First Posted: 3/29/2015
SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP — Some will always remember Jimmy Morris as the quarterback on Lima Senior’s 1996 football state championship team.
Sports-wise, however, he’s been a baseball guy most of his life.
Now Morris gets his second shot as a high school baseball head coach, as he takes over the program at Shawnee. He’s also the assistant middle school principal at Shawnee.
“I realized I enjoy the game of baseball, and know it fairly well,” Morris said. “I enjoy being around the game and coaching it.”
Morris had previously been the head baseball coach for five years at Lima Senior. He has also served as an assistant coach at Wapakoneta and at Bath.
Morris went to Wright State to play baseball and also played shortstop for the Lima Locos in the Great Lakes Collegiate League. After graduating from Wright State, he was an assistant coach for the Locos for five summers (2002-07) under Rob Livchak.
“I started coaching the Locos right away when I was done playing,” Morris said. “I was feeling it out. The whole Locos’ experience got me hooked into baseball (coaching). I enjoyed the summer and enjoyed Rob and Barry (Ruben, the Locos’ general manager). It was a very good experience, and I learned a lot.”
It was also during that time, he logged two years as an assistant at Wapakoneta under head coach Jason Brandt.
“When he (Brandt) came in they were really bad, but we hovered around .500 that first year,” Morris said. “Then the second year we went to the regionals and lost to Walsh Jesuit. … I learned a lot of good things there.”
Starting in 2007, he took over at Lima Senior, where the program had reached rock bottom.
“We did some good things there,” he said. “We won 27 games over a three-year span. That wasn’t too bad.”
In 2013, he helped out his friend and head coach Brian Jesko at Bath.
Last season he took the assistant principal job at Shawnee Middle School and took a year off from baseball.
Morris said he’s learned plenty over the years and has developed his overall philosophy from all the coaches he’s worked under.
“My biggest message is to enjoy each other,” Morris said. “Enjoy the four years you are playing baseball. Don’t get wrapped up whether you are starting or doing this or that. It’s supposed to be four years of fun. Enjoy the process. Don’t play tense.
“Over the years I’ve learned not to be so intense. It’s more about playing hard, your teammates and enjoying your time.”
Morris and his assistant coach, Todd Hall, will share the pitching responsibilities. Danny Jones is the junior varsity coach, while Matt Christoff is the JV assistant.
Morris returns nine veterans from a team that went 14-12, 6-3 in the Western Buckeye League last year. Eight of those are listed as being able to pitch.
“I like our seniors,” Morris said. “They are on time and can play multiple positions. We should be competitive in every game. It’ll come down to the big hit, the big play and the big pitch. I think we can put ourselves in that position every night. We’re just some confidence away from doing that. … It’s a fun group to work with. They work hard and listen.”
As for playing small ball, Morris said he will bunt, but won’t be tied to it.
“It’s (playing small ball) a little harder with the high school guys (than college) because they’re not as skilled,” Morris said. “I want to swing away, but if we’re not getting the job done … If we have to play small ball, we will.
“We have six guys who can run, but the key to running is getting on base. We have to find ways to get on base.”
