|
Morgan leaves Fairport football
The newcomer departs after just one season. He will coach in
Virginia Beach
By Jeff Diveronica
Democrat and
Chronicle
(April 27, 2002) — From 1975-2000, Fairport High School had just two
football coaches and became a Section V powerhouse.
But this fall the Red Raiders will have a different coach for the
second straight season.
Rich Morgan, 33, told athletic director Jim Zumbo this week that he
will not return as Fairport's coach. The Red Raiders went 2-7 last
year in Morgan's only season.
He has not submitted a letter of
resignation, but on Friday Morgan said he has accepted a head football
coaching position and physical education job at a large high school in
the Virginia Beach, Va., area. He declined to name the school or why
he is leaving Fairport other than, "It was in my best interest and my
family's best interest." |
photo by DANESE KENON
Fairport football coach Rich Morgan declined to give reasons for his
departure, saying it was in his "best interest." |
Zumbo did not return phone messages seeking
comment.
"I'm going to miss my players. They've worked hard in the off-season,"
Morgan said. "I'm sad I won't be able to see how successful they would be
next year. I have no doubt we'd be better, but I don't even think wins and
losses were an issue."
The arrival of Morgan, an Auburn native who from 1999-2000 turned around
Thousand Islands High in Clayton, Jefferson County, stirred enthusiasm.
Fairport was coming off a 3-7 season, the last of Dave Lanning's eight as
head coach. A 22-year varsity assistant and highly successful junior
varsity coach, Lanning won four sectional crowns and the 1997 state title
after replacing Don Santini, the area's winningest coach (204 victories).
Santini won seven sectionals and two mythical state titles at Fairport.
Under Morgan, the Red Raiders beat Rush-Henrietta 35-7 in Week 2 to even
their record at 1-1, but then lost seven straight before topping R-H
again, 23-7, in the season finale. They were outscored 222-62 by other
opponents.
Morgan admitted his style ruffled some feathers.
"I'd definitely call him fiery," said Anthony Bianchi, coach at rival
Webster, the defending Class AA state champs. "He has good football
knowledge, but he was working on implementing things his own way --
regardless of Fairport tradition or Section V protocol."
Morgan declined to offer specifics, saying he is still employed by
Fairport. But Santini said he heard of conflicts with booster club members
and fans questioning Morgan's decisions on playing time and strategy.
"I guess I did upset some people in the district," Morgan said. "Would I
do anything differently? No. I can't be anyone else. If my style doesn't
work at Fairport, fine. It's worked everywhere else and will work at the
next place."
There were more than 30 applicants for the Fairport job last year. Lanning
is now an assistant at St. John Fisher College and Santini, 63, is taking
a year off from being an assistant at the University of Rochester. He is
not, however, a candidate for the Fairport job, he pointed out with a
laugh. Santini expects the school name a coach quickly.
"We need to get Fairport football back where it was," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The coaches
Fairport's six football coaches since 1936:
Rich Morgan: 2001 (2-7).
Dave Lanning: 1993-2000 (66-22 record).
Don Santini: 1975-92 (139-25-5).
Pete Logan: 1969-74 (33-17).
Paul Lopez: 1964-68.
Joe Cummings: 1936-63.
(Records unavailable for Lopez and Cummings).
|
