Guy Morriss

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Head Football Coach, University of Kentucky

Guy Morriss was named head coach of the University of Kentucky football team on Feb. 6, 2001.

Morriss spent the previous four seasons on the UK staff as assistant head coach and offensive linecoach. An outstanding teacher of line play, Morriss has played a central role in the record-settingoffensive numbers posted by the Wildcats. Over the last four seasons the UK offense has scored morepoints and generated more yards than any previous four-year period in school history. The UK recordbook for passing and total offense has been rewritten and numerous Southeastern Conference and NCAArecords also have been broken.

During the 2000 season, Morriss’ O-Line did an excellent job protecting freshman quarterback JaredLorenzen, who broke six NCAA records for passing and total offense. The line allowed only 22 sacks, thefewest of Morriss’ four seasons at UK. Guard/tackle Omar Smith was named first-team All-SoutheasternConference and tackle Antonio Hall was selected first-team Freshman All-America and FreshmanAll-SEC.

Morriss faced a formidable task in the 1999 season, replacing all five starters from the 1998 line, butthe calm Texan handled the challenge admirably. Morriss’ youthful unit not a senior among them enabledUK to post solid offensive numbers and advance to the HomePoint.com Music City Bowl. Guard KipSixbery earned first-team Freshman All-America honors.

Morriss’ 1998 line was the power plant for the UK offense that set single-season school records forpoints and total offense en route to a berth in the Outback Bowl. Two more players were honored, astackle Kris Comstock was chosen first-team All-SEC and tackle Matt Brown was a third-team FreshmanAll-American.

Morriss had another first-team All-SEC honoree, guard John Schlarman, in the 1997 campaign. All totaled,he has had three first-team All-SEC players and three freshman All-Americans during his term at UK.

Kentucky has ranked in the top 15 in the nation in passing offense all four years that Morriss hasbeen with the team and in the nation’s top 15 in total offense in three of those seasons. In 1996, the yearbefore Morriss’ arrival, UK finished 109th in the nation in total offense.

Morriss came to UK from Mississippi State, where he coached the offensive line in 1996. MSUtackle Brent Smith garnered first-team All-SEC honors and was a second-round selection of the MiamiDolphins in the National Football League draft.

Offensive success is nothing new for Morriss, who has 18 years of National Football Leagueexperience, 15 years as a player and three as a coach.

Morriss was an All-Southwest Conference offensive guard at Texas Christian University. Followinghis senior year, he played in four all-star games the Blue-Gray Game, Senior Bowl, Coaches All-AmericaGame, and the College All-Star Game. Morriss went on to a 15-year career in the NFL. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973-83. Heplayed in the 1981 Super Bowl, was named All-Pro in 1981, and was team captain for five seasons. Heplayed for the New England Patriots in from 1984-87 and played in the 1986 Super Bowl.

Morriss began his coaching career with the Patriots in 1988-89. He was the offensive coordinator atMansfield (Tex.) HS in 1991. He was appointed head coach of the Washington Marauders of theProfessional Spring Football League in 1992, but the league ceased operations just before the start of theseason. Morriss took his first collegiate coaching position with Valdosta State University in 1992-93. Hereturned to the professional ranks with the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and the Canadian Football League’sSan Antonio Texans in 1995.

The Guy Morriss File

Personal

Birthplace: Colorado City, Tex.
Wife: Jackie
Children: Five daughters, Colleen, Melanie, Kerry, Savannah Rae, Austin Leigh

Education

Sam Houston High School, Arlington, Tex.
Texas Christian University, degree in Secondary Education 1973

Playing Career

Sam Houston High School, tight end, 1966-68
Texas Christian University, offensive guard/tight end, 1969-72 (All-Southwest Conference guard, 1972)
Philadelphia Eagles, offensive lineman, 1973-83 (Super Bowl, 1981; All-Pro 1981)
New England Patriots, offensive lineman, 1984-87 (Super Bowl, 1986)

Coaching CareerNew England (NFL)       Offensive Line                          1988-89Mansfield HS            Offensive Coordinator                   1991Washington (PSFL)       Head Coach                              1992Valdosta State          Offensive Line                          1992-93Arizona (NFL)           Offensive Line                          1994San Antonio (CFL)       Offensive Line                          1995Mississippi State       Offensive Line                          1996Kentucky                Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Line    1997-2000Kentucky                Head Coach                              2001-