STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS HEAD COACH DRIBBLES ·NEW RESPONSIBILITIES Head Men's Basketball Coach Jeff Morgan added the title of athletic director to his list of titles on campus. After 25 years ofserving as head coach of the men's basketball team, Jeff Morgan was appointed the athletic director in August 2018. Morgan always knew he wanted to be a basketball coach, but during his rime working for Harding, he realized that he had a knack for the administrative side of athletics. He was the NCAA compliance coordinator for 12 years before accepting the athletic director position. Because of his experience, he seemed to be an obvious choice for the job. Head Women's Basketball Coach Tim Kirby scarred working as a coach at Harding the same year as Morgan and served as Morgan's assistant coach for men's basketball for 12 years under Greg Harnden, former athletic director. "He's done a lot of work that allows him to kind of know how a sports program is supposed to function," Kirby aid. "He knows what's going on, he gets along with everybody really well, he's going to work with all the programs like Coach Harnden did in a great way, so it's going to be a good, easy transition." Morgan had a few goals he planned to implement as he kicked off his first year as athletic director, including helping athletes have a great experience while growing their relationship with God on and off che field or the court. "We have some great student athletes here who invest a lot of time into their sport, and it's awfully fun to watch them develop and compete over che years," Morgan said. Assistant Men's Basketball Coach Ray Woods felt that Morgan's transition into his new role was seamless and his servant-minded heart was what made him a leader. "He's going to be a really good athletic director because he's a very selfless person, and he has a servant's heart," Woods said. "He's going to try to serve the athletic department, serve the coaches and serve the student athletes because that's what he's about, and that's what he knows. Those are the best athletic directors: the ones that are servant-hearted." story by Maleah Brown Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director JeffMorgan huddles with his team during a timeout in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House on Dec. 6, 2017. Morgan was the NCAA compliance coordinator for 12 years before taking on the role ofHarding's athletic director in August 2018. I photo by Sterling McMichael 197 I FACULTY & STAFF FEATURE
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