Mack Brown Discusses Tulsa's Hiring of Chad Morris

Originally Published: Jan 21, 2010 6:1 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Sports crew caught up with Texas head coach Mack Brown Thursday to discuss Tulsa’s hiring of Chad Morris.

Morris coached high school football in Texas and his former pupils include Garrett Gilbert – who took over for the Longhorns in the BCS Championship for injured starter Colt McCoy – and Jevon Snead – who also backed up McCoy at Texas before transferring to Ole Miss.

Brown had extensive contact with Morris during the recruitment of both Snead and Gilbert and said Tulsa is getting a strong offensive mind.

“I think Chad is one of the great young coaches out there,” Brown said. “Tulsa knows what they’re doing.”

The Tulsa offense was one of the best in the nation under the leadership of Gus Malzahn, but fell to No. 35 this season after Malzahn left for Auburn.

Malzahn and Morris both ran similar offenses at the high school level, and Mack Brown said Morris’ new offense should feature a return to the style of playing that the Golden Hurricane saw under Malzahn.

“He’s done everything he can do in high school,” Brown said. “We knew that someone would hire [Morris] in college, and I think Tulsa is very lucky to get him.”

Brown added that Morris’ offensive system at Tulsa will center on the passing game.

“He has an offense that is built around the quarterback,” Brown said. “I do think he has not only a special rapport with his quarterbacks, but he’s also a great teacher.”