Oklahoma State football to hire Eric Morris as head coach
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Oklahoma State has its new head football coach.
OSU is set to hire Eric Morris as its 25th head coach, according to first reports from On3’s Brett McMurphy and ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Tuesday afternoon. The initial reports were confirmed by the university shortly after. Morris, the current coach at North Texas, has spent three seasons with the Mean Green. Morris has led UNT to a 10-1 record this season and put it in the hunt for a College Football Playoff bid.
“Today begins the next era of Oklahoma State Football,” Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg said in a press release. “I am thrilled to introduce Eric Morris, his wife Maggie and their boys Jack and George to the OSU Family. Coach Morris has proven his ability to build and lead winning football programs. He has consistently identified, recruited, and developed some of the best players in college football.”
According to Thamel’s report, Morris will coach the Mean Green the rest of the season and in the American Conference championship game and College Football Playoff, if UNT makes either.
Morris, 40, is 21-15 at UNT and led the Mean Green to a 10-win season for the first time in the program’s 61-year history. He was also the head coach at Incarnate Word from 2018-21, amassing a 24-18 record.
Morris played high school football in the Texas Panhandle and then played as a wide receiver at Texas Tech under coach Mike Leach from 2005-08. He continued his coaching career with Leach at Washington State in 2012 as an inside receivers coach, then he returned to Texas Tech as offensive coordinator from 2013-17.
During his time as an offensive coordinator and head coach, Morris has been part of the development of several notable quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, John Mateer, Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward. His current quarterback at North Texas, redshirt freshman Drew Mestemaker, is the nation’s leading passer.
“For many reasons, including the kind of person he is and the lasting relationships he builds with his players, Coach Morris is the perfect fit as the next leader of Cowboy Football,” Weiberg said in the press release. “The future is bright for OSU Football and I look forward to introducing him and his family to our team, our former players and all Cowboy fans.”
Morris will fill the vacancy left by longtime Cowboy coach Mike Gundy, who was fired Sept. 23.
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