnate Word
2022Washington State (OC/QB)
2023–presentNorth Texas
Head coaching record
Overall35–31
Tournaments1–2 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 Southland (2018, 2021)
Awards
2× Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2018, 2021)
AFCA Regional Coach of the Year (2018)
Academic All-Big 12 (2007)
All-Big 12 Second Team (2007)

Eric Morris (born October 26, 1985) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of North Texas. He was previously the head football coach at the University of the Incarnate Word and offensive coordinator at Washington State University.

Early life

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Morris was born in Littlefield, Texas. He attended Shallowater High School in Shallowater, Texas, where he played basketball and football at the wide receiver and quarterback positions. Shallowater won the Division 4-2A basketball title during his senior season. Morris's father, Ray, coached basketball at the school.[1]

College career

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Morris played college football at the wide receiver position for the Texas Tech Red Raiders under Mike Leach from 2004 to 2008. Known for being small and elusive, Morris earned the nickname of "the Elf" during his college playing career.[1] He was named first-team Academic All-Big 12 in 2007 and was second-team All-Big 12 for punt returning.

Professional career

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Morris was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a street free agent in 2009. He was released in 2010.[2]

Coaching career

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Early career

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In 2010, Morris accepted a position as a graduate assistant for the Houston Cougars—a position at which he remained for two years.[3] In 2011, Morris accepted the position of wide receivers coach at Washington State under his former college coach Mike Leach. Following the conclusion of the 2012 season, Morris accepted the position of co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach at his alma mater Texas Tech under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.[4]

Texas Tech

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Morris was promoted to full offensive coordinator following the departure of Sonny Cumbie in 2014.

Morris led an offense in 2015 that was ranked 2nd in the country in both total yardage and scoring.[5] The offense was led by Sophomore QB Patrick Mahomes who threw for 4,683 yards and 36 TDs and by RB DeAndré Washington who rushed for 1,492 yards and 16 TDs, Washington being the first 1,000-yard rusher at Texas Tech in more than a decade. Morris coached 2016 NFL draft picks Le'Raven Clark, DeAndré Washington, and Jakeem Grant.

Incarnate Word

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On December 30, 2017, Morris was named head coach at the University of the Incarnate Word (FCS) in San Antonio, Texas.[6] In 2018, Morris' first season at UIW, he led the Cardinals to a 6–5 record, a share of the Southland Conference championship, and an FCS Playoffs birth. Following a record-breaking season full of firsts for the UIW football program, Morris was selected as the 2018 Southland Conference Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award National Coach of the Year.[7]

Washington State

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Morris returned to Pullman as offensive coordinator under head coach Jake Dickert. He acted in that capacity for one season before leaving to take the North Texas head coaching job prior to the Cougars’ bowl game.[8]

North Texas

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On December 13, 2022, Morris was announced as the new head coach for the North Texas Mean Green.[9]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP/STATS°
Incarnate Word Cardinals (Southland Conference) (2018–2021)
2018 Incarnate Word 6–5 6–2 T–1st L NCAA Division I First Round
2019 Incarnate Word 5–7 4–5 T–6th
2020–21 Incarnate Word 3–3 3–3 T–3rd
2021 Incarnate Word 10–3 7–1 1st L NCAA Division I Second Round 13 12
Incarnate Word: 24–18 20–11
North Texas Mean Green (American Athletic Conference) (2023–present)
2023 North Texas 5–7 3–5 T–8th
2024 North Texas 6–6 3–5 T–9th First Responder
North Texas: 11–13 6–10
Total: 35–31
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ a b "Eric Morris Profile". Texas Tech University. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  2. ^ Graham, Mike. "Texas Tech exes Graham Harrell, Eric Morris released by Saskatchewan". Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  3. ^ "Eric Morris Profile". University of Houston. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  4. ^ Floyd, Brian (December 14, 2012). "Eric Morris joining Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech". CougCenter. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  5. ^ "2015 National Leaders: Total Offense – All Games". cfbstats. SportSource Analytics. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "UIW Athletics Hires Eric Morris as Head Football Coach". UIW Athletics. December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "Morris named SLC Coach of the Year, Cardinals earn additional honors". UIW Athletics. November 20, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  8. ^ Luca, Greg (December 5, 2021). "UIW coach Morris to be named Washington State OC". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  9. ^ Barnett, Zach (December 13, 2022). "Eric Morris to be head coach at North Texas". Football Scoop. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
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