In Morris, the football coaching staff at Morris Community High School has long been a source of local pride, a tradition that dates back to the late 1970s. This was the era when school alumni Dan Darlington, Denny Steele, and Keith Laughary took the helm and propelled the team to state-wide prominence. This legacy of alumni leadership has continued, with many coaches over the years, including from Darlington to George Dergo to the current coach, Alan Thorson, being former students.
This year, the tradition persists robustly with nine out of fifteen coaches being alumni of Morris. Interestingly, although Coach Thorson himself graduated from Seneca, his wife is a Morris alumna, and he cherishes the small-town community spirit. Thorson emphasizes a familial atmosphere within the team, encapsulated by the motto ‘[Morris] Pride Never Dies.’
The latest addition to this close-knit coaching staff is Danny Friend, an all-state player from Morris who played under Thorson in the 2012 team that vied for the state title. After a stint at Indiana University as a player and then coach, followed by roles at Minot State University and again at Indiana, Friend returns to his roots, now coaching tight ends and wingbacks at Morris. Despite his experience at the collegiate level, Friend is delighted to return to high school football, feeling a strong pull towards contributing to his hometown’s legacy.
Friend’s return was fast-tracked by personal developments, including his growing family and the purchase of a home in Morris, allowing him to quickly integrate into the coaching staff. He reached out to Coach Thorson, eager to give back to the community that shaped him. Friend, along with other Morris alumni like Greg Larsen, Ryan Clauson, and Tyler Hartley, among others, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, much to Thorson’s pleasure.
Thorson appreciates having former players as coaches, noting that they inherently understand the program’s expectations and can effectively mentor current players. This cycle of alumni returning as coaches not only maintains but enriches the program’s storied tradition, fostering a sense of continuity and community pride that seems set to thrive for generations to come.
