ATHENS, W.Va. – Concord University Director of Athletics
Kevin Garrett has announced the hiring of Alyssa Morris as the softball program's fifth head coach.
One of the best players in program history for the Mountain Lion softball program, Morris returns to Athens after a two-year head coaching stint at Union College, an NAIA program in Barbourville, Kentucky.
Morris spent the 2019 season as an assistant at Union before assuming the head coaching duties prior to the start of the 2020 campaign.
"I'm elated to hire one of our own to be the next leader of the Concord University softball program," Garrett said. "Alyssa was not only one of the best student-athletes in program history, but she was a great ambassador for Concord during her playing days. She's familiar with the campus and the success of the program."
In two seasons as a head coach, Morris has posted a record of 35-29, including starting her inaugural season with a 14-7 mark in 2020 before the cancellation of the season.
A 2016 graduate of Concord with a degree in sociology, Morris began her coaching career as a graduate assistant for Indiana Wesleyan, a program that went 102-27 and appeared in back-to-back NAIA College World Series in her two seasons.
"I'm super excited and very thankful to be at Concord and to be given this opportunity to coach at my alma mater," Morris said. "I want to thank
Kevin Garrett, our President Dr. Kendra Boggess and the search committee for considering me. I can't wait to meet the team in person and get this year underway."
As for Morris' playing days in the Maroon and Gray, the native of Virginia Beach, Virginia native owns program records in home runs (46) and RBI (169). Her 226 career hits are fourth in program history and her 419 total bases was just broken this season by All-American
Jenna Witt.
Morris was the first All-American in program history as she batted .393 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI. Morris was not only a prolific power hitter, but as CU's everyday catcher she managed a pitching staff that sported a 2.17 ERA during the 2015 season, a single-season program best.
Then a junior, Morris and the Mountain Lions had a memorable season as they won 34 games and made the program's first NCAA Tournament, winning a game in the national postseason with a victory over West Chester in 2015.
"Even though the spring season seems like a long way off, I'm looking forward to continuing the success and tradition the program has seen under Coach Tasler," Morris said. "I was fortunate to be part of the build here at Concord as a player which makes this opportunity even more special."
Overall, Morris was a four-time all-conference selection, earning second team honors in 2013 and again in 2014. She was a First Team All-Mountain East Conference pick in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, she was a consensus all-region first team performer in her final two seasons.
Morris takes over a Concord program that was led by her former head coach
Alisa Tasler for the last 10 seasons. Half of those seasons, the Mountain Lions won 30 games. In 2021, CU went 17-21.
A formal press conference to introduce Morris will be held Tuesday, August 17 at 11:00 a.m. in the Carter Center's Mountain Lion Room.
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