NICEVILLE — Richard Morgan has developed NFL players. He's won state titles, two at Oscar Smith High in Virginia and another at Marietta High in Georgia. He's made eight Final Four trips.
In his resume, Niceville High School Principal Charlie Marello and the hiring committee saw a greatness they deemed peerless among the seven finalists whittled down from the 70 applicants applying to be Grant Thompson's successor. And it's greatness Morgan sees in this Niceville football program.
Addressing his players for the first time Monday after the Eagle Pride band introduced him as Niceville's new head football coach, Morgan told them: "One word we're striving for: Greatness. Our culture is greatness. Our standard is greatness."
If greatness is measured by player development, Niceville has long been a leader in the Panhandle with alums like Azareyeh and Juanyeh Thomas, Tyre McCants, Eli Stove, Finley, Mr. Football Trey Wainwright, lineman Kimo Makane'ole and Deonte Smith. Morgan's pedigree of coaching 185 college football players, seven NFL players, 21 All-Americans and two Gatorade National Players of the Year fits into that reputation.
If greatness is measured by Final Four trips, Niceville has six in the past 20 years as they welcome a man who's been to eight himself.
But if greatness is measured by state titles, Niceville's been in the conversation but fallen short since hoisting its lone state title in 1988. A comedy of special teams errors is the only reason Niceville wasn't lining up against St. Thomas Aquinas for the 5A title this past December, and that heartbreaker has only amplified Niceville's quest for a state title.
Now a new dawn faces the Eagles, who are dealing with circumstances Morgan has never had to navigate before. Chief among them is Florida's transfer portal, which last season both rejuvenized and depleted depth charts across the Sunshine State.
The good news is Niceville's coaching staff likely will remain consistent. Asked if he had plans to bring anyone in, Morgan didn't mention any specific names or say any new hires (outside of a void at offensive line) were pressing. This is good news for continuity on Niceville's sideline after the defense shined last year under Kody Martin and excelled in specific phases behind Adron Robinson, Brooks Perry, ...
