LJ FB: New Coach Matt Morrison

By Ed Piper

Matt Morrison, newly named head football coach at La Jolla High, said he's the product of the coaches and teachers he has been around.

"My dad was a high school coach for 30 years," said Morrison in an initial phone interview. "Being around that and being able to observe his style, and being around other people and being able to compare their styles" has been his ongoing learning lab as a football coach.

"I had (two) years at La Costa Canyon (where he was offensive coordinator). I don't know that I'm done" growing as a coach, he said when asked about an experience or event that has helped shape him as a coach. "I've been coaching for 10 years."

A teacher at Blessed Sacrament Parish School, he said he also has "been around great teachers. I want to keep improving. I want our coaches to be thinking that way. If our kids are focused on improving," the program will do well.

Regarding his manner and presence, he allowed as how "I'm not an outspoken person. When you're new to a community (like La Jolla's football program), you want to listen to them and hear them out."
But he didn't mean to communicate that he's a shrinking violet. He obviously has ideas on how he will run the program as the new head coach, and said he welcomes the support and collaboration of people like Administrative Coach John McColl and Dr. Steve Hayden, team physician, and Marina Hayden, head of the Boosters Club.

"I've been fortunate to be in three programs that have had a ton of success on the field," Morrison commented. "They're similar to La Jolla in that they have high academic success."

"La Jolla," he said, "is a place we can sustain more than one season," in hopefully what is an understatement.

Asked about the fact six, seven, or eight players played both ways--on offense and defense--last season, he said, "The number of players in the program is more important than the school enrollment. I was at Parker for seven years. You have to have a number of kids going both ways. At La Costa Canyon, you have some two-way guys and some who play one way.

"Everybody has to block and tackle. You win high school football by putting your best guys on the field. Somebody may play safety. Someone may play linebacker, We're going to find ways to put guys in those positions."