Steve Morton
Offensive Line Coach
Coaching All-Americans, All-Pac-10 players and Morris Trophy winners is becoming old habit to Steve Morton, Washington's offensive line coach.
Now in his seventh season as the Huskies' offensive line coach, Morton has developed the unit into one of the most respected in college football. This year's group figures to be no exception, despite the loss of two first-team All-Americans off of last year's squad.
The Huskies offensive line has been atop the Pac-10 the past few years in two key categories -- sacks allowed and rushing yards.
Last year's line included first-team All-Americans Benji Olson (guard) and Olin Kreutz (center). Both were juniors who declared early for the NFL draft. Kreutz was picked by the Chicago Bears in the third round and Olson by Tennessee in the fifth round. Olson was a two-time first-team All-American while Kreutz was named the Pac-10's 1997 Morris Trophy winner as the league's top lineman.
Following Washington's 1996 season, offensive tackle Bob Sapp was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the NFL draft. Sapp was also a Morris Trophy winner.
Morton has coached a number of players who have gone on to be drafted by NFL teams. Tackle Andrew Peterson and center Frank Garcia were drafted by Carolina in 1995 and made the expansion team's roster. Garcia started in the 1996 NFC Championship game.
In 1993, Morton coached three players who were either drafted or signed by NFL teams -- Pete Pierson (fifth round, Tampa Bay), Tom Gallagher (free agent, Denver) and P.A. Emerson (free agent, Philadelphia). Another lineman that year, National Football Foundation post-graduate scholarship winner Jim Nevelle, turned down pro offers to begin his engineering career.
In 1992, he coached Lincoln Kennedy - an All-American, Lombardi Award finalist, two-time Morris Trophy winner and first-round draft choice (ninth pick).
Aside from coaching the offensive line, he also works with the kicking game. His off-field duties include the officials, football rules, recruiting and the summer job program. Morton is a member of the American Football Coaches Association. His postseason coaching experience includes the 1991 Blue-Gray All-Star game.
Morton was the offensive line coach at Iowa State (1987-91) before coming to Washington. At Iowa State, Morton coached standout lineman Keith Sims, who went on to star for the Dolphins and Eagles in the NFL.
That was his second coaching stint under Jim Walden. Morton also worked for Walden at Washington State, where he was the line coach for five seasons (1982-86) after serving as tight end coach from 1978-81 and as a graduate assistant from 1975 to 1977.
At WSU, Morton coached Mike Utley, who had emerged into a star lineman for the Detroit Lions before his career was ended by a tragic injury that left him paralyzed. Morton also tutored tight end Pat Beach, who went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts, among others.
Morton received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Washington State in 1976. He played two years as a center and guard for the Cougars after transferring from Grays Harbor Community College where he played from 1971-72. He was named the team's outstanding lineman and selected to the all-Northwest Junior College team in 1972.
Born Oct. 19, 1953, in Chehalis, Wash., Morton attended Chehalis' W.F. West High School. He and his wife Karen have two children, Beau (21) and Bethany (17).
The Morton File
Personal Birthplace: Chehalis, Washington Birthdate: October 19, 1953 Family: Wife Karen and one son, Beau, and one daughter, BethanyEducation High School: W.F. West High School, Chehalis, WA (1971) College: Grays Harbor Community College (1973), Washington State (1976)
Playing Experience College: Grays Harbor Community College (1971-72) Washington State (1973-74)
Coaching Experience 1975-76 Washington State (graduate assistant) 1977 Washington State (junior varsity head coach, offensive line) 1978-81 Washington State (tight ends) 1982-86 Washington State (offensive line) 1987-91 Iowa State (offensive line) 1992-98 Washington (offensive line)
Bowl Experience 1981 Holiday Bowl (Washington State vs. Brigham Young) 1993 Rose Bowl (Washington vs. Michigan) 1995 Sun Bowl (Washington vs. Iowa) 1996 Holiday Bowl (Washington vs. Colorado) 1997 Aloha Bowl (Washington vs. Michigan State)
