By Stephen Henderson

David Morrison, a 1998 graduate of Patrick County High School and three-sport letterman, was named the high school’s head varsity football coach last Friday at a meeting of potential high school football players.

Athletic Director Terry Harris introduced Morrison to the group of over 40 young men. Most knew Morrison for his work as assistant football coach for seven years and his varsity wrestling coaching experience.

Morrison played fullback and inside linebacker and wrestled in the 145, 160 and 171-pound weight classes while at PCHS. He attributes much of his success while a Cougar to his coaches, including Mark Gammons for wrestling and Addison Kendrick and Matt Versluis for football.

“They all helped guide, direct, and shape my concepts of the role of athletics in a young man’s life and fortified my love of sport, and I think more importantly, grew my love for competition,” Morrison said. “I learned a great deal about accountability, personal responsibility and leadership while working in their programs.”

However, Morrison said that no coach had the same impact as his father did. “I was blessed to have a dad who not only loved athletics, who loved teaching young men the value of competing, but who also loved and served the Lord,” Morrison said. “He was always cognizant of the potential impact he could have on a young person and how he could bring about positive change in young peoples’ lives by teaching them to play the game of football and to work hard to attain their goals.”

Personal accountability in all aspects of one’s life is one of the main goals Morrison wants to impress upon his team. “That will cover everything that we need. In order for our program to be successful, it will require a team effort where every man who comes out has to take care of his job to the best of his ability in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the field,” Morrison said.

“If we are in the classroom, it is our responsibility to pay attention, to complete our assignments, and to get an education. We have to understand that without an education, the rest of it means nothing,” he said.

“We want all of our kids, whether they choose to or not, to be eligible to move on to good schools at the end of their high school careers. If we are in the weight room or on the track, our goal should be to get as strong and as fast as possible so we can defend and protect our brothers and teammates and bend our opponents to our will,” Morrison explained. “While we are on the practice field, we all have to have personal accountability to learn our jobs and be able to execute our jobs down to the most minute detail of technique in order to make sure that the offense, defense, and special teams units can be run the way they are designed.”

In order to accomplish his goals and accountability for Cougar football, Morrison has already started preparations for the 2017 football season. “We have already started working in the weight room with our guys, and the excitement that has been building will continue to grow as these young men see themselves getting stronger and faster than they have ever been,” he said.

“Our numbers are growing and will continue to grow as long as we are accepting the responsibility of taking ownership of our program,” he said. “This includes players, parents, coaches at all levels, and community members as well. There is no way we can grow our program without the support of the parents and local community and business leaders.”

Many of Morrison’s goals are overreaching; they involve establishing and maintaining a comprehensive football program from the youth level to varsity that is highly competitive where the players are taught to play the game the right way. “Our program must be known throughout the state as a top-class program and organization, and more importantly than anything, that our program turns out good, responsible young men who understand the values of service and sacrifice for something greater than oneself,” Morrison said.

“When our kids leave our program, we want them to leave as young men with a heart to serve their community and country with pride, dignity, and honor,” Morrison explained.

According to Morrison, PCHS is currently running after school weightlifting and conditioning on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. for all players grades 7-12. Team camp announcements will be made in the very near future.