Thursday, May 17, 2007

UTA hires former Mansfield Summit coach to lead women’s basketball program

By Pegasus News wire

Former Mansfield Summit High School girl's basketball coach Samantha Morrow was introduced as the head women's basketball coach at The University of Texas at Arlington during a press conference on Wednesday.

Morrow, who resigned as the girl's head coach to become an assistant athletic director within the Mansfield Independent School District, becomes the eighth coach in program history and will take over the position effective June 1, according to Carlon.

"I believe, if given the opportunity, UT Arlington is a gold mine. Coach (Donna) Capps started the reputation that UTA wants kids from the area. We did not see coaches from UTA before she arrived, but coach Capps has done a tremendous job here and we look to build from there. I believe UTA has an excellent opportunity to win (an NCAA Tournament) game. What you have done is fantastic, but let's step it up and win one (NCAA) game. A Southland Conference championship is great, but let's step it up and win some tournament games."

Morrow's high school coaching career is legendary with an .843 winning percentage, a record of 413-77 over 14 seasons, four consecutive Class 5A girls state championships, 10 district titles, 13 playoff appearances and posting eight seasons of 30-or-more wins while the coach at Mansfield High School, later renamed Mansfield Summit High School.

She led Mansfield High to four consecutive Class 5A state championships from 1999 to 2002. For her efforts, she was named the 2002 National Federation of High School (NFHS) Coaches Association's National Coach of the Year. Morrow continued her success when Mansfield was renamed Summit, guiding the Lady Jaguars to the playoffs every year since the program's inception, including a berth in the state tournament in March.

"We are excited to have a person of Samantha's experience, background, success and leadership at UT Arlington," said UT Arlington Athletics Director, Pete Carlon. "She is highly regarded by her peers as one of the top coaches, high school or college, and we think she will continue to build the program into one of the best in the nation."

Morrow replaces former coach Donna Capps who resigned to become an athletics administrator in the Mesquite Independent School District. Capps was 119-89 in seven seasons at UTA after a successful prep career at Crandall High School and North Mesquite High School.

UT Arlington returns two starters back from a 24-9 squad that won the Southland Conference with a school-record 19 straight conference wins. The Mavs lost in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional to Texas A&M, 58-50.

Source: UTA

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• Colleges & Universities > University of Texas at Arlington
• Mansfield ISD > Mansfield ISD High Schools > Summit
• Basketball > Women's College Basketball > Southland > University of Texas at Arlington