Jim Morris Named National Coach Of The Year

June 18, 2001

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – University of Miami baseball head coach Jim Morris has been named National Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

The award marks the second time Morris has been honored as National Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball with a previous award coming after his first national title with the Hurricanes in 1999. Overall, Morris has been named National Coach of the Year four times since arriving at Miami in 1994. Prior to his 2001 and 1999 selections from Collegiate Baseball, Morris was the Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1999 and by Baseball America in 1994.

The Hurricanes claimed their fourth National Championship this past Saturday with a 12-1 victory over the Stanford Cardinal in the College World Series title game. The National Championship was the second won by Miami in the last three seasons. Morris’ 1999 club defeated rival Florida State, 6-5, in the CWS title game for his first championship. The Hurricanes also claimed the College World Series championship, under legendary head coach Ron Fraser in 1982 and 1985.

Miami finished the 2001 season riding a NCAA-high 17-game win streak, including a nine-game sweep through the postseason. The Hurricanes claimed the Coral Gables Regional championship with wins over Bucknell, Florida and Stetson. Miami then earned its seventh trip to the College World Series under Morris with a two-game sweep of Clemson in the Coral Gables Super Regional.

The Hurricanes 53-12 overall record in 2001 marked the most in victories (53) and winning percentage (.815) under Morris. Miami also led the nation in stolen bases (228) and relief pitcher appearances (223). A school record 11 players were drafted off the 2001 squad, surpassing the previous mark of 10 in 1996.

Morris holds an all-time record of 1,028-404-2 (.716), including a 393-119-1 (.767) record at Miami. In Division I-A games only, Morris is 897-363-2 (.712).