Jason Morris has been named the next athletic director for Owensboro Catholic High School, adding on to his current role as the Aces’ head football coach.
Morris will replace David Blanford, who is retiring from the AD position after 19 years as well as 43 total years of service with the school.
The school originally named Jeff Hurley as the new athletic director, but he resigned a couple of weeks later before ever really taking on the position. Morris said while he had some interest in the job early on, he was pleased with the hire. Once Hurley left, though, Morris pursued the position.
“I expressed interest (before Hurley was hired), but it wasn’t something where I went as far as to apply,” Morris said. “Really whenever I learned that Jeff had applied with his vast experience of being athletic director and head coach, I was happy with that. I didn’t pursue any further than that. When he resigned before he actually got started, I went back to (OCHS Principal Gates Settle) and told him I was still interested if it was something we thought could work both ways. One thing led to another.”
Morris will be giving up his duties as teacher — a role he’s held since 2005 — but he will still serve as the Aces’ head football coach. He’s well into preparations for his second season at the helm.
Though AD and coach each have big responsibilities, Morris said he’s more than capable of devoting plenty of time for each without sacrificing either.
“I feel like one of my greatest strengths is my ability to be organized,” he said. “I don’t think the athletic director position is going to get in the way of football in any way. In what used to be my free time, I’ll now be doing things to where I’m now in the athletic director role. This summer in particular I’ll be doing a lot of getting trained on how things are run and getting acclimated to the job.”
He said the support by the school and community should help ease the transition and bigger workload.
“In every season, there’s sports going on between boys and girls everywhere,” he said. “Even the athletic director can’t be at everything. You have to have plenty of help on board. At Owensboro Catholic, you have so much help that it’s a great thing.”
Though he’s still got plenty to learn from Blanford about being the new AD, Morris knows one thing for sure — he’s hoping to help continue years of success throughout the program. He’s ready to take on the challenge.
“The whole goal is to continue the winning tradition by working hard and building relationships with the players, coaches, parents and community so we can continue the Owensboro Catholic tradition in sports,” he said. “It’s something I take on as a challenge. It’s something I’m humbled and very proud to be a part of.”
