A new day: Morrow to be first new Jayette head cage coach in 40 years

Girls in grades 7-12 who intend to play -- or are simply curious about -- basketball in Perry are invited to meet the new varsity head coach at 6 p.m. in the PHS Commons tonight. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the meet-and-greet.

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Head coach Chris Morrow and the Lady Pure Prep AAU team. Morrow, who will be officially named new Perry girls basketball head coach August 14, is already hitting the ground running.

Chris Morrow will be officially named the new girls varsity head basketball coach at Perry High School when the PCSD Board of Education meets August 14.

That shall be a mere formality, as the 31-year old is already hitting the ground running as the first new Jayette head coach since Mike Long came aboard in 1978 — nearly a decade before Morrow was even born.

Morrow is well aware of the tremendous legacy Long leaves behind, and explained it would be his duty not to follow in Long’s footsteps — something no one could do, he said — but rather to try and continue the tradition of success he established.

Chris Morrow (in tie), seen this summer helping coach the semi-pro Iowa Force, will be the new Perry girls basketball head coach.

“When I spoke to friends and others who are involved in basketball they were excited for me, and said ‘Perry is a place with a winning tradition’ and that it was a good fit for me,” Morrow said. “I came up Friday and interviewed, presented my resume and what my goals would be and how I would try to bring them about, and on Monday they let me know the job was mine.”

Morrow, a graduate of Martensdale-St.Marys, attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. While there he was a freshman coach for Cedar Rapids Prairie in 2004 and a sophomore coach in 2005. The Hawks reached the state tourney in 2004.

He spent some time working with the junior high program at M-SM but has spent the past few years as a coach for Pure Lady Prep AAU in Des Moines while assisting with the Iowa Force of the semi-professional Women’s Blue Chip League. Morrow was an assistant coach for Des Moines East in 2015-16 and works with behaviorally challenged students at East, which he will continue to do so while coaching the Jayettes, at least in the short term.

“My schedule works out well, so that will not be an issue,” Morrow said. “They will find something for me in the Perry district eventually, but, at least for know, I will stay on in my same role at East.”

Morrow has some knowledge of the Perry program, having coached 2017 graduate Grace Marburger during a summer season.

Chris Morrow, 31, will be the first new girls varsity basketball head coach since 1978, several years before he was born.

“I am getting a very late start, because most teams have been in camps and playing together most of the summer,” Morrow admitted. “I hope to give us a bit of a jolt and add a little excitement, especially at the youth and lower levels, which is the key to sustaining any program.”

Morrow said players should not be surprised by his approach.

“I will be right up-front with them,” he said. “They are going to work hard — there is no other way around it.”

Morrow said winning games would be far less important at the sub-varsity levels.

“I want to see Perry have a freshman team again, and a full junior varsity team,” he explained. “At that level, and at seventh and eighth grade, I will looking at girls learning the game and sharpening their skills. Most importantly, I want them to love playing basketball.”

“It does you no good to have 25 girls out for seventh grade if only three or four are still out once they get to high school,” Morrow added. “I will be involved at the lower levels and would like to see even younger leagues than that grow.”

The Perry varsity was 15-6 overall last year and 9-5 in Raccoon River Conference play. The Jayettes must replace three of nine players, but will return three starters in senior Jo Diw (14.2 points per games) and sophomore Molly Lutmer (9.8 ppg, 46 3-pointers) as well as steady presence Grace Stewart, a senior. The team should receive a boost from the anticipated return of Alyssa Kruger, a starter as a sophomore who missed last season due to shoulder surgery. Beyond that the depth is, in a word, almost non-existent.

Morrow said he believed there was an untapped resource at Perry.

“I don’t know if I can, but I am sure going to talk with, and work on, getting some of that huge roster out for soccer to give basketball a try,” he said. “I have always believer soccer players can make good basketball players because of their footwork. If they can be taught to play defense, the rest will come.”

All players entering grades 7-12 intending, or are even interested, in playing basketball are asked to come to the Perry HS Commons at 6 p.m. tonight, where Morrow will be introduced by Perry Superintendent of Schools Clark Wicks. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend as well.

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