Reese Morgan

Reese Morgan, one of the most successful high school coaches in Iowa prep history, is in his 19th year as a member of the University of Iowa coaching staff. He is in his seventh year as Iowa’s defensive line coach. Morgan served as Iowa’s offensive line coach for nine seasons after spending the first three years on the staff as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.

Iowa has won a combined 28 games over the past three seasons, matching the third-best total in school history over any three-year period. The Hawkeyes won eight games in 2017, including a 27-20 win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. In addition to the bowl victory the Hawkeyes won three of four rivalry trophy games while facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in 2015, winning the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. Iowa participated in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game and the 2015 Big Ten Championship and ended the season in the top 10 in the final national rankings.

Along with winning the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl, Iowa also participated in the 2017 Outback Bowl, 2016 Rose Bowl Game, 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl and 2014 Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes have ranked in the final top 10 of both major polls five times in the past 16 seasons.

Iowa has appeared in 10 January bowl games since 2001 and has recorded January bowl wins over Florida (2004 Outback), LSU (2005 Capital One), South Carolina (2009 Outback) and Georgia Tech (2010 Orange).

Iowa has won 132 games over the past 16 seasons, including 79 Big Ten games. Along with the 2015 division title, the Hawkeyes earned a share of the Big Ten title in both 2002 and 2004 and tied for second in 2009. Iowa has finished in the Big Ten’s first division in 15 of the past 17 years.

The 2017 Iowa defense ranked 17th in the nation in scoring defense (19.9), allowing less than 20 points per game for the third consecutive season. Sophomore end Anthony Nelson earned second team All-Big Ten and first team Academic All-America honors, while senior tackle Nathan Bazata was honorable mention All-Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes in 2016 ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense and red zone defense, 19th in pass efficiency defense, and 23rd in total defense. Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson earned first team All-Big Ten honors, Bazata and end Parker Hesse earned honorable mention recognition.

Johnson and Faith Ekakitie, also a senior tackle in 2016, have moved to the professional football ranks. Johnson was a fourth round selection of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft, while Ekakitie was the first player selected in the 2017 CFL Draft (Winnipeg).

Iowa ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation in rushing defense in 2015, and was also among national leaders in pass break-ups (ninth), interceptions (10th), turnover margin (11th), and turnovers gained (13th). Johnson earned honorable mention all-Big Ten honors in 2015.

The Iowa defense ranked seventh in the nation in pass defense and 22nd in total defense in 2014. Iowa led the Big Ten and ranked second in the nation in fewest penalties and penalty yards. Tackles Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat, along with end Drew Ott, were each named second team All-Big Ten. Davis was selected in the third round (Baltimore) of the 2015 NFL Draft, while Trinca-Pasat signed a free agent contract with St. Louis immediately following the draft.

The Hawkeyes won eight games in 2013, including five in the Big Ten to tie for second in the Legends Division. Iowa earned a spot in the 2014 Outback Bowl behind a solid defense that ranked among the national leaders in total defense (sixth), first downs allowed (seventh) pass defense (ninth), scoring defense (ninth), pass efficiency defense (17th) and rushing defense (19th).

Among the reasons for Iowa’s history of success has been the play of Iowa’s offensive line, working under the direction of Morgan. With two new starters in 2011, the Hawkeye offensive line led the way as Iowa’s offense featured a 3,000-yard passing quarterback and a running back and wide receiver who each gained over 1,300 yards.

Morgan has coached three Outland Trophy winners, an award presented each year to the top interior offensive lineman in college football. Brandon Scherff, who was recruited and coached by Morgan his first two years at Iowa, earned the 2014 Outland Trophy. Following the 2003 season, Robert Gallery became Iowa’s third Outland Trophy winner. As the head coach at Benton Community HS, Morgan coached Chad Hennings, the 1987 winner, who was a defensive tackle at the Air Force Academy. Hennings is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

In his last five seasons as Iowa’s offensive line coach (2007-11), Morgan coached a Hawkeye player who would go on to be a first round selection in the NFL Draft.

Junior tackle Riley Reiff earned first team all-Big Ten honors in 2011, along with earning All-America recognition from several outlets. In addition, senior guard Adam Gettis was named second team allBig Ten and junior center James Ferentz and senior tackle Markus Zusevics earned honorable mention recognition.

Reiff declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season and was selected in the first round by the Detroit Lions. As the 23rd overall selection, Reiff became Iowa’s third first round selection in three years. In addition, Gettis was selected in the fifth round by Washington and Zusevics signed an NFL free agent contract with New England the day after the draft. Iowa has had at least one offensive lineman selected in 10 of the last 13 NFL Drafts.

Iowa’s offensive line featured three first-year starters in 2010. Still, the Hawkeyes ranked among the national leaders in fewest penalties, fewest penalty yards, QB sacks allowed and fewest turnovers. Guard Julian Vandervelde and Reiff earned second team all-Big Ten honors. Vandervelde was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by Philadelphia.

In 2009, tackle Bryan Bulaga was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, earning first team all-conference honors. Dace Richardson returned to earn first team honors after missing over a year and a half due to injury.

Bulaga declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season in 2009 and was the 23rd player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft when he was taken by the Green Bay Packers. Tackle Kyle Calloway was selected in the sixth round by the Buffalo Bills. Bulaga earned a starting spot at right tackle for the Super Bowl champion Packers as a rookie, becoming the youngest player ever to start in the Super Bowl.

Iowa, in 2008, ranked third in the Big Ten and 26th nationally in rushing yards per game (188.7). Iowa featured running back Shonn Greene, who earned the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in the nation. Greene was the only running back in the nation to rush for over 100 yards in every game during the 2008 season.

Senior Seth Olsen led the way for the Hawkeyes in 2008, earning first team all-Big Ten honors and All-America recognition. Center Rob Bruggeman and tackles Calloway and Bulaga all earned second team all-conference recognition. Olsen was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by Denver. Bruggeman signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay immediately following the draft.

The 2006 Hawkeyes ranked third in the Big Ten in total offense (just a yard behind second place Ohio State) and second in pass offense. In 2005, Iowa boasted the Big Ten’s leading rusher and the league’s best red zone offense.

In the 2007 NFL Draft, Marshal Yanda (Baltimore) was selected in the third round and Mike Elgin (New England) was a seventh round selection. In addition, Mike Jones signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers. Jones was a first team all-Big Ten selection, while Yanda earned second team honors. Elgin was a first team academic All-American in each of his final two seasons. Yanda has started at both guard and tackle for the Ravens over the past 11 seasons. He played a key role in Baltimore’s drive to the 2013 Super Bowl championship and is a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

Yanda was named the second-ever winner of the prestigious Bruce Matthews award following the 2014 season, an honor bestowed upon the top offensive lineman in the NFL.

In 2005, the Hawkeyes averaged 30 points a game behind quarterback Drew Tate and Big Ten rushing leader Albert Young. Senior center Brian Ferentz started the final 20 games of his career in 2004 and 2005 and signed a free agent contract with Atlanta immediately following the 2006 NFL Draft.

Due to a number of injuries to Iowa running backs in 2004, Iowa developed one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the nation. The Hawkeyes scored 23 points or more in the final five games of the season, including 30 points in wins over Wisconsin and LSU. For the year, Iowa ranked second in the Big Ten in passing offense, pass efficiency and red zone offense.

Right tackle Pete McMahon was the lone senior in 2004 in the offensive line. Facing two of the more-highly regarded defensive ends in the nation in Iowa’s final two games, McMahon led by example by controlling his opponents, who were both first round selections in the NFL Draft. McMahon was taken in the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Anchored by consensus All-American and Outland Trophy winner Robert Gallery at left tackle, Iowa’s offensive line had four new starters to start the 2003 season. By the end of the year, in which the Hawkeyes won 10 games and featured RB Fred Russell with over 1,300 rushing yards, the offensive line had meshed together as one of Iowa’s strong points. The Hawkeyes ended the season by rushing for over 200 yards in a win at Wisconsin and in the Outback Bowl win over Florida. Gallery was the second player selected in the 2004 NFL Draft.

As tight ends coach in 2002, Morgan coached tight end Dallas Clark to consensus All-America honors. Clark was also named winner of the John Mackey Award, which goes annually to college football’s top tight end. Clark was named to at least seven first team All-America teams. Clark earned a Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts and earned all-Pro honors in 2009. Clark had 31 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 before retiring from the NFL in June 2014.

Morgan became part of the Iowa staff after eight years as head coach at West HS in Iowa City. West won state Class 4A (largest class in the state) titles in 1995, 1998 and 1999. Morgan left the program with a 26-game winning streak.

Between 1994 and 1999 his West High School teams were 62-7, while his overall record at West was 67-20. He has totaled 146 career prep victories and is a member of the Iowa High School Coach’s Hall of Fame. He also served as Assistant Principal and Dean of Students at West.

Reese also served as a teacher (1973-92), assistant football coach (1973-77) and head football coach (1978-91) at Benton Community High School. He led Benton Community into the state playoffs on three occasions.

Morgan attended St. Mary’s High School in Lorain, Ohio. He lettered three times in football and one year in track and field. Reese was a four-year letterman (linebacker) at Wartburg College and was team captain as a senior in 1971.

Morgan earned his B.A. degree in education from Wartburg and earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Northern Iowa. Morgan was born June 22, 1950.

Reese and his wife, Jo, have two daughters, Jessica and Caitlin, along with granddaughters Morgan and Hayden, and grandsons Cade and Jace.