Aug. 13, 2001

UKAA Board Receives NCAA Letter, Approves Rupp Lease

The contract of Guy Morriss, head football coach at the University of Kentucky, has been extended through the 2005 season, UK Director of Athletics Larry Ivy announced Monday.

The announcement came during a meeting of the UK Athletics Association Board of Directors held on campus. The agreement extends the one-year pact signed when Morriss was named head coach on Feb. 6.

“I was impressed with Guy Morriss when he was our assistant head coach, which led me to consider him (when choosing a new head coach),” Ivy said. “My impressions were solidified when I recognized the support he had from the players.

“I’ve been even more encouraged by the way he’s handled the program for the past six months, the attitude of the players, and the enthusiasm they’ve shown. Obviously, we feel that the extension is necessary to assist in our recruiting efforts. One of the first questions a recruit asks is, `Who is the coach going to be?’ and that had to be addressed.”

Morriss is pleased with the new contract.

“We’re excited about the opportunity,” Morriss said. “It shows that the administration is pleased with what we’re doing, that we’re heading in the right direction, and reaffirming we can get the job done.

“We feel that it (the contract extension) will help us in recruiting. Schools have been using the contract situation against us.

“From a personal standpoint, I’d like to thank Dr. Todd (University President Dr. Lee Todd) and Larry Ivy for their support and confidence,” Morriss said. “Larry Ivy is giving us everything we need to be successful and doing everything he can to help Kentucky football win.”