New coach a familiar face

Corey Morrison knows firsthand that it is possible to achieve success in football at Richfield High.

As a player, he helped the Wildcats reach a state championship game in 1988. He also attained individual success, earning a first-team all-state award for his play at running back.

Morrison will now take a second shot at leading Richfield's football program to prominence as the Wildcats' head coach.

Morrison, 35, was named Richfield's new head football coach last week. It will be Morrison's second stint with the Wildcats, as he coached the team for five seasons from 1995-99. He replaces Seth Giddings, who resigned about a month ago to pursue some coaching opportunities in Florida.

Morrison has been a mainstay at Richfield. Following an outstanding career in football and wrestling at the school, he became a teacher there. He continued to coach wrestling and track at Richfield after he resigned as the school's head football coach. He is in his 14th year of teaching at Richfield.

"I want to help the school out, help the kids out," Morrison said. "I'm just excited to give it a shot."

The Wildcats had suffered through several down years before turning the corner in 2007. Richfield finished with a winning record for the first time since 1993, and won a postseason contest for the first time since 1991.

Morrison expects to build off of last season's success for the next several years.

"There's some good talent there," Morrison said. "If the kids are dedicated, pumping weights and buying into our system, I think we can be a power."

JUAN DIEGO PLAYERS COMMIT: Four Juan Diego baseball players announced their college choices last week. Patrick Fratto, Bryan James and Michael Lipsey will play at Taft College (Calif.). Jordan Cox, a left-handed pitcher, will play at California Lutheran University, a Division III school.

Fratto, a middle-infielder and pitcher, hit .516 last season. Cox, who has a 3.6 grade-point average, earned an academic scholarship. James will probably play in the outfield at Taft, while Lipsey has been a four-year letterman for the Soaring Eagle. Another Juan Diego player, Devin Thomas, is also likely to play at Taft.

"They will all compete, and they'll do fine," said Soaring Eagle coach Steve Cramblitt.

HAWS INVITED: Lone Peak's Tyler Haws, the 2008 Deseret News Mr. Basketball, has been selected to participate in the NBA Players Association Top 100 player camp. The camp is in its 12th year, and is held June 18-21 at the University of Virginia. The camp is considered to be one of most prestigious in the nation.