AJ Morris begins his first season as an assistant coach with the
Vanguard University baseball program. A
native of Jackson, Tennessee, this will be Morris' fourth year coaching at the
collegiate level.
Championships are something Morris knows well. A graduate of The University School of
Jackson, Morris helped the Bruins garner back to back State Championships and a
runner-up finish before beginning his collegiate career at Chattanooga State
Community College.
While at Chattanooga, Morris played a pivotal role in
guiding the team to conference playoffs and set school records for doubles in a
season (21) and hits in a season (73), earning Athletic and Academic
All-Conference honors. Following Chattanooga,
Morris played and was chosen as an All Star in the Great Lakes Collegiate
League before heading west to The Master's College of the GSAC. In the summer of 2007 he got the chance to
play with the then-Fairbanks Fire of the prestigious Alaska Baseball
League. The Fire had their best season
to date, and finished by winning the ABL Championship. Morris finished his collegiate career hitting
a combined .319 with 55 doubles and 128 RBI.
After graduation Morris continued his baseball career, going
to play professionally for the Roswell Invaders of the Pecos League where he
helped the Invaders win the League Championship in their inaugural season. The following season he would be chosen for
the PL All Star Team.
As a coach, AJ's experience includes seasons with the Alfred
Thunder of the New York Collegiate Baseball League, Wayland Baptist University
in Plainview, Texas, the Canberra Rebels in Canberra, Australia, Santa Clarita
Christian School, and most recently at his alma mater, the University School of
Jackson, where in 2012 he helped coach the Bruins to their 5th state
title.
Whether playing or coaching, AJ has never been a part of a
team that did not advance to playoffs, and does not plan on breaking that
streak at Vanguard. He is excited to be
back in the GSAC, and especially at VU, where "It's a perfect mixture of
high-caliber college baseball and people who are genuinely interested in the
things of Christ and developing their relationships with Him."
Morris has a Bachelors in Communications from The Master's
College, and a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Homeland
Security.
