Lazarus Morgan has been hired as the defensive coordinator for the SUNY Cortland football program, according to Red Dragon head coach Curt Fitzpatrick. Morgan will begin his role at Cortland on May 4.
Morgan served the past six seasons as an assistant coach at Alfred University, including the last four years (2016-19) as the Saxons' defensive coordinator. He was Alfred's defensive backs coach and junior varsity coach for two seasons from 2014-15.
In his four years as defensive coordinator, Alfred posted a combined 32-13 record and registered 113 sacks and 91 forced turnovers. The program featured four All-Americans, two regional Players of the Year, three Empire 8 Players of the Year, seven all-region players and 19 all-league honorees.
In 2016, Morgan was part of the Saxons' Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year as the team won the Empire 8 title and posted a 10-0 regular-season record. Alfred advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals, finished the year 12-1 and was the Lambert Cup winner. During his six seasons at Alfred, the Saxons were 3-0 in ECAC bowl games in addition to their two 2016 NCAA wins.
In 2017, Alfred allowed 17 points per game (16.7 in league play) – the best at the school since 2005 – and ranked second in the league in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and sacks. In 2018, the Saxons ranked third nationally with 23 interceptions (first with 22 in the regular season) and was second nationally with 36 gained turnovers (first with 33 in the regular season). Alfred ranked 15th nationally in total defense (264.9 yards/game) and fourth nationally with only eight touchdown passes allowed, and led the Empire 8 in passing defense (174.4 yards/game), in 2019.
Prior to Alfred, Morgan coached for five seasons at his alma mater, Utica College. He served as an assistant in charge of special teams and was wide receivers coach for the 2009 season. He was an assistant coach in charge of safeties from 2010-13, during which time he was also junior varsity defensive coordinator for two years (2010-11) and junior varsity head coach for two seasons (2012-13).
During Morgan's tenure as assistant coach in charge of safeties, the Utica pass defense ranked first in the Empire 8 Conference in 2011 and was second in the conference in 2013. In his one season as wide receivers coach (2009), the Pioneers ranked second in the league in passing yards per game.
A native of the Bronx and an alumnus of Christopher Columbus High School, Morgan was defensive back at Utica from 2006-08 and was an All-Empire 8 selection as a junior in 2007. He registered six interceptions in 28 varsity games. Morgan earned a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Utica in 2008 and a master's degree in educational leadership and administration, also from Utica, in 2014.