The University of Akron Athletics
Morris Assumes Responsibility For Zips' Defense
March 19 | Football
Bob Morris , the Zips' pass defense coordinator the last three seasons, will assume additional duties as defensive coordinator, succeeding Joe Palmisano , who resigned as a member of the football coaching staff to take a position in business.
A 1977 Colorado graduate, Morris coached for 13 seasons in the Big Ten as a member of staffs at Indiana and Purdue and for three years served as the Boilermakers' defensive coordinator under Jim Colletto. He joined UA's coaching staff on March 5, 1998.
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Bob Morris |
"Bob has coordinated the defense from the back end the last three seasons," explained Zips' head coach Lee Owens in making the announcement. "Our secondary has played extremely well in terms of having good numbers in pass defense efficiency. Not only has he coordinated defense in the Big Ten, but he has been with a MAC team when they won a championship. He was with coach Bill Mallory at Northern Illinois, and then later at Indiana, when they turned that program around. His defenses also had some great performances at Purdue when he was a member of Jim Colletto's staff."
Last fall, the Zips ranked eighth in the Mid-American Conference in total defense with an average yield of 403.5 yards per game. The last two years, Morris' secondaries have ranked fourth and fifth' respectively, in the MAC in pass efficiency defense.
"Bob has great experience, is a great communicator, coaches at a high energy level, and the players love him," said Owens. "I think he's a perfect fit for us. We're really fortunate that he's here. Plus, he's excited about doing it. There are a lot of major Division I-A schools who have an interest in Coach Morris coaching their secondary. But he would rather be the coordinator here than a position coach at a major Division I-A program. So, I think that's a great commitment on his part to want to stay here and be a part of what we're doing."
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Joe Palmisano |
In losing Palmisano, Owens was quick to credit the former Malone head coach with helping to turn the Zips' program into a winner over the last six seasons.
"Joe is one of seven coaches who spent the first six years here together," said Owens. "It would have been easy for any of those coaches to leave at any time, but Joe stuck it out and was a major reason why we've been able to turn the corner and become a legitimate contender in the Mid-American Conference. He also was a great recruiter and is well-respected in the community."
The Zips open spring practice sessions Wednesday, March 28, and
conclude spring ball with the annual Blue-Gold Game Saturday, April
21, at 1 p.m. at the Rubber Bowl. Champions of the MAC East
Division last fall, the Zips have posted back-to-back winning
seasons for the first time as a Division I-A program.
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