UNT hired Washington State offensive coordinator and former Incarnate Word head coach Eric Morris to take over its program on Tuesday

flyonthewall · December 13, 2022

1 hour ago, MeanGreen22 said:

We have all the pieces for him to come in and get the offense absolutely deadly. Just need to find the QB.

We have a damn good air raid qb. On campus. His name is j.d. head

MeanGreenTexan · December 13, 2022

8 minutes ago, Cr1028 said:

Cameron Ward is not going to be HC here.

Cameron Ward is not coming here to run off any QBs either. But just like those QBs in the portal that he & Ward ran off, there are also OLs & WRs in the portal from there, who likely aren't coming here because they don't want to play for him.

Honestly, I don't really give 2 💩 about their portal guys. More worried about another set of guys.

herewego · December 13, 2022

3 minutes ago, Eagle91Gator95 said:

Yes, but the non-stop negative posting is beyond tiresome. That and the defaced Flying Worm avatar tell me he’s more troll than fan.

That's fair.

El Paso Eagle · December 13, 2022

5 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Initially not a fan. On paper, he's obviously a good coach. Just not the hire I'd have thought the admin would make to lead UNT into a new conference. Feels like better options turned down UNT.

Have you heard of someone that was offered but turned us down?

FirefightnRick · December 13, 2022

Good hire. Won championships at a lower level. Won’t be spoiled. Seems to be able to communicate well. Will be interesting to see who he hires as DC?

Rick

MeanGreenGlory · December 13, 2022

Full disclosure, I was on the Gary Patterson and Justin Fuente train during the search and though Fuente was a done deal so I was surprised to see Eric Morris selected.

However, the AD dropped some search criteria in their written announcement and I don't disagree with what they were looking for and what they see in him:

"Among a deep and talented pool of candidates Eric distinguished himself with his great energy and strong track record as a championship head coach and a proven developer of talent. As a Texas native, he has deep relationships across the state, and he understands the importance of connecting with campus and the local community."

After looking at Morris' resume, here are a few things that I'm excited about:

He shouldn't have a problem recruiting solid QBs to UNT
- He recruited Mahomes and was his OC for three years at TT. That's substantial clout to use for recruiting.
- He recruited Ward at Incarnate Word, and then Ward transferred to Washington State and was a successful P5 QB as a Sophomore. Let that one sink in. If he can identify, recruit, and develop talent at the FCS level that translates to the P5 level, I'm confident our QB troubles are going to be quickly corrected.
In his one season with Washington State, he engineered an offense that ranked first in the Pac 12 and 10th nationally in redzone efficiency, scoring 91.5 percent of its trips inside the 20.
- This is impressive.
Like someone else said, he has a similar resume as Garrett Riley, but has won titles as a head coach at the FCS level which makes him more seasoned in my opinion.

Overall, it's not the hire I expected, but I'm excited to see what he can do and have a better understanding of what Mosely & Co. selected him. The biggest key in my opinion is who he brings in to be Defensive Coordinator and who they bring in for defensive staff. I have a feeling he'll hire a great offensive staff given his background, so I think his defensive choices could be the thing that makes or breaks his success here.

Go Mean Green.

Green Otaku · December 13, 2022

9 minutes ago, herewego said:

This isn't only directed at you but yall need to stop with all this, even if people have different views no need to actively try to get rid of them. Every team has fans that hate every move no matter what but are still fans. Everyone on here just wants the best for the athletic teams we love.

If you open your mouth with over-reactionary, school disparaging, and immature posts you better be willing to take what's coming your way.

zenhuddy · December 13, 2022

For the underwhelmed look what he did in a couple years at a school that has few resources compared to us - let’s give this guy a chance and we’ll see good things I’m certain!

https://uiwcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/eric-morris/2288

BillySee58 · December 13, 2022

@aztecskinsold me on this guy in 2018 when he interviewed him and then watching him take that UIW program from FCS infancy to FCS powerhouse (partially finished off by Kinne) made it clear this dude was for real. Also always seemed like he would be a good fit at UNT. Feeling really good about this.

Udomann · December 13, 2022

Somewhere, very nearby, in a rundown bar where you can hear the water trickle through the ceiling tiles while Mariah Careys "all I want for christmas" has been stuck on repeat for the past 3 years...

Seth Litrrell looks up from his half drunk Old Fashioned, squints into the brightly lit TV screen and simply mutters..."WTF?"

greenminer · December 13, 2022

My number one question: who will be our DC?

zenhuddy · December 13, 2022

2 minutes ago, MeanGreenGlory said:

Full disclosure, I was on the Gary Patterson and Justin Fuente train during the search and though Fuente was a done deal so I was surprised to see Eric Morris selected.

However, the AD dropped some search criteria in their written announcement and I don't disagree with what they were looking for and what they see in him:

"Among a deep and talented pool of candidates Eric distinguished himself with his great energy and strong track record as a championship head coach and a proven developer of talent. As a Texas native, he has deep relationships across the state, and he understands the importance of connecting with campus and the local community."

After looking at Morris' resume, here are a few things that I'm excited about:

He shouldn't have a problem recruiting solid QBs to UNT
He recruited Mahomes and was his OC for three years at TT. That's substantial clout to use for recruiting.

He recruited Ward at Incarnate Word, and then Ward transferred to Washington State and was a successful P5 QB as a Sophomore. Let that one sink in. If he can identify, recruit, and develop talent at the FCS level that translates to the P5 level, I'm confident our QB troubles are going to be quickly corrected.

In his one season with Washington State, he engineered an offense that ranked first in the Pac 12 and 10th nationally in redzone efficiency, scoring 91.5 percent of its trips inside the 20.
This is impressive.

Like someone else said, he has a similar resume as Garrett Riley, but has won titles as a head coach at the FCS level which makes him more seasoned in my opinion.

Overall, it's not the hire I expected, but I'm excited to see what he can do and have a better understanding of what Mosely & Co. selected him. The biggest key in my opinion is who he brings in to be Defensive Coordinator and who they bring in for defensive staff. I have a feeling he'll hire a great offensive staff given his background, so I think his defensive choices could be the thing that makes or breaks his success here.

Go Mean Green.

Great Details here - Thanks for the good info - I agree 100% - get a good Defensive Staff and we are on the right path !

flyonthewall · December 13, 2022

4 minutes ago, BillySee58 said:

@aztecskinsold me on this guy in 2018 when he interviewed him and then watching him take that UIW program from FCS infancy to FCS powerhouse (partially finished off by Kinne) made it clear this dude was for real. Also always seemed like he would be a good fit at UNT. Feeling really good about this.

Also this feels much like mccasland, just didn't have a stop between the w. State (baylor for mccasland) and us.

Small overachiever in college (same as mac) high energy......let's go!!!!!

GMG_Dallas · December 13, 2022

3 minutes ago, El Paso Eagle said:

Have you heard of someone that was offered but turned us down?

No, hence why I said "feels." Just surprised he's the hire. People keep talking about winning at UIW and I get it was a new a program but barely above .500 at the FCS level doesn't move the needle for me. He's been coaching for 12 years total and now we're going to expect him to lead us as we move into a better conference. Meh.

NT93 · December 13, 2022

31 minutes ago, herewego said:

Dude hasn't even changed his twitter yet.

Good lord I hope he’s got more important things to worry about right now.

ExADofficeIntern · December 13, 2022

19 minutes ago, Andrew said:

Seth Littrell 2.0 but probably a better recruiter and he has a fresh slate. Not a home run hire right now, but he has a high ceiling. We thought the same of Littrell though.

While the SL 2.0 isn’t a sexy label, it’s a honestly something we should be happy with. SL took us from garage pile to into an interesting G5 job… if Morris can develop this roster (mostly at QB since that can cover up a lot of other issues) and get us to bowls consistently.. it will be a home run hire.

12 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Cameron Ward is not coming here to run off any QBs either. But just like those QBs in the portal that he & Ward ran off, there are also OLs & WRs in the portal from there, who likely aren't coming here because they don't want to play for him.

Honestly, I don't really give 2 💩 about their portal guys. More worried about another set of guys.

Where is this idea coming from that players did not want to play for Morris and left because of him?

FirefightnRick · December 13, 2022

3 minutes ago, flyonthewall said:

Also this feels much like mccasland, just didn't have a stop between the w. State (baylor for mccasland) and us.

Small overachiever in college (same as mac) high energy......let's go!!!!!

Exactly!

Rick

Primo · December 13, 2022

Better than Dodge 2.0

Remember... remember... remember...

Old Denton · December 13, 2022

13 minutes ago, Greenrex said:

Everything has a flip side and the way I see it, the flip side of Deion Sanders is Eric Morris.

Does that mean Morris is NOT a self-aggrandizing blowhard?

Count me in.

NT93 · December 13, 2022

13 minutes ago, Greenrex said:

Everything has a flip side and the way I see it, the flip side of Deion Sanders is Eric Morris.

I don’t really understand this post, but if he’s the flip side of Prime Time I like him even more.

emmitt01 · December 13, 2022

48 minutes ago, gordo nation said:

Expect the next recruiting class to be 100 percent Texan and walkons. Shit

UNTLifer · December 13, 2022

Like the hire.

Still want to see Cobbs, Clement and Mayes retained on the offensive side of the ball.

Have no idea who will comprise our defensive staff, but I pray he puts more importance on that side of the ball than typical Air Raid coaches.

EDIT: I would add Coach Petrilli. I think our ST's were fine and the kids like playing for him.

Edited December 14, 2022 by UNTLifer

MeanGreenTexan · December 13, 2022

3 minutes ago, ExADofficeIntern said:

While the SL 2.0 isn’t a sexy label, it’s a honestly something we should be happy with. SL took us from garage pile to into an interesting G5 job… if Morris can develop this roster (mostly at QB since that can cover up a lot of other issues) and get us to bowls consistently.. it will be a home run hire.

Where is this idea coming from that players did not want to play for Morris and left because of him?

NO!! Are you serious? "GET US TO BOWLS CONSISTENTLY" is what we just fired because it's not good enough!! "GET US TO BOWLS CONSISTENTLY" does not equal "Home Run Hire". In the slightest. If you're Seth Littrell, it gets you fired! Sheesh.

And hello? If a brand new OC comes in and brings an offense you don't feel like works for you, you leave. I'm not saying the players don't like him personally or something.

herewego · December 13, 2022

16 minutes ago, Green Otaku said:

If you open your mouth with over-reactionary, school disparaging, and immature posts you better be willing to take what's coming your way.

Oh I can take it all big boy 😘.

Its not just this hiring change this has been an ongoing issue on this board since at least 2011. There are countless examples of users being bullied out because of differing views. We are in no shape as a brand for us to turn on each over.

TreeFiddy · December 13, 2022

This is the same guy that interviewed, and a lot of people on this board were calling for, when Littrell was hired, right?

Played for Leach. Coached for Sumlin, Leach, and Kingsbury. Turned around UIW. Won coach of the year, conference titles, and made playoffs while HC. Set records multiple times as OC at P5 level. Groomed record setting QBs & WRs at Tech and UIW.

He may not be the current hot name, but his resume stacks up against any current FCS coach or any G5/P5 OC. Hiring a retread/recently fired P5 coach is no guarantee of success either.

Very solid, albeit not flashy hire. Will be interesting to see what type of staff he can put together. Definitely a better public speaker than mumbles. Hope he is better with the boosters and a better recruiter as well. Our current offensive roster should fit very well with his style.

Most recent bio from WSU:

Eric Morris begins his second stint in Pullman after being named the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on Head Coach Jake Dickert’s staff, Dec. 8, 2021.

Morris, who spent the 2012 season coaching inside receivers for the Cougars, returns to Pullman after spending the past four seasons as head coach at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. In 2021, Morris guided the Cardinals to the Southland Conference title, reached the NCAA FCS Second Round, and finished with a 10-3 record, the winningest record in program history.

After becoming head coach prior to the 2018 season, following UIW's 1-10 record in 2017, Morris twice was named the Southland Conference Coach of the year (2018, 2021), led the Cardinals to two Southland Conference titles (2018, 2021), twice reached the FCS playoffs, and left UIW as the program record holder for most wins with 24.

During his time in San Antonio, Morris orchestrated an offense that finished in the top 10 nationally for total offense in three of his four seasons, including leading the nation in 2020-21 at 552.3 yards per game. His teams finished in the top five in scoring each of the last two seasons, third in 2020-21 (42.0 ppg) and fifth in 2021 at 39.5 ppg.

In 2021, Morris mentored sophomore Cameron Ward, who finished the season garnering Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team honors as well as being named to the Hero Sports 2021 Sophomore All-American Team. Ward also received Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors after breaking UIW program records for most career passing touchdowns and career passing yards, Ward was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.

Morris also oversaw the development of wide receiver Taylor Grimes, who earned multiple All-American honors in 2021 and was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year after setting single-season records for receiving yards (1,145) and touchdown receptions (15).

In 2019, Morris mentored sophomore quarterback Jon Copeland, who threw for 3,341 yards and 22 touchdowns en route to HERO Sports Sophomore All-America honorable mention honors. This followed an historic 2018 season for UIW football, as Morris guided the Cardinals to one of the best turnarounds in the FCS, being named the 2018 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year, the 2018 Southland Conference Coach of the Year, and an Eddie Robinson Award finalist.

In 2018, Morris took over a team with a 1-10 overall record in 2017 and guided it to a 6-4 regular season record, a conference championship and the program’s first FCS Playoff appearance in his first season. His high-powered offense led to Copeland being named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, a first in school history. And it wasn’t just on the offensive side, as keeping with Coach Dickert’s philosophy, the Cardinals led the FCS with 29 turnovers gained.

Prior to Incarnate Word, Morris spent five seasons (2013-17) as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Texas Tech. During that time, Morris helped the Red Raiders to three bowl games and guided one of the top offenses in the nation. From 2013-17, Texas Tech's offense scored over 30 points per game all five seasons, and all five years was ranked among the top 16 teams in total offense, including leading the nation in 2016 at 564.4 yards per game. The Tech offense was highlighted by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who Morris recruited and coached in Lubbock.

Tech averaged at least 40 points per game in two of his final three seasons and over 30 points during Morris’ entire tenure on staff. The Red Raiders snapped the single-season school record with 45.1 points per game in 2015 and then averaged 43.7 points per game in 2016.

The Red Raiders’ success offensively in 2015 pushed Tech to an appearance in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, its second postseason trip during Morris’ tenure. Tech closed the 2015 campaign ranked second nationally in total offense, scoring offense as well as passing offense. Tech was one of just two schools nationally and the only team in a power-five conference to score 25 or more points in every game of the 2015 season.

Morris helped Tech boast a balanced attack that featured a 4,000-yard passer in Patrick Mahomes II, a 1,000-yard rusher in DeAndre Washington and a 1,000-yard receiver in Jakeem Grant. It marked the first time in program history where three different Red Raiders reached each of those three marks during the same season.

Under Morris’ guidance, Grant ended his career as the all-time leading receiver in Tech history. Grant, an All-America honoree by several publications, totaled 3,164 receiving yards over his four seasons, breaking the previous school record that was set by two-time Biletnikoff Award winner Michael Crabtree.

In addition, Grant also snapped the Tech single-season record for all-purpose yards after totaling 2,353 on the year, including 1,268 yards through the air. He also returned a pair of kickoffs for a touchdown, breaking the Tech career record in the process.

Following Grant’s departure, Morris tutored Jonathan Giles and Keke Coutee – both true sophomores at the time – to breakout seasons in 2016. Giles earned All-Big 12 second team honors after recording 1,158 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, both of which that ranked in the top 10 in Tech single-season history. Coutee, meanwhile, finished second on the team with 890 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while fellow inside receiver Cameron Batson hauled in 60 passes – second-most on the team – for 644 yards and eight touchdowns.

In Morris’ first season as the lone offensive coordinator, Tech finished with a No. 10 national ranking in total offense as the Red Raiders averaged 504.1 yards-per-game in 2014. Additionally, the passing offense ended the season with a No. 5 national ranking as Tech averaged 351.1 yards per game through the air.

Morris shared offensive coordinator responsibilities during his debut season in 2013 where the Red Raiders displayed the nation’s second-ranked passing attack (392.8 yards per game) and the eighth-best unit for total offense (511.0 yards-per-game). The solid season offensively pushed Tech to an appearance in the National University Holiday Bowl where the Red Raiders pulled off a stunning 37-23 victory over No. 16 Arizona State.

Jace Amaro closed 2013 campaign with one of the best seasons by a receiver in program history. Amaro, a second-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, set an NCAA FBS record for most receiving yards (1,352) in a single season by a tight end and was named an NCAA Consensus All-American.

Morris, a native of Shallowater, Texas, returned to his roots in West Texas after spending the 2012 season as the inside receivers coach for former Tech head coach Mike Leach at Washington State. In his only season, the Washington State receiving corps hauled in 3,965 yards as well as 23 touchdowns.

Prior to Pullman, Morris spent two years on Kevin Sumlin’s staff at the University of Houston, first as an offensive graduate assistant in 2010 and then as the offensive quality control assistant in 2011. Kingsbury was on the same staff as Morris at the time as he served as quarterbacks coach in 2010 before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator a year later.

Morris and Kingsbury helped produce one of the nation’s top offenses in 2011 as Houston led the country in passing (443.8 yards per game), total offense (599.0 yards per game) and scoring average (50.8 points per game). Houston concluded the season with a 12-1 record which included a win over Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl.

Before joining the coaching profession, Morris played in the Canadian Football League. He joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders out of training camp in 2009 while battling a knee injury.

Morris was a versatile, all-round player during his four seasons as a Red Raider wide receiver (2005-08). Morris caught 184 passes for 1,965 yards and 19 touchdowns over his four seasons, the majority of which came during his final two years. He concluded his career as one of four players in NCAA FBS history to be part of multiple receiving trios where each player recorded at least 60 receptions in a season.

Morris was also instrumental as Tech’s primary punt returner the final two seasons where he averaged just over 10 yards a return. He was named to the All-Big 12 second team as a punt returner by the Fort Worth Star Telegram as a senior and was also a member of the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 first team.

Morris arrived at Tech following a stellar prep career at Shallowater High School where he was named the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal All-South Plains Super Team Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2003. He finished with 926 rushing yards that season and 24 touchdowns while throwing for another 1,926 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Morris received his bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Texas Tech in 2008. He and his wife, Maggie, are parents to two sons, Nicholas and George.