ROANOKE, Va. – Johnson & Wales (RI) University wrestling head coach Lonnie Morris has been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Coach of the Year for the third time in his illustrious career (2017, 2019).
The award – which is voted upon by the NCAA Division III Coaches – recognizes the exceptional effort made by coaches throughout the season in developing and enhancing their program on campus and in the community. Earlier this month, Morris was named the NCAA Northeast Region Coach of the Year.
The only coach the JWU wrestling program has known since its inception in 1997, Morris has had the Wildcats atop the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Poll since November. The Wildcats enter this weekend's NCAA Division III National Championship No. 2 in the NWCA National Poll, a position they have held since January. JWU opened the season No. 17 nationally before a win over No. 1 ranked Wartburg at the NWCA National Duals on January 7 propelled them all the way to No. 2.
"Coach of the Year is recognition of all the hard work our student-athletes and coaches have put in to make this season special," said Morris. "I want to thank all of our coaches' and their families for sharing their husbands with JWU wrestling. It's a huge sacrifice that does not go unnoticed."
Earlier this season, the Wildcats secured their sixth-consecutive NEWA Duals Championship with wins over Plymouth State, Trinity (CT), Springfield, and Coast Guard. The season has also been highlighted by a 37-6 win in the 'Battle of the WU's' on February 10 and first-place finishes at the Ithaca Invitational (Nov. 4-5), New Standard Tournament (Dec. 2-3), Chocolate Duals (Dec. 17), and NEWA Futures (Feb. 19). Morris, meanwhile, recorded his 400th career win against New York University on December 10.
"We are honored to name Coach Lonnie Morris as our 2023 Defense Soap NCAA Division III Men's National Coach of the Year," said Mike Moyer, the NWCA Executive Director. "Morris and his program have had another outstanding season showing a commitment to a full dual schedule. Congratulations to Lonnie and his squad for their fantastic season. I want to wish all the teams and wrestlers good luck this weekend at the national championships."
Six Wildcats – graduate student Michael Ross, senior Victor Perlleshi (141 lbs.), junior Hayden Brown (157 lbs.), sophomores Dylan Harr (197 lbs.) and Gabriel Leo-Esparolini (133 lbs.), and freshman Joziah Fry (125 lbs.) – will compete at the NCAA Nationals on March 10-11 in Roanoke, Va. Perlleshi, Brown, Fry, and Leo-Esparolini each won their weight class at the regionals. Ross advanced to the finals of the 174 lb. weight class before withdrawing while Harr was defeated in the finals at 197 lbs.
Morris was one of six finalists for the award, along with Bill Schindel (Adrian), Marty Nichols (Ithaca), Eric Keller (Wartburg), Nate Shearer (Washington & Lee), and Tony Valek (Augsburg).
Defense Soap, the official hygiene partner of the NWCA, presented the award to Morris in advance of this weekend's 2023 NCAA Division III National Championships. Guy Sako, the Founder and CEO of Defense Soap, expressed his pride in partnering with the NWCA to promote the use of their hygiene products and educational resources that help keep wrestlers on the mat.
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
