Alabama Adds Hunter Morris to Crimson Tide Baseball Staff
7/23/2021 12:04:00 PM | Baseball
The former SEC Player of the Year joins Brad Bohannon’s staff as an assistant coach
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon announced the addition of Hunter Morris to the Crimson Tide staff on Friday morning. Morris comes to Tuscaloosa after spending the previous three seasons at UT-Martin.
"I am very excited to bring Hunter on-board with us to assist me with our position players," said Bohannon. "Hunter's experience being the SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Player of the Year along with his six years playing professional baseball will be a tremendous asset in connecting with our players who aspire to reach the same goals. His character and demeanor will fit in really well with our current staff.
Morris spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at UT-Martin where he worked with the hitters and position players while also leading the Skyhawks' recruiting efforts. His impressive 2020 recruiting class produced a pair of Collegiate Baseball News All-Americans in Christian Hall and Wil LaFollette with Hall also earning recognition as the Ohio Valley Conference's 'Best Freshman' by D1Baseball.com.
His efforts with the hitters also paid dividends for the Skyhawks. The 2019 team produced 48 home runs – the third-most homers in a single season in program history at the time. UT-Martin's 2020 roster then homered 14 times through 16 games and was on-pace to top the 2019 total before the season was officially canceled. The Skyhawks picked up right where they left off, continuing that power surge in 2021 to the tune of 58 homers, the second-most roundtrippers in program history.
Prior to his time in Martin, Morris served as a volunteer assistant to then-head coach Casey Dunn at Samford during the 2018 season. He helped guide the Bulldogs to a 37-26 mark and the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. While in Birmingham, Morris oversaw three MLB Draft selections and a pair of 2018 All-Southern Conference performers.
Morris graduated from Grissom High School in 2007 and was selected in the second round of the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. Morris passed up starting his professional career and elected to attend Auburn University where he went on to be named the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year and eventually the 2010 SEC Player of the Year.
He etched his name in the Auburn record books during his time on the Plains. He ranks in the top-10 of seven single-season categories and holds the program's records for home runs (23) and total bases (202). Morris also sits in the top-10 ranks in five career categories at AU. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 2008 while also being selected to the USA National Team his first season. Morris was then named an All-American in 2010 thanks to a standout junior campaign.
Following that 2010 season, he was drafted in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. Morris spent five seasons with the Brewers' organization before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and finishing up his career in 2015. Morris returned to Auburn in 2017 to complete his degree while also getting his start in coaching as a student assistant coach for the Tigers.
The Huntsville native is married to his wife Macie. The couple has three children – Tripp (10), Charlotte (5) and Ellie Kate (1).
"I really appreciate Hunter, his wife Macie, and his children Tripp, Charlotte and Ellie Kate, for believing in us and the direction of our program," Bohannon added. "I can't wait to get to work with Hunter and our players this Fall."
The Crimson Tide is set to return to the diamond following a 32-26 season in 2021 that saw Alabama advance to the NCAA Ruston Regional, UA's first Regional appearance since 2014.
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