Richard Morris is in his first season as the head baseball coach at Roanoke College. Morris comes to the Maroon program from the Campbell County School District, where he has been a teacher and coach for several years. He is the second head coach of the Maroon program, which is headed into just its second season of varsity play in 2003. The college added the sport as its 19th varsity program in the summer of 2001.

After graduating from Lynchburg College with a degree in Elementary Education in 1971, Morris immediately moved into the Lynchburg City School District. He became a teacher and head baseball coach at EC Glass, where he led the squad to Western District and Northwest Region championships. From EC Glass, Morris moved on to the Campbell Country School District. After working at several middle and elementary schools, he moved on to Rustburg High School, where he also served as a teacher and baseball coach. Twice he led Rustburg to the Seminole District championship and also led the team to a state AA runner-up finish once.

As a head coach at the high school level, Morris was the recipient of numerous awards. Three times (1986, 1998, and 1999) he was named the Lynchburg News and Daily Advance Coach of the Year and was also the Seminole District Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999. In 1999 as well, he was named the Region III Coach of the Year. In addition to his work at the grade school level, Morris was also the coach of the USA Olympic Junior National East Team, a position from which he led his team to a gold medal. He has also been active in many camps, ranging from Lynchburg to New Jersey. He earned a Master’s Degree from Lynchburg College in 1977 and served a five-year stint in the United States Army.

“I’m extremely grateful to Roanoke College for selecting me as its new baseball coach,” commented Morris upon Allison’s announcement. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and at the collegiate level. I need to make sure to emphasize a team concept and the importance of being fundamentally sound to the group of athletes I will be working with.”

“I’m excited to have Richard Morris join the staff of Roanoke College,” noted Allison on Wednesday. “His expertise of the game of baseball and overall knowledge of sport will be a great addition to this program and department. Having the extensive background at the high school level and with the connections he has made at both the college and scholastic levels will help move the team in a positive direction as far as recruiting is concerned. People believe in what he is capable of doing.”