ACS: Steven Morrison, Oak Grove HS (NC)

Steven Morrison
Oak Grove High School Baseball – Midway, North Carolina
Hometown: King, North Carolina
Education: United States Marines! (two tours Iraq & Afghanistan)
Twitter: @coachcutog
Email: thetuxbarber [at] gmail.com

The moment you first realized that you might like to make coaching part of your career.

I honestly felt the call to coach when I graduated high school back in 2004. I honestly felt I wasn’t qualified because I never went to the next level. So instead I went into the military (Marine Corps) and did two tours (Iraq 07-08, Afghanistan 2009). Even then I still felt the call to coach but just put it on the back burner so to speak. So after my military time was up, I went into Barbering and running my own business. I finally listened to what my gut was telling me and talked to coach David Thomas as Oak Grove and he brought me on his staff.

Outside of mentors, talk about one or more ways you’ve learned some aspect of coaching.

I always listen to podcast. Love this podcast of course and the ABCA. I try to follow some of the best guys on social media, I think it’s one of the best tools coaches have at their fingertips. 

Best career or work advice you ever received.

The best advice was from Mark Holcomb. His work ethic is truly next level. He has coached football for 27 years. The best thing he has taught me is to be prepared. Study, study, and then study more. If there is something to learn about the other team big or small, know it because you never know if you’ll need it or not. 

What is one thing you didn’t know (or fully understand) about what coaches do before you got into coaching?

Oh man, this was simple. How much time and effort that goes into the everyday practice or game. Most think you just show up a few minutes early and things are taken care of — like it was when I was a player — but that is far from the truth. From washing uniforms, mowing the infield, pregame meals, just a bunch of small things that no one really understands until you have to take care of it.

Your dream lunch date. One coach. Any sport. Any level. Living or dead. Who is it?

Bobby Bowden of Florida State Football. To have the successful run as that program had is truly remarkable.