MORRIS NAMED ASSISTANT HEAD COACH LEACH NAMED OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
University of Kentucky football coach Hal Mumme hasannounced that offensive line coach Guy Morriss has beennamed assistant head coach and wide receivers coach MikeLeach has been named offensive coordinator.
“This is the same path we followed at Valdosta State. Ididn’t name an assistant head coach or offensive coordinatorright away,” Mumme said. “If things didn’t go well early, Ididn’t want people pointing fingers at somebody other thanme. I also don’t want other schools to start coming afterour coaches. I want to do what we can to keep our staffintact.
“Guy and Mike are very deserving of their titles. Allthis was talked about and promised before we got here. Thisdoesn’t change anything we’ve been doing, it’s merely apromise kept to these two men.”
“Guy initiates our offensive game planning,” Mumme saidregarding Morriss’ responsibilities in addition to coachingthe line. “He arranges for and previews video of theopponent and formulates scouting reports. He covers all thebasics that get us ready.
“Mike’s duty involves organizing practice and theplanning that goes into that,” Mumme said. “He keeps us ontrack in practices and games.”
Leach was Mumme’s offensive coordinator at ValdostaState the last five seasons, helping Mumme guide the Blazersto a 40-17-1 record and two appearances in the NCAA DivisionII playoffs. Under Mumme and Leach, the Blazers virtuallyrewrote the VSU and Gulf South Conference records and alsomade a significant impact on the NCAA record book. Leach wasnamed the 1996 Division II Offensive Coordinator of the Yearby American Football Quarterly magazine.
Leach first coached with Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan from1989-91. Leach was offensive coordinator and line coach andthe Iowa Wesleyan offense enjoyed success similar to that atValdosta State.
Leach, a native of Cody, Wyo., is a 1983 graduate ofBrigham Young University. He also earned a law degree atPepperdine before entering coaching.
“I’m proud to be associated with this offensive staff,”Leach said. “As we continue to work together, I believewe’ll have more and more success. I’m also proud of the waythe team has played so far. I appreciate Hal giving me thetitle and opportunity.”
Morriss is in his second term as a coach with Mumme, asGuy coached the offensive line at Valdosta State in 1992-93.Morriss’ other professional and collegiate coaching stopshave included Mississippi State (1996), San Antonio of theCanadian Football League (1995), and Arizona (1994) and NewEngland (1988-89) in the National Football League.
A native of Arlington, Tex., Morriss was an All-Southwest Conference guard at Texas Christian. He enjoyed a15-year career in the NFL with Philadelphia and New England,was an All-Pro choice in 1981, and played in two Super Bowls.
“It’s an honor to be named the assistant head coach,”Morriss said. “It’s a pleasure to work with Hal and thisgroup of coaches and I appreciate Hal’s confidence in me.
“The major change for me is that now I get to lightHal’s cigars,” Morriss joked.
