Gary Morrison: A career in the MIAA spanning five decades

Former Olivet College coach Gary Morrison not only left a legacy at Olivet but also in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) when he retired in 2010. His career in the MIAA spanned more than five decades.

It all started in 1953 when he enrolled at Kalamazoo College. At Kalamazoo, he was a member of the baseball, basketball and track teams.

Morrison played two years of baseball. He was the team’s leading hitter in 1955, earning All-MIAA honors. Morrison would have played a third season of baseball but he signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers. He ran the 100 and 220 yard events in track as a sophomore and junior.

However by far, basketball was Morrison’s best sport. He was a two-time first-team All-MIAA selection. He transferred to K-College from University of Michigan and rules made him sit out his first semester of basketball. At the time of his graduation, Morrison was Kalamazoo’s all-time leading scorer with 1,252 points. That total has been surpassed by others but currently ranks 12th in Kalamazoo history.

“I went to Kalamazoo after my high school coach (Rolla Anderson) got the job there,” said Morrison. “He told me if I transferred there I would play right away. And at that time, that was the most important thing to me.

“The most memorable thing to happen to me was when the Detroit Tigers scout came to watch me play basketball. I scored a career-high 35 points in that game versus Purdue-North Central.”

Upon graduation, Morrison was a substitute teacher for one year and an elementary school teacher in the Battle Creek Public Schools for one year. He then got his first coaching experience at Galesburg-Augusta High School, where he served as the boys’ basketball and baseball coach for eight years.

Then in 1967, Morrison received calls from Anderson and Ray Steffen telling him to apply for the coaching job at Olivet College. Anderson and Steffen were good friends with Stu Parcell, Olivet’s Athletic Director, and knew Morrison would be a good fit for Olivet.

And that’s where it all started at Olivet in Sept. 1967 for Morrison, who was hired to the men’s basketball, cross country and tennis coach, as well as instructor in the physical education department. Morrison ended up giving up the tennis coaching duties after one year, and the cross country coaching duties after three years. But, he continued to coach the head men’s basketball team until his retirement after the 1996-97 season. During his 30-year tenure on the sidelines, Morrison captured three MIAA championships and recorded 294 victories.

Morrison also served as Olivet’s men’s golf coach from 1974-2010. Over those 35 years, the Comets won 17 MIAA titles and competed at eight NCAA National Championships. The 17 titles make him the most successful golf coach in MIAA history. In addition, he coached six NCAA All-Americans and nine Scholar All-Americans.

“Some of my favorite memories from my time at Olivet were all of the golf championships,” said Morrison. “Also, how I was able to establish a Canadian connection in golf. At one point, the majority of the golfers on my team were Canadian.”

During that time, Morrison also served the head baseball coach from 1971-86. He compiled 166 wins and an MIAA championship in 1981. With his 21 MIAA total championships, Morrison is one of 10 coaches in MIAA history to win more than 20.

“I really did not get an appreciation for what the MIAA stood for until I got to Olivet,” said Morrison. “The league is made up high respected schools and some of the best college athletes are found at them. In addition, Olivet has come a long way in that area. It’s a good feeling to coach kids, who then graduate in four years with a college degree.”

Morrison was inducted in the Olivet College Athletic of Fame in 1994 and the Battle Creek Lakeview High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. In October, he will be inducted into the Kalamazoo College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Morrison was not the only family member to be connected to Olivet and the MIAA. His wife, Judy, earned a bachelor’s degree in 1970. His three sons, Scott, Randy and Gary, and one daughter, Heather, attended Olivet, with three earning degrees. Scott starred on the football field. Randy played his last two years of basketball after transferring from Michigan State University. Heather was a pitcher on the softball team.