Desmond Morgan - Assistant Coach / Safeties - Football Coaches

Desmond Morgan

Title:
Assistant Coach / Safeties
Email:
football@memphis.edu
Phone:
901-678-5119

Desmond Morgan enters his fourth season with Memphis in 2025, now working as the safeties coach.

Morgan helped guide the Tigers to an 11-2 record that included a 42-37 win over West Virginia in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl.

Morgan’s safeties helped anchor a Memphis defense that ranked first in fumbles recovered (15), second in turnover margin (1.38), 10^th in turnovers gained (26), 15^th in rushing defense (111.8) and 16^th in defensive first downs (225).

Individually, senior Greg Rubin ranked tied for fifth in the NCAA in forced fumbles (4) while Davion Ross was honored with a First Team All-AAC nod.

During the 2023 season, Morgan helped the Tiger defense rank fourth in the country in fourth-down conversion percentage (.290), 15^th in defensive touchdowns (3) and 30^th in fumbles recovered (9) and turnover margin (.38) in route to a 10-3 record with a 36-26 win over Iowa State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Senior safety Simeon Blair earned Third Team All-AAC honors after ranking 19^th in the NCAA in fumbles recovered (2) while recording 63 total tackles for the year.

In his first season with the Tigers, Morgan helped guide the Tigers to a 38-10 win over Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl while the defense ranked 10^th in passes intercepted (16), 12^th in defensive touchdowns (3), 24^th in turnover margin. (.46) and turnovers gained (22) and 27^th in rushing defense (122.1).

Individually, Quindell Johnson was named First Team All-AAC while Davion Ross earned Honorable Mention All-AAC honors.

Prior to Memphis, Morgan spent two seasons at Indiana State as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.

During the 2021 season, the Sycamore defense was led by true freshman linebacker Geoffery Brown with a team-high 60 tackles, including a season-best 12 tackles in the team’s 15-10 win over Illinois State. Brown’s efforts led him to earning Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team honors as well as a Phil Steele Third Team Freshman All-American nod.

On the special teams side, Morgan saw his crew rank sixth in FCS in blocked punts (3) and third in the MVC in punt return average.
Morgan spent one season in Minneapolis where he served as a quality control coach for special teams.

During the 2019 season, the Gophers went 11-2 with a 7-2 spot in Big Ten play. Minnesota went on to defeat Auburn 31-24 in the Outback Bowl and rank second in the NCAA in punt return defense (.17).

Prior to his stint with Minnesota, Morgan spent two seasons at Big Ten rival Maryland as a graduate assistant for defense and special teams where he worked primarily with the linebackers, defensive line and safety positions.

During his tenure in College Park, Morgan helped the Terrapins to back-to-back season opening wins over then No. 23 Texas in 2017 and 2018.

Morgan got his start in coaching at Wayne State University in 2016 as a graduate assistant coach for offense and special teams. During the 2016 season, the Warriors went 7-4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, including a six-game winning streak.