Cal Basketball: Mark Madsen Fills Out Coaching Staff With Loyola Chicago Assistant
New Cal basketball coach Mark Madsen has hired Amorrow Morgan from the staff at Loyola Chicago to complete his staff, the school announced on Thursday.
Morgan, 35, joins associate head coach Adam Mazarei and assistant Matt Scherbenske on Madsen’s first coaching staff.
"I'm extremely fired up and thankful to join Coach Madsen and the Cal family," Morgan said in a statement provided by Cal. "Coach Madsen has won wherever he's been; he's a proven winner as a player and no different as a head coach. His energy is contagious and he knows how to bring the best out of everyone in his program. I'm excited to work with and learn from him daily. Cal basketball has a rich and growing tradition, and I'm ready to help our student-athletes and this program achieve at the highest level both on and off the court. Go Bears!"
Madsen also issued a statement:
"Amorrow has a deep knowledge of the game and has elevated every program he's been a part of," Madsen said. "He has strong relationships across the country and his passion for leading young men in both life and basketball is going to boost our program's culture immediately. I'm elated to welcome Amorrow and his wife, Michelle, to the Cal family."
Ken Moses and Jarred Jackson, who previously worked for Madsen at Utah Valley, reportedly will join Morgan in Berkeley. Moses and Jackson were assistant coaches at Utah Valley.
“This is the type of staff Madsen needed at a tough job like Cal,” Kevin Sweeney of SINow tweeted. “Guys who have recruited at a high level, recruited academic kids, and who have won. Strong first moves by the former Stanford star and Utah Valley HC.”
Morgan, who played his college basketball at Idaho State, spent the past two seasons at Loyola Chicago.
Ramblers coach Drew Valentine, on Loyola’s website, said Morgan is “well-respected and liked across the country for the job he does.
“In addition to being an extremely passionate and high-energy individual, who excels both as a recruiter and on-floor coach, Amorrow is elite at building relationships. He is a future head coach and rising star in this profession,” Valentine said.
Loyola went 25-10 and played in the NCAA tournament in Morgan’s first season with the program, then skidded to 10-21 this past season.
Morgan previously coached three seasons at South Alabama, the final two as associate head coach. The Jaguars were 54-39 during his three seasons.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Morgan also has coached at Nicholls State, Henderson State, Illinois-Springfield and Our Lady of the Lake University.
At Idaho State, Morgan averaged 16.6 points as a senior in 2009-10, earning second-team All-Big Sky honors. A 6-foot-5 guard, Morrow averaged 10.7 points over his college career.
He played three seasons of professional basketball in Europe, including as the top scorer for the German team, SC Itzehoe Eagles, in his final season before beginning his coaching career.
Cover photo of Amorrow Morgan courtesy of Loyola Chicago Athletics
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
