IADA Hall of Fame

After working with Mike for 13 years, one administrator stated, "he is the best athletic director I have worked with in 40 years in education." Based on his positions and responsibilities held with IADA and his legacy at LTHS, Mike Morris's induction to the Hall of Fame is well-deserved. As an Athletic Director, Mike tirelessly worked to obtain his CAA and CMAA. During his final two years, "when other might have coasted into retirement, Mike took on the major initiative of renovating and planning the development of a new Fieldhouse, Olympic size swimming pool, Wrestling facility and turf field." Under his guidance, Mike increased the number of participants in athletic programs from 1200 students/athletes to 2000 plus student/athletes. Mike worked with the entire community to implement new teams to the LTHS athletic department: Boys and Girls La Crosse, Boys and Girls Water Polo, Girls Golf, Boys Volleyball, and Special Olympics Basketball. Aside from working to improve the high school experience for student athletes, Mike also worked to present information to assist the college bound athlete. He presented various addresses to athletic Director conferences in order to give back to the community. During his IADA tenure, Mike served as a part of the Registration Committee, as a presenter, as an Executive Board Member, and as Treasurer. In turn, the IADA honored him with the Outstanding Athletic Administrator of the Year in 1997 and Class AA Co Athletic Directors of the Year Award in 2004. In 2003, Mike was selected NFHS Citation Award Nominee from Illinois in 2003. As his role at LTHS was more than an Athletic Director, Mike's overall contribution to the school community extended far beyond athletics. He was a forceful voice of reason on key issuses and was involved in many different school functions. "Only at LTHS could you find 130 freshman playing football, 170 girls running cross country, 75 students in a Shakespeare Club Society, and 3,000 students attending a Homecoming Dance..under his leadership, the school greatly increased the number of students participating in a wide range of events." Micheal Morris's professional commitment to students and their programs has placed him in an elite group-the Illinois Athletic Directors' Association Hall of Fame.