Golden Bears head coach to present at Football Canada Coaches Convention

Photo credit: University of Alberta

University of Alberta head coach Chris Morris will present at the 2014 Football Canada Coaches Convention on July 11 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The convention features presenters from across Canada including Carleton University head coach, Steve Sumarah; Edmonton Huskies (CJFL) head coach, Iain Maclean; and University of Saskatchewan defensive coordinator, Ed Carleton.

Morris, originally from Scarborough, ON holds two degrees (bachelor of physical and health education – University of Toronto 1995, and bachelor of education – University of Alberta 1997), is a two-time CIS all-Canadian while playing for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, and he won the J.P. Metras Trophy as the most outstanding down lineman in the country in 1990.

He also played in the East-West Shrine Bowl before getting drafted in the first round (8th overall) of the 1992 Canadian Football League draft by the Edmonton Eskimos. He started in his rookie season, and played an additional 14 seasons, or 237 games for the Eskimos. He was a team captain, and he played in five Grey Cup games with the Esks, winning three (1993, 2003 and 2005), and was given a plaque on the Eskimos’ Wall of Honour in Commonwealth Stadium in 2008.

While still playing in the CFL, Morris became a full-time teacher within Edmonton Public Schools in 1997, earning a provincial teacher of excellence nomination during that time. He ascended to principal in 2009, and as principal of Spruce Avenue Junior High, he turned around the school’s historical Provincial Achievement success rate from 50% to close to 90%, the highest in the history of the school.

He has also served as the offensive coordinator of the Harry Ainlay Titans football program, helping the Titans to three city championships, two Northern championships and one provincial championship title over his past four seasons with the program.

Morris took over as head coach of a rebuilding University of Alberta football program in 2013.