Karl Morgan serves as the Senior Defensive Analyst for the Mississippi Valley State University football program, bringing decades of collegiate and professional football experience to the Delta Devils.
A veteran collegiate coach and former UCLA standout, Morgan has deep ties to Mississippi Valley State. He previously served as the 15th head football coach in program history and as defensive coordinator for the Delta Devils after arriving at MVSU following five seasons as defensive coordinator at the University of North Alabama.
During his three seasons as MVSU's head coach, Morgan continued to build the Delta Devils' defensive identity. In 2011, Valley finished sixth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total defense and rushing offense. The program made a significant jump the following season, leading the SWAC and ranking fourth nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision in total defense by allowing just 279.2 yards per game.
The 2012 Delta Devils also ranked second in the SWAC in scoring defense at 18.7 points allowed per game. MVSU led the conference in rushing defense at 116.2 yards per game, pass defense efficiency at 99.7 and interceptions with 13. Valley also allowed only 163 passing yards per game, ranking second in the conference.
Six Delta Devils earned postseason All-SWAC honors following the 2012 season. That year, Morgan also became the first MVSU head coach since legendary coach Archie Cooley in 1984 to lead the Delta Devils to victories over both Southern and Grambling State in the same season.
Prior to his tenure at Mississippi Valley State, Morgan spent five seasons as defensive coordinator at the University of North Alabama. During that span, the Lions compiled a 55-10 record, captured a Gulf South Conference championship and made four NCAA Division II playoff appearances. UNA also posted a plus-82 turnover margin over the 65 games Morgan coached with the program.
In 2009, North Alabama finished 11-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Lions placed four players on the Daktronics All-America First Team and Associated Press Little All-America Team, highlighted by linebacker Michael Johnson and defensive lineman Montrell Craft. Johnson was also named the Ron Lenz National Defensive Player of the Year. Defensively, UNA ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense and 11th in scoring defense.
The Lions went 12-2 in 2008 and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals. Morgan's defense led the nation with 44 forced turnovers and 32 interceptions while ranking fourth nationally in turnover margin, seventh in pass efficiency defense and 14th in scoring defense. Seven UNA defenders earned All-Gulf South Conference honors that season.
In 2007, North Alabama posted a 10-2 record and reached the NCAA Division II quarterfinals behind a defense that ranked seventh nationally in turnovers gained and 25th in scoring defense. A year earlier, UNA finished 11-1, won the Gulf South Conference championship and reached the national quarterfinals. The Lions ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense in 2006, allowing only 13.8 points per game, while five defenders earned All-GSC honors.
Morgan's 2005 defense also ranked among the NCAA Division II national leaders in multiple categories and helped North Alabama finish 11-3 with a semifinal appearance. The Lions recovered 20 fumbles, intercepted 21 passes and finished with a plus-19 turnover margin. Four UNA defenders received All-GSC honors, including defensive back Blake Farris, who was named to four All-America teams. Farris and defensive lineman Lee Vickers later signed with National Football League teams.
Morgan's extensive coaching career also includes stops at Hampton University, Alcorn State University, Arkansas State University and Purdue University. He spent four seasons coaching the defensive line at Arkansas State after previously serving as defensive line coach at Purdue.
He began his coaching career as head football coach at Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, Louisiana, from 1989 to 1992. Morgan entered the collegiate ranks as defensive line coach at Nicholls State University from 1993 to 1994 before joining Southern University in 1995. During his season at Southern, Morgan's defensive line contributed to a unit that helped the Jaguars finish 11-1 and capture the Black College National Championship.
A native of Houma, Louisiana, Morgan was a standout nose guard at UCLA and a four-year letterwinner for the Bruins. He served as defensive captain of UCLA's 1983 Rose Bowl championship team and finished his collegiate career with 35 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback sacks. Morgan was twice awarded the Henry R. "Red" Sanders Trophy as UCLA's Most Valuable Defensive Player.
Morgan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UCLA in 1984.
Following his collegiate career, Morgan played professionally with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League and was drafted by the Arizona Wranglers of the United States Football League. He played in the National Football League with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1984 to 1986 and also spent time with the Houston Oilers in 1986. Morgan later played Arena Football with the Cincinnati Rockers in 1992.
