Morrell Joins USD Football Staff

3/17/2010

Chuck Morrell

Vermillion, S.D. – South Dakota head coach Ed Meierkort has announced Chuck Morrell will immediately join the Coyote football staff as defensive coordinator.

“Chuck has a great track record and we are excited he is bringing that wisdom to the U,” Meierkort said. “He was part of a great run at the University of Sioux Falls and now he will bring that attitude of success to the Coyotes.”

Morrell was known for putting some of the top 3-4 defenses on the field year in and year out with the Cougars, who have won three NAIA national championships in the last four years with a 56-1 record in that span. He was the secondary coach in 1998, before spending the last 10 seasons as defensive coordinator and crafting a unit that ranked in the top 10 in the nation for scoring defense in each of the past six seasons.

In 2009, the Cougars lead the nation in points per game (10.5), total defense (210.5 yards per game) and several other categories en route to a 15-0 record and national title. The previous season, the USF defense had a banner year on its way to setting a Great Plains Athletic Conference record for fewest points allowed per game (5.9). The Cougars also finished first in the nation in points allowed per game, rush defense (14.7 ypg), pass defense (94.4 ypg) and several other categories on their way to a 14-0 record and national title.

In total, Morrell coached 44 all-conference players and 11 All-Americans while at USF.

A native of Bon Homme, S.D., Morrell played for the Cougars from 1995-97 and led the 1996 national championship team in tackles (82) as a safety. During his senior year, he was NAIA All-America Honorable Mention and received the Burger King Scholar-Athlete Award. He and his wife, Jen, have two daughters, Selene and Aleia.