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Amorrow Morgan didn't hesitate when Rick Barnes, Tennessee came calling

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•06/21/25•

GrantRamey

Amorrow Morgan, South Alabama Athletics
Amorrow Morgan, South Alabama Athletics

The hardest part of Amorrow Morgan’s move from Florida State to Tennessee might have been an apartment leasing office. He had just moved to Tallahassee weeks earlier, but when Rick Barnes called offering a spot on his Tennessee coaching staff, Morgan knew it was time to break his new lease.

“I was a little stressed about that,” Morgan said last month, “because I did sign a lease when I was there, but they let me out pretty quickly. They understood just because it was a relocation deal.”

“I was worried about being able to break your lease in Florida,” Morgan added, “and the people ended up being understanding and I got out of there. I didn’t lose too much money.”

Tennessee hired Amorrow Morgan on May 2, four weeks after he was hired at FSU

He didn’t lose any sleep over the decision, either. 

The 37-year-old Morgan, who spent the previous two seasons at California, grew up in Memphis and described himself as a Tennessee fan his entire life, tracking the progress of the Vols during his playing and coaching career. 

When Rod Clark left for Indiana in May, creating a vacancy on the Tennessee bench, Morgan knew it was time to go home. Barnes didn’t have to do any convincing. 

“He didn’t really have to do much selling,” Morgan said. “I think his body of work and just what he’s done over his time here, the 10 years that he’s been here, has just been incredibly remarkable. 

“Especially for me, watching and witnessing the ebbs and flows, the ups and downs of the program just over my lifetime. Just the consistency that he’s been able to have here just right away, like, for me, it was no selling.”

‘When a Hall of Famer calls you, a smart man just ups and goes’

Morgan had already sold the move to his wife in the past. If a job at Tennessee ever opened and he had the opportunity to take it, there would be no hesitation — even if he had taken a new job just weeks before. 

“No matter if I’m there for 10 days,” Morgan said, “we probably gotta up and leave.”

New Florida State coach Luke Loucks made Morgan’s move easier by encouraging him to take the job at Tennessee. Loucks, a former NBA assistant, was hired at FSU on March 9, with Morgan assisting in building the new-look Seminole roster during his brief time in Tallahassee. 

“(Loucks) understood the importance of what it’s like going back to your home state, getting closer back to your family,” Morgan said. “He understood. He was in full support. 

“I think I did a pretty good job for him in the six weeks that I was working for him. We got there, we had two players. I left, we had 11.”

And when Barnes called, Loucks had one less assistant. 

“That was obviously the quickest move that I’ve had in my entire career,” Morgan said. “When a Hall of Famer calls you, a smart man just ups and goes.”

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