L. Richard Kieft ATC

Calvin College 1980. Olivet and your coaching in Basketball, Baseball were teams that the MIAA feared for years. R.I.P. you will be missed.

Brian Tennant '82

I played basketball for coach Morrison from 1977-1981. What I remember about him most was his intense passion for coaching and his humorous personality. He helped develop me into the successful basketball player and person that I am today. I have too many fond memories of him to count. He always stood by me and supported me no matter what. I think of him often and will miss him. My deepest sympathies to his family during this difficult time. He goes down as one of the greatest Olivetians and Comets of all time. May he rest in peace.

Dick Kaiser

Gary and I developed a very strong relationship during my time as AD at Olivet (1995-1999). We have remained friends for 25 years. He was an honorable man, a quality coach and a great individual to his family. Together ... Gary and I had a lot of laughs, a few tears and so many memorable moments. It was my pleasure to work with Gary for the time I was at Olivet and my heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to Judy and the family.

George Pohly '80

Coach was all in all the time for Olivet, its athletes and students. He was an approachable leader, a pillar among the oaks and one of the people who made an Olivet education something to cherish.

Dennis Bradley '75

Dear Mrs. Morrison and Family and all Olivetians, I am so sorry to hear of Coach's passing. I played for and coached with Coach from 1971-1975, three seasons as a player and one season as a student assistant. I went on to have a 35 year teaching and coaching career, largely because of his influence. Besides this, Coach helped me through some very tough times. When I was a sophomore at OC, my oldest friend from Newberry, my hometown, died in a hunting accident. Coach lent me money for a plane ticket to the U.P. for the funeral. A year later my dad passed away after a year long bout with cancer. Once again, Coach supported and advised me. Finally, when my playing days ended after that junior season, he invited me to be a student assistant coach, knowing that I needed desperately to be involved in basketball, what with the personal tragedies I had experienced. In short, he had a tremendous impact on my personal and professional life. When I was his assistant, I rode shotgun in the OC red van and exchanged stories with him. He has some great ones that I still remember. Though I haven't seen him in many years, I'll never forget him. Our first meeting was at your house when I came to visit OC in 1971. I believe Heather was toddling around the living room at that time. Later that night, Coach and I and two others played 2-2 basketball for a couple of hours at McKay. I was sold on OC at that point, though I don't think Coach believed I'd stay. He told me that he believed kids from the U.P. always transferred back to God's Country. I laughed and told him, "I'm staying." And I did. Additionally, two other Bradleys followed me to OC. My brother B.G. came in 1977 and graduated in 1981, (who Scott?? might remember), and in 1997 my nephew Ken arrived, played football for the Comets and graduated in 2001, I think. Ken's wife is Dr. Jamie Kantola, M.D., who now treats Olivetians, as I'm told. Anyway, it's easy to see Coach's legacy on the Bradley family, which is just a tiny part of his overall legacy with literally thousands of other people. A life well lived in service! He was a great man. 

Tim Smith '86

Was more than a golf coach. Helped me through a tough time on life.and did it through humor and care. Comet forever.

Vicki (Mott) Friddle '86

I knew Coach before OC having gone to high school with his sons. My sophomore year at OC he "recruited" me to be statistician for the men's basketball team and scorekeeper for the baseball team. Working with Coach Mo are some of the best memories of my years at Olivet. Seeing him around town when we moved back to Olivet was always a joy. Sending prayers to his family.

Rich Hamann '85

I am so sorry to hear about Coach Morrison. My prayers go out to the family on their loss. He was a wonderful coach, and loved Olivet very much. I could see that it the early 90’s and his concern for Olivet College. I had the opportunity to talk with him on Facebook a few times just a little while ago. Rest in Peace.

Dean Lockwood, Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach at Michigan State University

I played at Spring Arbor College in the late 70’s & early 80’s. We scrimmaged Olivet one fall. Coach Morrison paid me a very nice compliment after the scrimmage. It meant a lot to me & it gave me added confidence as a player. I’ve always remembered that & was appreciative. He was a good coach & a good man.

Bruce '82 and Anne Barea

We have lost a great man and Coach. I played on five MIAA championship teams for Coach Morrison. Four in golf and one in baseball, also played two years of basketball . Nothing but great memories, especially the different personalities he displayed in the three sports he coached. My funny memories include double manhattans, Heather accompanying us on a spring break baseball trip, and he embarrassing me by announcing at our golf banquet, that he could tell how well I was playing by lack of or amount of profanities echoing thru the course. Our thoughts and prayers are with widow Judy, sons Scott, Randy and Gary, daughter Heather and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Coach Morrison you will be missed.

Jerry Allocco '69

Our team was Gary’s first at Olivet. We were the acorn from which a mighty Oak flourished. Rest In Peace Coach. May the perpetual light shine upon you. Pro Christo et Humanitate. Thoughts and Prayers always to Judy and Family.

Lonell Williams '95

The Best / Coach / Father Figure / You will truly be missed.

Ken Dietz '86

Coach Morrison inspired, challenged, and squeezed every ounce of production he could out of me as a person and player. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Morrison and the family. His devotion to his wife Judy was evident and admired. Mrs. Morrison was always so kind and loving to us all. I also admired the type of father he was to Scott, Randy, Gary, and Heather. They all had such a special relationship with their dad. Comets lost a cornerstone to their institution this week with the passing of Coach Morrison.

Michael Hammond '81

Thoughts and prayers to the Morrison family. I'm thankful to Coach for influencing my decision to actually attend college. Then be fortunate enough to play on his first three consecutive MIAA golf championships .... I'm not surprised many more would follow. I loved his laugh and sense of humor, his leadership, his fairness and humility. A really great man for emerging adults. Rest in Peace Coach Mo.

Glenn Van Wieren, Former Hope College Men's Basketball Coach

Morrison was a legendary coach, person of strong integrity, and his teams consistently found ways to always be ready to compete. I can’t think of anyone who was more excited about Olivet college and what it could accomplish than Coach Morrison. I always thought of him as Mr. Olivet College because of the difference he made in the lives of student athletes. I am thankful for the life of Gary Morrison and I am grateful for the difference he made in in the lives of so many people. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Mike Turner, Former Albion College Men's Basketball and Golf Coach

I coached against many Olivet teams (both basketball & golf) coached by Gary. I have many great memories of our times together on and off the court/course. My thoughts are with Judy and Gary’s family. Go Comets!

Bill Newhouse '73

Coach was great at his craft. He loved to win, and he wanted success in all ways for Olivet and for his players. He understood the importance of relationships, on and off the court, diamond, and golf course. He was demanding. He had a great sense of humor, and a story for every occasion. He taught me much about leadership, particularly in challenging situations. Coach was a mentor to me and a lifetime friend.

Ron Place '73

Without Coach Morrison and other Olivet College athletic department coaches I would not have finished my degree. Their persistence and counseling kept me driving to the finish. I am forever grateful and remember them often.

Tim Metro '75

I'm very saddened to learn of Coach Morrison's passing. Coach Morrison was a major impact on my life, not just regarding baseball but about being a man and being ethical and responsible. In life there are only a few people who make this kind of impact on ones life and he is one of those few. I enjoyed my days at Olivet playing baseball for the teams he coached. Thanks coach and my condolences to his family. 

James Carmody '70

Coach Morrison I was never one of your players, was on the football team, but was a big fan of yours and the basketball teams you coached, never missed a home game! You were a great man!

Jim McCloughan '68

My relationship goes back a long ways with Coach Morrison. He was the Head Basketball Coach at Galesburg Augusta back in the 1960s. I played for Bangor high school against his KVA teams in the 1963 and 1964 seasons. You may not believe me if you played for him at Olivet but it is true, when he coached at Galesburg he played slow-down basketball. He used to frustrate his opponents with this tactic. Then he was hired by Olivet College and went in the other direction putting up some pretty big scores. I babysat for his children while at Olivet from 1964-1968. I was on the wrestling team and can remember one night he and Mrs. Morrison came home and saw I was teaching the kids some wrestling moves. Coach told me he didn't want to come home and see me trying to convert his kids to wrestling again. His son Randy was an outstanding shooter for Olivet. I believe I'm correct in saying that he averaged 40 points a game. He came to South Haven High School, where I was teaching and coaching, after he graduated from Olivet and it was great to see him lead young men on the court like his father did. I will always remember how the Morrisons treated me before, during, and after my years at Olivet. They would periodically check up on me and see how things were going in my life. It is hard to imagine Olivet without him, but the fond memories he left behind will sustain those who were lucky enough to have him touch their lives. I can still hear his soft sense of humor and his unique laughter. If your looking for Coach Morrison now, look to the sky. He is definitely amongst the Angels, and if you manage your life the way he did you will see him again in a better place than this one here on earth. I know God greeted you with, "Well done my good and faithful servant." Rest In Peace Coach.

Jason Godin '00

Riding in the vans to golf tournaments was always fun. Coach would always telling the ultimate Dad jokes and would take us to eat at some off the path restaurants during our travels. The most hilarious memory is Coach taking us to a tournament in Indiana and forgetting the time zone difference, we showed up an hour late and had to run from the van to the first tee. Even to this day I couldn’t figure out why one small part of Indiana was not on daylight savings time-crazy. So many good times, he will be missed.

Loren Miller '73

I played on the baseball team under Coach Morrison and had a great time exchanging ideas. As the only black player on the team in the early 70s, it brought some unique situations when we went on the spring baseball trip. Leaving Birmingham, Alabama, I asked him to stop at the next gas station so I could go to the washroom. When I got back in the van, I asked again if he could stop, he replied that he had just stopped for me and that's when the other players told him what had happened. He later told me that he had seen on tv and read in the news about blacks being turned away but never had experienced that in Michigan. He then told the other players to stay with me the rest of the trip. When I saw him four years ago at the Olivet homecoming game, we talked about my time on the team. He was a great person and remember things like it was yesterday. I will miss Coach.