Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jeff Morgan and Head Women’s Golf Coach Christy Morgan are not your typical coaches.
Having been married 19 years and being the parents of three children between the ages of five and twelve, Jeff and Christy Morgan keep a rather hectic schedule.
Between golf season and basketball, the Morgan’s have learned to balance their lives of golf tournaments, basketball off-season practice and recruiting all while juggling the everyday responsibilities of maintaining a family.
“We really try to be intentional about catching up and spending time together when she (Christy) returns from a week where she has been gone for three days,” Jeff Morgan said.
According to Jeff Morgan, his schedule is a little better now since basketball season has not officially started, but he still stays busy with practices and recruiting.
“The month of September and the first couple of weeks in October is a big recruiting time for us in men’s basketball,” Jeff Morgan said.”I enjoy getting out to meet the parents, recruits and watch practices, but I have to be very conscious of Christy’s schedule and do those things when she is going to be in town.Our own children will also never have perfect attendance at school because they will regularly travel with us to games or recruiting when possible. Makes for some fun times with your kids.”
Christy Morgan said they have to take turns parenting.
“Well, right now I’m in season, and he’s out,” said Christy Morgan. “And I’m traveling and he’s not. We sub in and sub out.”
Coach Christy Morgan is right in the middle of golf season, which she said is mostly an individual sport. Many of the girls practice on their own, but she still has to be available to them and work with them individually and their specific practice needs.
Although Jeff Morgan has been coaching basketball for Harding University for 25 years, this is Christy Morgan’s first year to coach women’s golf.
“This summer we went to HUF half the semester and we thoroughly enjoyed our students,” Christy Morgan said. “I just realized again that we have some of the best students in the world and I kept thinking ‘Man, I can’t wait to get back’ and have my five girls that I get to be in relationship with and be part of their lives. I’m not really doing it for any other reason, it’s not pay, it’s not the glamour of the job or anything like that. I do it because it’s an opportunity to have relationships with people who are on the cusps of being the church. They’re about to be out in the world and starting their lives.”
According to both coaches, though it has been busy and somewhat chaotic, their new schedule has been rewarding.
