Wasatch Academy coach Geno Morgan dies in Chicago


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MOUNT PLEASANT — In six seasons as head coach of the Wasatch Academy boy’s basketball team, Geno Morgan took the Tigers to extreme heights.

The Tigers won three state championships during Morgan’s tenure, including back-to-back Class 2A titles before going independent in 2014-15.

The coach’s tenure ended much too soon.

Morgan died in his sleep Thursday while visiting family in Chicago. He was 49.

“He was a complete human being,” Wasatch Academy head of school Joseph Loftin said in a news release. “He exemplified everything good about humanity. His character, his compassion, and his caring for others were as strong as any I’ve encountered. He set high standards of excellence for himself and others, but pushed for those standards with great humanity.

“He developed great players, and even more important, he developed great people. His impact on myself and everyone else goes well beyond the sport of basketball.”

He won the Best of State statue for the sports and recreation category at the Governor’s State of Sport Awards in May, a category for which he was nominated as the recipient of the Best High School Coach medal. It was the second Best of State award in Wasatch Academy history, after the Tigers won the trophy in 2012 for education.

Morgan was named the top high school coach at the State of Sports gala six times. He led the Tigers to the 1A state title in 2011, then added back-to-back 2A championships in 2013 and 2014 while compiling a two-year record of 51-2.

In 2014-15, Wasatch Academy ventured into the realm of independent status, putting together a strong local and national schedule where the Tigers’ only losses to in-state opponents came against large-school powers Lone Peak, Timpview and Bountiful. Wasatch Academy also challenged some of the nation’s top programs like La Lumiere (Indiana), Findlay Prep (Nevada) and Montverde Academy (Florida). It also beat national powers St. Benedicts (New Jersey) and Bogan (Chicago) while accumulating a 17-8 overall record.

Prior to his time at Wasatch Academy, Morgan coached collegiately at Emory University in Atlanta and Alaska Pacific. He was an assistant high school coach in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he helped mentor players like former Kansas star and current Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers.

Chalmers was among those who expressed condolences for Morgan’s passing via Twitter.

Damn man sad day for me. Just found out one of my high school mentors died in his sleep. My prayers go out to the Morgan family. RIP GENO. — Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) July 2, 2015

New Utah State head basketball coach Tim Duryea and Utah assistant Tommy Connor also offered their thoughts and prayers via Twitter.

Today we are mourning the loss of our good friend, Geno Morgan. A special guy with a special gift for helping mentor kids. A Very sad day. — Tim Duryea (@DuryeaTim) July 2, 2015

> Our deepest sympathies from the Utah Utes to the Morgan family and Wasatch Academy community. Geno was a great man. > > — Tommy Connor (@coachtconnor) [July 2, 2015](https://twitter.com/coachtconnor/status/616728936249057281)

Koby McEwen, a three-year starter at Wasatch Academy who is from Toronto, said Morgan was more than a coach to him and his teammates.

"He taught me basketball in a way that I never had it taught, and I started to see the game in a different way," McEwen said in a school release. "But it went beyond basketball. He took my in like a son, and showed me that there is more to life than basketball, and how I could use the game to grow into a man and get an education."

Under Morgan, the Tigers produced three Division I basketball players in Jerryn Skeete (Buffalo), Geno Luczando (Idaho State) and Cody John (Weber State). Morgan helped his players to achieve both on the court, as well as in life, according to Layton Christian head coach Bobby Porter.

"Geno Morgan made Wasatch Academy one of the great powers in high school basketball," Porter said. "He had an infectious smile and possessed a no nonsense on the court mentality to his players and his staff. Geno worked so hard to ensure his players were able to play on the next level, but not only academically. He taught them the life skills that are necessary to make it through college."

Morgan is survived by his wife Lisa and three children. The Morgans celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary two weeks ago by renewing their vows in front of hundreds of friends and family, according to a news release.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

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