April 3, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mike Morris, an assistant men's basketball coach at Samford for the past eight years, has been named head women's basketball coach at Samford, Director of Athletics Bob Roller announced today.

Morris becomes only the second head coach in the six-year history of the Samford women's basketball program as he replaces Janet Cone, who resigned last month to assume an assistant athletics director position at Samford.

"I wanted to stay at Samford and I wanted to be a head coach, so I am very excited about this opportunity," said Morris. "My family is here and when you find stability in this profession, you don't want to give that up. I think my personality is suited to coaching females. A coach's main responsibility is to know their players and how to make them respond and play their best whether they are coaching men or women."

An integral part of men's coach Jimmy Tillette's successful run at Samford, Morris was the Bulldogs' chief recruiter and on-court assistant in leading the school to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000 and 140 wins in the past eight years.

"Mike was the obvious choice for this job once he expressed interest and we are thrilled to have him lead our women's basketball program," Roller said. "He brings the unique combination of terrific basketball coaching skills and a complete understanding of Samford."

"My first reaction was that we could not have found a better coach," said Cone who began the program in 1996. "Mike knows how to win at Samford. He obviously knows the X's and O's but he is also a Samford man who knows what makes Samford special. I look forward to helping him to be successful."

Morris, 32, played collegiate basketball at the University of Alabama at Huntsville from 1989-91, where he was chosen team captain and team MVP his senior season. While at UAH, he was the NCAA Division II national champion in free throw percentage, shooting 92.1 percent from the line. He earned a B.A. in psychology from UAH in 1991.

Before his arrival at Samford in 1994, Morris served for three years as an assistant coach at Belhaven College and one season at Berry College in Rome, Ga.

"Mike has been a highly integral part of our success here," said Tillette. "He has been a tireless worker, and committed his heart and soul to the betterment of our program. He will certainly be missed. Yet we are all very happy that he will remain a member of the Samford community. He is thoroughly prepared to be a head coach and will be fantastic. He will win and do it with great integrity. He epitomizes both the Samford spirit and its highest virtues."

A native of Holly Pond, Ala., Morris is married to the former Melanie Nix and they are the parents of a son, Peyton (8) and a daughter, Paige (5).