Former Kentucky coach Guy Morriss passes away

We’ve got some sad news to pass along this morning. Former Kentucky Football coach Guy Morriss has passed away, his family tells Dick Gabriel. The 71-year-old had been battling Alzheimer’s for the past six years.

Sad news: Former UK coach Guy Morriss has died. His wife Jackie says he was surrounded by his loved ones and went peacefully. This is the story I produced when she and Guy asked me to explain to UK fans that he’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. RIP https://t.co/flnHjCBsHC

— Big Blue Insider (@bigblueinsider1) September 6, 2022

Morriss came to Kentucky with Hal Mumme from Valdosta State in 1997, serving as Mumme’s offensive line and assistant head coach. When Mumme resigned following an investigation into possible NCAA violations in 2001, Morriss was named interim head coach. The Cats finished 2-9 that season but Morriss earned the title of permanent head coach and led the Cats to a 7-5 record in 2002, which included a victory over Louisville and a near upset of LSU in the Bluegrass Miracle.

Morriss, a Texas native, left Kentucky for Baylor in 2003 and coached the Bears for five seasons. He finished up his college coaching career at Texas A&M-Commerce from 2009-12 and then returned to Kentucky with his family. He coached the offensive line at Lexington Christian Academy before retiring from football.

In 2017, Morriss revealed his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in an interview with WKYT. The former NFL offensive lineman was frank about how the disease had robbed him of the ability to do everyday tasks.

“I’ve always been a great football player, a coach.  I could” — he held up shaky fists in the interview, unable to find the right words — “All the world! It’s not that way anymore.  You wake up one day and everything connects.  The next time you get out of bed, the same problem, then no problem.  It’s just a day at a time.“

Morriss was a proud Texas native, born in Colorado City. He played at TCU from 1969-72 and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for 15 seasons with the Eagles (1973-83) and the New England Patriots (1984-87), earning Pro Bowl honors and starting at center for the Eagles in Super Bowl XV.

Even in the late stages of his life, Morriss stayed close to the Kentucky Football program. He came to Fan Day on August 6 and chatted with Mark Stoops.

Welcome back, Coach Guy Morriss! pic.twitter.com/2Ssu2HV28M

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) August 6, 2022

Our hearts go out to the Morriss family as they mourn a bear of a man. Heaven just got a good one.