Head Coach Jim Morris Signs Contract Extension
June 28, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris received a four-year contract extension, UM Athletics Director Paul Dee announced today.
“The University of Miami is extremely pleased to announce that coach Jim Morris’ contract has been extended until 2012 season,” Dee said. “Coach Morris has done an outstanding job for the University of Miami baseball program in his 13 years as head coach and very much deserves this contract extension.”
The extension comes on the heels of the Hurricanes’ 10th College World Series appearance during Morris’ 13 years at the helm of the baseball program. Morris, who led the Hurricanes to national championships in 1999 and 2001, is a five-time National Coach of the Year and has compiled a 605-221-3 (.732) record while at Miami, carrying on the winning baseball tradition established by former head coach Ron Fraser (1963-92). During that time the Hurricanes have extended their NCAA postseason streak to 34 consecutive years and have advanced out of NCAA Regional competition a record 13-straight seasons under Morris. In addition, Miami is the only school to reach the NCAA Super Regional round every year since its inception in 1998.
“It is a great honor to be at Miami and to coach at Miami,” Morris said. “When I came to Miami 13 years ago, I thought this was the best job in college baseball. Today, I know it is the best job in college baseball.
“I’m very excited about working for President Shalala, Paul Dee and the UM administration, and about their commitment to our program, which is unbelievable. It’s the best.”
The 2006 campaign may have been one of the most challenging and rewarding years in Morris’ career at Miami. Morris led one of his youngest teams ever through arguably the toughest postseason trek in program history and tie for a fifth-place finish at the College World Series. UM finished 42-24, won five postseason games on the road and advanced out of the Super Regional round on the road – both school firsts – to reach the program’s benchmark for success, Omaha and the CWS.
After beginning the season unranked in the Baseball America poll, the Hurricanes finished the season in the top 10 and were ranked as high as sixth in the Coaches’ Poll and in Collegiate Baseball.
Prior to his time at Miami, Morris was the head coach at Georgia Tech for 12 years, compiling a 504-244-1 record. He owns a career coaching record of 2,240-506-4 (.710) and ranks sixth among active Division I coaches in winning percentage, and is 23rd on the Division I all-time wins list with a record of 1,109-465-5 (.704).
