Morrison to Coach Memphis Cornerbacks

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis head football coach Larry Porter has completed his coaching staff with the hiring of Shannon Morrison, who served the 2009 season as the co-defensive coordinator at Bowling Green State. Morrison will coach Tiger cornerbacks, a position that opened up again after newly-hired assistant Brian Mitchell departed Memphis for East Carolina in late January, a week after being announced at the U of M.

Morrison has served as a defensive coordinator at three different schools, including BGSU (2009), Lehigh (2004) and Southeast Missouri State (2001-03).

While at Bowling Green in 2009, Morrison coached safeties. Bowling Green finished the 2009 season with a 7-6 record after dropping a hard-fought 43-42 decision to Idaho in the Humanitarian Bowl. BGSU ranked 38th nationally in pass defense last season, allowing just 204 yards a game, which also ranked fourth-best in the MAC. In 2009 alone his pass defense allowed less than 200 yards on six different occasions, highlighted by an effort versus Marshall where the defense allowed just 100 yards through the air.

Prior to the 2009 campaign, Morrison spent four seasons (2005-08) at his alma mater, Marshall, where he coached linebackers (2005-06) and safeties (2007-08). He tutored junior safety C.J. Spillman in 2007 as he recorded a team-high 131 tackles en route to earning second-team All-Conference USA honors.

Morrison was a four-time letterwinner at Marshall and was an All-Southern Conference and honorable mention All-America selection for the Herd in 1994.

During his Marshall career he intercepted 11 passes and is still sixth on the Thundering Herd's all-time interceptions list. He also helped Marshall to its first-ever national title in 1992. The Oak Hill, W.Va., native graduated from Marshall in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.