Veteran collegiate coach and former UCLA standout Karl Morgan enters his fourth season as the leader of the Mississippi Valley State football program. He was introduced as the 15th head coach at Mississippi Valley State University on January 11, 2010. Morgan also serves as defensive coordinator for the Delta Devils. He came to MVSU after serving five seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of North Alabama.
In his three seasons at the helm at MVSU, the Delta Devils have gone 6-26, but have continued to improve under Morgan. In 2011, Valley finished sixth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in total defense and rushing offense. Then in 2012, the Delta Devils led the SWAC and ranked fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in total defense, allowing just 279.18 yards per game. Valley also ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, while giving up just 18.7 points per game in 2012. The Delta Devils were atop the conference in rushing defense (116.2), pass defense efficiency (99.7) and interceptions (13). Meanwhile, MVSU allowed just 163 passing yards per game (2
nd in the SWAC).
While at MVSU, Morgan has coached six postseason All-SWAC Delta Devils – all named following the 2012 season.
In 2012, Morgan became the first MVSU head football coach to lead the Delta Devils to victories over Southern and Grambling State in the same season since legendary coach Archie Cooley in 1984.
Over his five seasons in Florence, Alabama, Morgan has helped lead UNA to a combined 55-10 record that includes a Gulf South Conference Championship and four NCAA playoff berths. With Morgan as defensive coordinator, the Lions have a plus 82 turnover margin in the 65 games he has coached at North Alabama.
In 2009, the Lions finished with an 11-2 record and participated in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.. The University of North Alabama placed four players on the 2009 Daktronics, Inc. All-American first team and the 2009 Associated Press Little All- America Team, led by first-team selections Michael Johnson and Montrell Craft. Johnson, a senior linebacker from Panama City, Fla., and Craft, a senior defensive lineman, were both four-year lettermen for the Lions, made the UNA Team of the Decade for 1999-2008 and had tremendous senior seasons. Johnson was also named the Ron Lenz National Defensive Player of the Year. UNA was sixth in the nation in pass efficiency defense, 11th in scoring defense and turnover margin 26th in pass defense.
In 2008, the Lions went 12-2 and reached the semifinals of the Division II playoffs. The UNA defense forced the most turnovers in the nation with 44 and picked off the most passes (32). UNA ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin, seventh in pass efficiency defense and 14th in scoring defense (17.36). A total of seven UNA defenders earned All-GSC honors, including linemen Montrell Craft and Derrick Chatman. In 2007 the Lions went 10-2 and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs behind a defense that ranked seventh nationally in turnovers gained and 25th in scoring defense. In 2006 UNA was 11-1, won the GSC title and reached the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs. The Lion defense ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13.8 points per game. Five Lion defenders earned All-GSC honors.
In 2005 Morgan’s defense at UNA ranked among the NCAA Division II national leaders in every category and helped the Lions post an 11-3 record and a semifinal berth of the Division II playoffs. The UNA defense recovered 20 fumbles and intercepted 21 passes as the Lions had a +19 turnover margin. Four UNA defenders received All-Gulf South Conference honors following the season, with defensive back Blake Farris named to four All-America teams. Farris and defensive lineman Lee Vickers both signed with National Football League teams following the season.
Prior to coming to North Alabama, Morgan coached at Hampton (Va.) University and Alcorn State (Miss.) University. Morgan also spent four seasons as the defensive line coach at Arkansas State University. Prior to his appointment with the Indians, he was the defensive line coach at Purdue University.
Morgan got his start in coaching as the head football coach at Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, Louisiana from 1989 to 1992. He then entered the college ranks and served as the defensive line coach at Nicholls State University from 1993 to 1994.
During the 1995 season, Morgan was the defensive line coach at Southern University. His defensive line was part of a unit that helped to lead the Jaguars to a 11-1 record en route to the Black College National Championship.
During his playing days, the Houma, Louisiana native was a nose guard at UCLA and was a four-year letterwinner with the Bruins. He was the defensive captain of the 1983 Rose Bowl championship team. During his career with the Bruins, Morgan recorded 35 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback sacks. He was a two-time recipient of the Henry R. “Red” Sanders Trophy for Most Valuable Defensive Player at UCLA. Morgan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UCLA in 1984.
Morgan played professional football with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in 1983. He was also drafted by the Arizona Wranglers of the United States Football League. He then played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League from 1984 to 1986 and also played with the Houston Oilers in 1986. In 1992 he played Arena football with the Cincinnati Rockers.
|
Years |
Position |
School |
|
1989-92 |
Head Coach |
Central Catholic (La.) |
|
1993-94 |
Assistant Coach |
Nicholls State |
|
1995 |
Assistant Coach |
Southern University |
|
1996 |
Assistant Coach |
Purdue |
|
1997-00 |
Assistant Coach |
Arkansas State |
|
2001 |
Defensive Coordinator |
Alcorn State |
|
2002-04 |
Defensive Coordinator |
Hampton University |
|
2005-09 |
Defensive Coordinator |
North Alabama |
|
2010 - |
Head Coach |
Mississippi Valley State |
