Steve Morrison (American football)

College coach infobox
Name = Steve Morrison


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Title = Defensive Coordinator
College = Western Michigan
Conference = Mid-American
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DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1971|12|28
Birthplace = city-state|Farmington|Michigan
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Awards = 1994 First-team All-Big Ten
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Player = Y
Years = 1990–1994
1995–1998
Team = Michigan Wolverines
Indianapolis Colts
Position = LB
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 2000–2001
2002–2004
2005
2006–2007
2008–"present"
CoachTeams = Brother Rice H. S. (Def. Coord.) Michigan (Asst.) Western Michigan (Def. Line) Western Michigan (LBs) Western Michigan (Def. Coord.)
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Steven Craig Morrison (born December 28 1971 in city-state|Farmington|Michigan) is a retired professional American football linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League from 1995 to 1998. He now serves as the defensive coordinator for the Western Michigan Broncos football team. Prior to these professional experiences, he had excelled as an All-Big Ten Conference inside linebacker from 1990 to 1994 for the Michigan Wolverines, whom he served as captain.

After retiring from professional football as a player, he began a coaching career by performing as defensive coordinator for Michigan High School Athletic Association football champion Brother Rice High School (his high school alma mater) for two years. He then served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan for three years. He then assumed a role as an assistant at Western Michigan University. At Western Michigan, he has produced results as the linebacker coach after spending a year as the defensive line coach.

Early years

Morrison played for Brother Rice High School of the city-state|Detroit|Michigan Catholic High School League and became a Catholic High School League Hall of Fame athlete. He was inducted in the 1995 Hall of Fame class that included among others Shawn Respert. [cite web|url=http://www.aodonline.org/CHSL/Hall+of+Fame+10692/Hall+of+Fame+-+Athletes+.htm|title=Hall of Fame Athletes (1976-Present)|accessdate=2008-03-25|publisher=Archdiocese of Detroit] As a senior, Morrison was part of a 1989 team that lost in the Class A semfinals 6–0 to Martin Luther King High School at Atwood Stadium. [cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/091706/spo_2006091734.shtml|title=Fracassa just keeps adding to storied coaching legacy|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2006-09-17|publisher=The Oakland Press|author=Langlois, Keith]

After attending Brother Rice High School in city-state|Bloomfield Hills|Michigan, he spent five years at the University of Michigan where he anchored the defense as an inside linebacker. [cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1993/08/08-25-93tdc/08-25-93dsports-8.asp|title=Big Ten Football Preview|accessdate=2008-03-25|publisher=Collegian Inc.|date=1993-08-25|author=Weinreb, Mike and Ann Tatko] He became a rare five-year varsity letter winner while wearing #36 for the Michigan Wolverines football program from 1990 to 1994, [cite web|url=http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm|accessdate=2007-12-31|date=2003-08-25|title=Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] He helped the 1990 three-peat Big Ten Conference Champions defend their title for a total of five consecutive conference championships ending in 1992. The 1991 and 1992 teams went to the Rose Bowl. [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1991fbt.htm|title=1991 Football Team|accessdate=2007-12-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-04-09] [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1992fbt.htm|title=1992 Football Team|accessdate=2007-12-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-04-09] He became team captain in 1994 for coach Gary Moeller.cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1994fbt.htm|title=1994 Football Team|accessdate=2007-12-07|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-04-09] On a team that had two All-Americans (Ty Law and Remy Hamilton), he was one of six All-Big Ten players (Law, Hamilton, Tyrone Wheatley, Amani Toomer and Jason Horn). At the time of his graduation, he ranked third in career tackles in school history behind Erick Anderson and Ron Simpkins.cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/indmaster.php|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page|accessdate=2007-12-07|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2003] He has since been passed by Jarrett Irons and Sam Sword and stands fifth with 220 tackles. In terms of tackles and assists combined, Morrison once totalled 23 in a November 141992 game against the Illinois Fighting Illini football team, which stands as a Michigan Football record for a game at Michigan Stadium.cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/document_file/fbl-2007spring-records1.pdf|format=PDF| title=Record Book (through 2006)|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2007|publisher=University of Michigan & Host Interactive] [cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/document_file/fbl-bowl-guide-coaches-2003.pdf|title=COACHING STAFF|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2003|publisher=University of Michigan & Host Interactive] Morrison earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications in 1994 from Michigan.

Professional career

He was not drafted in the 1995 NFL draft, [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1995&lg=nfl|title=1995 NFL Player Draft|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com|accessdate=2007-12-07|date=2006] but signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent after the draft. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE2D91E3BF93AA15757C0A963958260&scp=2&sq=%22Steve+Morrison%22+Colts&st=nyt|title= TRANSACTIONS|accessdate=2008-03-14|date=1999-04-29|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times] He played with the Colts from 1995 to 1998. He accumulated 2 quarterback sacks, 2 interceptions, and 4 fumble recoveries. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MORRISTE01|title=Steve Morrison|accessdate=2007-12-07|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com|date=2006] Although the Colts best records during his tenure was 9-7 in both 1995 and 1996, [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cltindex.htm|title=Indianapolis Colts|publisher=pro-football-reference.com|accessdate=2007-12-07] the team made the playoffs twice and Morrison had a chance to play in an American Football Conference Championship game. During the 1995-96 NFL playoffs, the Colts won two playoff games on the road under Ted Marchibroda to reach the championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=IND&yr=1995&lg=nfl|title=1995 Indianapolis Colts|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com|accessdate=2007-12-07|date=2006] Despite the playoff success, they changed coaches as Lindy Infante took them back to the 1996-97 NFL playoffs with a 9-7 record, only to fall in the wildcard game to the Steelers again. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=IND&yr=1996&lg=nfl|title=1996 Indianapolis Colts|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com|accessdate=2007-12-07|date=2006] Morrison started 31 games over the course of his career, including 29 regular season games.cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/stevemorrison/careerstats?id=MOR648337|title=All-Time Players|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|accessdate=2007-12-07] In 1997 and 1998, the team had losing seasons although Morrison started more games as his career progressed. Morrison was signed by the Detroit Lions for the 1999 NFL season, [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE4D81E39F934A2575BC0A96F958260&scp=3&sq=%22Steve+Morrison%22+Colts&st=nyt|title= N.F.L. : TRAINING CAMPS -- GREEN BAY; Freeman Becomes Richest Receiver|accessdate=2008-03-14|date=1999-08-17|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times] but he was waived before the season started. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE3DF1E3AF935A3575AC0A96F958260&scp=5&sq=%22Steve+Morrison%22+Colts&st=nyt|title= TRANSACTIONS|accessdate=2008-03-14|date=1999-09-06|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times]

He served as the defensive coordinator for his high school alma mater, Brother Rice Warriors, in 2000 and 2001. In 2000, they won the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 football championship. [cite web|url=http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/fb/yearly.htm|title=Football Champions 1975-2006|accessdate=2007-12-07|publisher=Michigan High School Athletic Association] From 2002 to 2004 he served in various capacities on the defensive coaching staff for the Michigan Wolverines. In 2002, he served as the video assistant. [cite web|url=http://mgobluearc.tekgroup.com/document_file/fbl-bowl-guide-coaches-2002.pdf|title=COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2002|publisher=Michigan Athletic Department] In 2003, he became a graduate assistant/outside linebackers coach. [cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/020603/pro_020603071.shtml|title=WEDNESDAY'S TRANSACTIONS|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2003-02-06]

In 2005, he took the Western Michigan defensive line coaching position on new head coach Bill Cubit's staff. That same year Scott Shafer, the current University of Michigan defensive coordinator, assumed the defensive coordinator position at Western Michigan, [cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/football/coachbio.aspx?id=105302|title=Scott Shafer: Defensive Coordinator|accessdate=2008-03-25|publisher=University of Michigan & Host Interactive|date=2007] and Morrison served under him. [cite web|url=http://blog.mlive.com/jim_carty/2008/01/former_michigan_linebacker_ste.html|title=Former Michigan linebacker Steve Morrison talks about working for Shafer|accessdate=2008-03-28|date=2008-01-11|publisher=mlive.com|work=Ann Arbor News|author=Carty, Jim] Then, in 2006, Morrison assumed the linebacker coach position. The defense immediately produced results: #1 in the country in interceptions, #1 in sacks per game, and a Mid-American Conference record rushing yards per game defense. In addition to the team numbers he fostered Ameer Ismail, the nation’s leader in quarterback sacks and tackles for a loss. In 2008, after defensive coordinator, Bill Miller left to be the Louisville Cardinals football linebacker coach, [cite web|url=http://blog.mlive.com/broncosinsider/2008/02/broncos_lose_defensive_coordin.html|title=Broncos lose defensive coordinator Miller|accessdate=2008-03-14|date=2008-02-25|publisher=mlive.com|work=Kalamazoo Gazette|author=Couch, Graham] On March 122008, Western Michigan promoted Morrison to defensive coordinator, and he relinquished his recruiting coordinator role to tight ends coach Jake Moreland. [cite web|url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=1410663|title=Steve Morrison Named Defensive Coordinator; WMU Adds Three New Coaches to Staff|accessdate=2008-03-14|date=2008-03-12|publisher=Western Michigan University] He continues to serve as the linebackers coach in 2008. He converted the defensive scheme from a two-gap scheme to a one-gap scheme upon taking over as defensive coordinator. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/notebook?page=nonBCSnotebook080324|title=Around the non-BCS conferences and independents|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2008-03-24|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|author=Rittenburg, Adam|work=ESPN.com] His coaching style is considered a compromise between styles of the previous coordinators: the highly enthusiastic Shafer style and the laid back Miller style. [cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2008/03/morrison_one_of_our_brothers.html|title=Morrison 'one of our brothers'|accessdate=2008-03-25|date=2008-03-18|author=Couch, Grahma|publisher=Michigan Live LLC.|work=Kalamazoo Gazette]

Family

Morrison is married to the former Mary Campana. The couple had their third child on May 232007. They now have three sons: Alexander, Marco and Roman.cite web|url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=24292&SPID=1922&DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=129379&Q_SEASON=2006|title=Steve Morrison|publisher=Western Michigan University|accessdate=2007-12-07|date=2007]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nfl.com/players/stevemorrison/profile?id=MOR648337 Steve Morrison NFL at NFL.com]
* [http://louisville.rivals.com/viewcoach.asp?Year=2008&Sport=1&Coach=1290 Steve Morrison coaching at rivals.com]