Tiger soccer coach Todd Morris recognized at the state level
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Wheeler Marietta High boys soccer coach Todd Morris, center, looks on before a match this season at Jerry Brock Field in Devola. At his side are assistant coaches Keith Schwendeman, left, and Colten Holdren, right.
Marietta High soccer head coach Todd Morris has been awarded The Ron Pinsenschaum Award by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.
The award is given to a men's coach based upon ethics and sportsmanship, and a coach's contributions to the game of soccer. This is considered the highest honor a coach can receive on the state level. This award is first given at the district level, and then the district winners around the state are voted on by the OSSCA to determine a state winner. There are currently 575 men's soccer teams in the state of Ohio according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Morris just completed his 13th season as the for the Tigers, and his 29th season of involvement with the program, with the Tigers finishing the season 10-4-3 winning their third consecutive East Central Ohio League championship in the process.
"Being informed that I had won this award, which is voted on by your coaching peers, is a huge humbling honor for me, and I look at this more as a reward for our program and what our program stands for and tries to be," Morris said. "Surrounding myself with a great coaching staff is key, coaches that understand the program and believe in what we are trying to do. This program has been so special to me and has been the one constant my whole adult life. But I, we, always strive to make this program so much more than soccer and wins and losses. We try to put into place a program that focuses on the details, and the most important to me is creating the camaraderie, creating that family atmosphere. Developing those close relationships with the players, staying in contact with alumni, all of that. Despite all the wins and the championships, the players, my coaches, the families, all come first, and those relationships must be cultivated. The soccer is great, being in training and in games on the pitch is great, but getting to be around the boys and the coaches day in and day out, having that relationship with them and then getting to watch them have fun and succeed on the pitch and off the pitch is the most rewarding part of being blessed to be doing this all these years. The relationships that I have with our players and former players is what I cherish the most through all of this. This game has been so good to me, it has opened a lot of doors, provided some great opportunities for me, and allowed me to meet and become friends with some of the best people. Giving back to the game and trying to ensure that the players enjoy soccer as much as I have is something that I make a goal of mine every day."
Morris entered the MHS soccer program in 1992, and in four years on the field, won four league titles and district championships in 1994 and 1995, while individually earning "All-Everything" honors as a Tiger goalkeeper, before transitioning into the role of an assistant coach. As an assistant coach on the staff from 1996-2007, Morris was a part of nine more league championships and three district championship teams. Since taking over as the head coach in 2008, Morris has led the Tigers to a 153-60-30 record, while winning six conference championships and district championships in 2009, 2010 and 2019.
During his 29-year tenure with the MHS program, Marietta is 371-123-51. Morris has been a part of 371 of the program's 437 wins and has been involved in 545 of the program's 669 games. He is currently the President of the Southeast District Coaches Association, after serving as the Vice President of the organization for four years.
An impressive coaching run has led to Morris racking up some coaching accolades over the years.
Morris is a: seven-time conference Coach of the Year (3 x SEOAL Coach of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010; 4 x ECOL Coach of the Year (2012, 2018, 2019, 2020); three-time Southeast District Coach of the Year (2009, 2010, 2019); four-time Southeast District Assistant Coach of the Year (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002), including the OSSCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2001; and now the prestigious Ron Pinsenschaum Award for both the district and the state to add to the resume and trophy case.
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