Coach Morgan enters his second season as head baseball coach at Norfolk State in 2027.
In his first year at the helm, Morgan guided the Spartans to their first 20-win season since 2021, finishing 20-31 overall. Picked 10th in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, Norfolk State surged to a sixth-place finish and more than doubled its conference win total with 16 NEC victories. Morgan also set a program record for most wins by a first-year head coach.
Under his leadership, the Spartans produced two All-NEC Second Team selections in Ethan Blakeney and Justin Journette and led the NEC with four shutout victories. Offensively, Norfolk State ranked 51st nationally in stolen bases per game and 61st in total stolen bases. The Spartans won six of 11 conference series and finished with 16 more wins than the previous season—surpassing the combined win total of the previous two years.
A proven leader with extensive coaching experience across the collegiate and professional levels, Morgan has been part of staffs that compiled a 254-117 (.685) record, capturing four regular-season titles and one conference tournament championship.
Morgan began his coaching career with three seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University. During his tenure, VCU captured the 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and the 2017 regular-season conference championship.
VCU earned an NCAA Tournament berth during the 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament run, winning back-to-back elimination games against Rhode Island to claim the title. The Rams closed the season on a 13-game winning streak and advanced to a Super Regional for the first time in program history after wins over nationally ranked Dallas Baptist and Oklahoma State.
VCU recorded at least 35 wins in each season Morgan was on staff and appeared in the national rankings in both 2014 and 2015.
Morgan also spent three seasons as an assistant coach, and one as associate head coach at Randolph-Macon College, helping the Yellow Jackets rise to prominence in their conference. The program opened the 2020 season with a 15-1 record, its best start in program history, before the season was halted due to COVID-19.
That year, Randolph-Macon reached No. 1 in the Perfect Game poll and No. 2 in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25. In 2018, the Yellow Jackets captured their first NCAA Regional title and advanced to the Division III College World Series for the first time in program history.
Across his coaching career, Morgan has helped develop two conference Players of the Year and two Pitchers of the Year, while mentoring 17 players who signed professional contracts, including four who reached Major League Baseball.
Most recently, Morgan served as the Mid-Atlantic area scouting supervisor for the Tampa Bay Rays beginning in 2021. In that role, he evaluated amateur talent through video and in-person scouting while building regional relationships across the baseball community. During his tenure, the Rays reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, including an AL East title in 2021 and a franchise-record 99 wins in 2023.
As a player at VCU, Morgan helped the Rams capture two conference championships and make two NCAA Regional appearances. A steady defensive presence in the outfield, he posted a .984 fielding percentage during his senior season.
Morgan earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2010 and a Master of Education in Sports Leadership in 2014 from VCU.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT M.L. MORGAN
Shawn Stiffler – Head Coach – Notre Dame
“ML is a fantastic hire for NSU. There is no one who will pour more into developing these young men than ML. He will create an environment of winning that will be student-athlete focused! No doubt we will see NSU competing for championships soon!"
Edwin Thompson – Head Coach – Georgetown
"ML Morgan is the right person to lead Norfolk State Baseball in the next chapter. He is a connector of people and his ability to develop genuine relationships is something that will serve him well. I have known ML for many years – the thing that stands out about him is his passion and knowledge for the game along with his ability to teach that to players. The future is bright for Spartan baseball."
Chuck Ricci – Scouting Director – Tampa Bay Rays
"The Norfolk State Baseball team and University made the perfect hire in naming ML Morgan to be their next head coach. He will not just lead players on the field but more importantly he will instill values that will help them be successful in life after baseball. His character, work ethic and passion for the game is unmatched. ML was a core member of our scouting staff and made an enormous impact during the time he was in the organization. Although he will be missed, the Rays are excited for ML and this opportunity as I cannot think of a better person to lead the program and take them to new heights."
Ray Hedrick – Head Coach – Randolph Macon College
"ML is a well-respected baseball mind throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. He is a tireless recruiter who has proven his ability to recognize the skill set it takes to achieve on the field success at the highest level. Above all else, ML values relationships and the overall development of young men far beyond the baseball field. He is a transformational leader."
