By Tim Haslam
As a new season quickly approaches the University of Utah Men’s Lacrosse team, Utah head coach Craig Morris looked calm and collected, hardly the demeanor for a first year head coach.
After former head coach Rich Levi was released shortly after the 2008 season ended, Morris was brought in to fill the void.
Although 2009 will mark the first season at the helm of the Utes, Morris is no stranger to lacrosse. Having grown up in Yorktown, New York, Morris played lacrosse in high school and at the collegiate level for Fairleigh Dickinson University where he played attack.
Morris began coaching in Utah in 1996 when he and Mason Goodhand, the current Westminster head coach, took the first Team Utah to Vail, Colorado. In 1997, Morris was named the athletic director and the head men’s lacrosse coach at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah. In 12 seasons, Morris was 128-47 including six trips to the state championship game where he was able to win three of them.
Morris was able to be with the Utes in fall and hopes to keep the momentum going as the Utes make a push for the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference Championship.
“We want to be competitive in the conference and hope to take a step forward,” said Morris. “We are going to be competitive with consistency.”
Consistency will come from the Utes senior leadership. Matt Qualey will lead the team on offense just as he did in 2008. Qualey netted 24 goals last season and had 23 assists which was good enough to receive RMLC First-Team All-American at attack. Jon Owens and Cory Merrill will anchor the midfield and Grant Matsuura will keep the defense in line.
The 2009 schedule for the Utes will be a tough test. Out of the 23 teams in the MCLA Magazine Preseason Division I poll, Utah will face No. 2 Chapman, No. 3 Arizona State, No. 4 BYU, No 5. Simon Fraser, No 7. Colorado State, No. 13 Colorado, and No. 15 Lindenwood.
“We have a tough schedule, but we are going to go one game at a time,” Morris said.
Morris will be assisted by Mike Pappas and Rick Kladis – both familiar faces in the Utah lacrosse community. Pappas has coached at local high schools and youth leagues while Kladis played at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City before playing and coaching at Gonzaga University.
“I believe we have the best coaching staff in the state,” Morris said. “We all had success previously so hopefully that success can translate.”
The biggest surprise for Morris has been the players.
“I am very impressed with the players,” Morris said. “They all have a ton of character and are very dedicated to the game. Some of these guys are working two or three jobs and going to school full-time. That’s a cool thing, it gives you a pure look at the game.”
Morris will hope to prove he was the right fit for the Utes when they begin the 2009 campaign against No. 5 Simon Fraser on February 21 in Salt Lake City.
Tim Haslam recently graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications. He enjoys Utah football, Real Salt Lake and of course, lacrosse. You can find more information about Tim at www.timhaslam.com.
Originally posted at CollegeLAX.us on Feb. 2, 2009
