Bowie resident is new Friendly coach

Morgan was born and raised in the county and is a 1989 Bishop McNamara graduate. He has an extensive football background as both a player and coach. In 2007, he served as defensive coordinator at North Carolina Central University and in 2006, he interned at Maryland.

As a player, Morgan was a linebacker at Bowie State from 1989-1992 and was a member of the Bulldogs’ 1989 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship team. Morgan was an assistant coach at Bowie State under coach Sherman Wood for six years, then spent a year as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Morgan State before returning to Bowie State as defensive coordinator under Henry Frazier. Morgan’s defense in 2002 was one of the best in NCAA Division II, ranking second in the nation in total defense.

Morgan’s first head coaching job came from 2003-06 at Fort Valley (Ga.) State University. Friendly will be Morgan’s first head coaching job at the high school level, but he doesn’t consider himself a rookie when it comes to the local football scene.

‘‘When I coached [at Bowie State], this was my area of recruiting,” said Morgan, a Bowie resident. ‘‘A lot of the coaches here, I do know.”

Morgan said he is a certified guidance counselor, having previously served in that capacity at Parkdale and Potomac. Ryans declined to comment on whether Morgan would have a guidance position at Friendly.

Morgan said Tuesday he planned to be an everyday presence in the school, adding that he hopes to set up meetings with Friendly Athletic Director Tiffany Miller-Bevins, his players, the players’ parents, and the previous football coaching staff by the end of next week. He said he is open to retaining members of the previous coaching staff, but he also has his own personnel that he wants to consider as well.

‘‘It’s a blessing for me to be in this situation,” said Morgan. ‘‘I feel fortunate to be coming in here and I’m ready to get started. Coach Earley and his staff have been able to build a great program here.

‘‘The way athletics are changing in high school, you have to run your program as if it were a college program. Football is a sport that is 365 days a year on the field and in the classroom. I’ll expect a lot from the kids. I want to make sure the kids will be doing what they are supposed to be doing.”

When asked for his expectations for the coming season, Morgan made it simple and clear.

‘‘Success in the classroom and success in the field,” he said.

E-mail Adam Rubenstein at arubenstein@gazette.net.