Texas and national football power
Allen is 105 days away from opening the 2022 season in one of the biggest games of the year against Southern California power
St. John Bosco (Bellflower). Now the Eagles are looking for a new head coach.
After just one season, Chad Morris announced Friday morning that he was stepping down in order to return to the college level.
Morris previously served as head coach at Arkansas (2018-19) and SMU (2011-14) and as offensive coordinator at Auburn (2020).
He led Allen to an 11-3 record in his only season as head coach and to the 6A Division 1 quarterfinals before losing to Southlake Carroll (Southlake), 47-21. It was the furthest the Eagles have gone in the playoffs since 2018 when they lost to Duncanville in the 6A Division 1 semifinals.
The next head coach will be the third for Allen since 2016 after Morris replaced Terry Gambill who retired in 2020. Gambill went 65-4 during his five-year tenure and led the Eagles to their last state title in 2017.
Chad Morris, who resigned Friday morning as Allen's head football coach, is heading back to the college ranks.
Photo by Freddie Beckwith
"I am so thankful to Allen ISD for the chance to work with an amazing group of student-athletes and a dedicated staff," Morris said in a prepared statement. "Allen is a top-notch school system that prioritizes students above all else."
Said Allen athletic director Kim Garner: "The chance to serve as head coach in Allen is a premier opportunity throughout the state of Texas. Coach Morris did an outstanding job leading the Allen football team this past year. Now, our attention turns to finding a coach who will continue to build upon our winning tradition, instill a positive family culture, and inspire our young athletes to find success on the field and in the classroom."
The Eagles return loads of talent heading into the fall headlined by four-star defensive end
Zina Umeozulu and four-star quarterback
Mike Hawkins.
Allen has been one of the best programs in Texas and it has produced some top-end talent with eight players drafted in the NFL since 2012, including Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray.
The Eagles have won five state championships in school history (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017) and have finished ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 six times since 2012.
During Murray's senior season he led Allen to a MaxPreps national championship and is the only player to be named the MaxPreps Football Player of the Year multiple times.
Morris had a highly decorated high school coaching career in Texas, winning state titles at Lake Travis (Austin) in 2008 and 2009 and Bay City in 2000.
