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 Joe Morrone

Share Your Memories Of Coach Morrone

Joseph J. Morrone, nationally-known Hall of Fame soccer coach, who led UConn to the NCAA Men's Soccer National Championship in 1981, passed away on Wednesday night.

Please share your memories of Joe below.

Steve Veal (Kansas City, MO: The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is saddened on news of the passing of Joe Morrone. The 1986-87 President of the NSCAA and recipient of both the Association's Honor Award (1995) and induction in the Hall of Fame (2002, Joe was one of our iconic legacy members. He was one of the great leaders and ambassadors for the coaching profession, college soccer and the game in the United States. Our thoughts and Prayer are with his family and the University of Connecticut community at this difficult time. (Steve Veal, NSCAA)

Linda (New Canaan): Our heartfelt condolences to the Morrone family. Joe was a great, great man.

Etta Bishop, Woodsville, NH: I had the privilege of working with Joe on the Freedom Green Condo Board, and he was my neighbor as well. A great soul!

Joe Ticotsky (Hamden, CT): Back in October 1979 when I was a freshman writing for the UConn student newspaper, I was assigned to cover an away soccer game at Dartmouth and got to ride on the bus with the team/coaches. Knowing little to nothing about soccer had me a bit nervous, but on the ride home Coach Morrone could not have been more helpful in providing quotes, tips and soccer tidbits. Gruff on the field, but certainly kind off the field and a great ambassador for college soccer.

Keith Tabatznik (Washington DC): I was 24 as the head coach at Georgetown University in 1984. I was in awe of Coach Morrone and his program. It was the yardstick for all of us in the BIG EAST and college soccer. He pushed me to get GU to improve the program and facilities. Joe was a larger then life figure whom throughout the years of our competitive battles remained a true professional win, lose or draw. A work ethic second to none, Joe was an inspiration to me as a young coach and became a good friend as a veteran coach and in post college coaching years. I will miss seeing Joe but know his presence will never be lost from college soccer and of course never from UConn. So much to thank you for...RIP Joe

Wil Cadet (Hercules, CA): Coach Morrone was a giant of American Soccer, not just UConn & collegiate soccer as his record alone shows. But beyond the wins & losses, his positive influence on those who played for him, cannot be overstated. All of us who played for him were positively impacted in major and minor ways. I still remember conversations with Coach, not just about the game, but discussing all manners of subjects, particularly since I had to recover from long lasting injuries all but my junior year at Storrs. It's also been gratifying to see the game being played on the world pitches in the manner he was teaching way back when, i.e. La Roja (Spain), Barcalona - innovative and ahead of his time, for sure. My condolences to Joe, Bill, and Melissa....

Nancy Rodriguez (UConn-Storrs): Coach Morrone was a true gentleman and an incredible colleague; always a joy to be around no matter the circumstance. He was a class act and a true Husky, all the way. May his memory be eternal.

Leslie (Milford): Having grown up as a soccer player in Mansfield, I always had a special appreciation for Coach Joe and all he did for the sport of soccer. He taught us that girls and boys played the game the same way. He was a very classy guy who knew what he wanted from his players. He was a special man!

Douglas Casa (UCONN-Storrs): Coach Morrone had a big influence on my life. I was the athletic trainer for his soccer camps up at Deerfield Academy for a few summers and got to know him really well. I remember sitting on a couch and watching World Cup games with him in 1994 while we were at camp. I learned about soccer in those few hours than I did before or since. I then had the honor of being a faculty member with him for the past 15 years in our Department of Kinesiology. He would ask every day how my kids were doing and genuinely care about what I said. He would always leave me with a tip to use when coaching my girls youth soccer team. I am thrilled he got to watch the UCONN team win this past Sunday night. My wife and I will miss Joe tremendously.

Sandy Auld (Stuart FL): Little known fact: Joe was one of the founders of NISOA in 1965. In 1966 he assisted me in becoming a collegiate referee and NISOA board member. Officiating UCONN was always a challenge. Great guy. Great contributor to the college game.

Steve Pratt (Gray ME): My freshman year at UConn saw the end of the 30+ year soccer coaching career of John Squires as the head coach of the Huskies and the naming of Joe Morrone as his replacement. It was clearly a new era. In the days of long hair and beards, Joe, along with baseball coach Panciera, demanded that his players look "shahp, fellahs" - no facial hair and no long hair. The players, I'm sure, chafed at these rules, but there was no denying that the Huskies looked and played well. I remember watching games at the present-day site of Morrone stadium with 15 or 20 others in the first couple of years of his time there. Later, I was privileged to announce a few games on WHUS in 1971, so I got to know Joe pretty well. Condolences to family and friends!

Robert Sweet: Grew up in Vernon Ct, went to many games w fans in the trees and we could sit on sidelines, 'we' youth soccer played at halftime, he knew it back then, RIP COACH M

Daniel Murawski: Joe was one of the most impressive human beings I have ever met in my life. I coached boys soccer at Southington High for thirty years. My very first year of coaching(1969) Joe came to Southington High . That year he visited every high school in the state. That year we developed a very close relationship. I worked at his camps and went to everyone of his games that I could. He never varied from his love of soccer and his goal to excell. There will always be a place for him in my heart. God Bless you Joe.

Craig McCully (Charleston, SC): My brother and I played for Coach from 89-93. He pushed you to do your best not only on the field, but in the classroom and especially as a person. Every player remembers the first time they start and gets the speech from Coach. It was a thanks from him for doing your best and that starting was your hard work paying off. The 1989 Big East Championship team had a re-union last year and Coach was thrilled to see all of us. He talked to each of us like his one-on-one sessions and thanked us for giving him our best and was proud that we still have remained great friends. I will always be thankful for Coach and everything he did for us. He has touched the lives of thousands of children,players, coaches, friends and family. Thanks Coach!

SoccerFan (Storrs): For the fans, Joe Morrone's Impact cannot be measured in wins and losses, or in all of the organizations he founded. He was a larger than life character who teams reflected his passion and iron will to win. Fiery, even volcanic, Joe was a huge part of the show on Sundays and Wednesday afternoons, whether he was bellowing orders to his team, roaring at the refs, or snapping a clipboard over his knee. Joe was rigorous and demanding, and many players will tell you he wasn't easy to play for. But most came to understand he was turning boys into men. UConn had the most fanatical fan base college soccer has ever seen. We loved Coach's passion and determination, we loved how his team's outhustled others with superior skills. Miss you Joe!

Charles (West Hartford): I attended UCONN back in the mid-1980s by which time Coach himself was considered an institution. Home soccer games were typically a campus happening, an event with no equal, really, and the men's soccer team was widely considered as the pride of Connecticut's flagship University. To me, Coach Morrone and what he stood for harkens back to a time when success in intercollegiate athletics was not dictated by profits but forged by the values Coach embodied. So much has changed since then, and with Coach's passing, it is certainly a time of reflection of all the wonderful moments he brought to our state and the sport he loved so much. Rest well, Coach

Dylan Dombrowski, Bronx, NY: I had Coach Morrone as a student and learned a great deal from the man. He helped me further my professional development. I will always be thankful as he advanced me not just as a student, but as a man. He will be missed.

George Ducach: Coach Morrone gave me a great opportunity to leave the Bronx, play soccer at U-Conn for 2 years and obtain an excellent education. I am a doctor now and will be forever grateful to him. Coach, I will always look up to you.

Len Mercurio URI '81 Johnston,RI: Coach Morrone's intensity and love for the game brought the very best in everyone playing for him and against him.You always want to compete with THE BEST and I thank you Coach for giving that life learning opportunity.My condolences to Joe, Bill,Melissa and friends.

Marc Bailey (Storrs roots): Thank you for everything, Coach. There are hundreds (probably more like thousands) of us from Storrs and the surrounding communities who are lifelong soccer fanatics because of him, proudly carrying on his legacy of teaching soccer to the next generation. Does anybody else remember this song from Joe's camp: "Good morning to you, good morning to you, we're all in our places with bright shiny faces, now this is the way to start a new day!" Best wishes to Joe jr, Bill, and Melissa.

Joseph Petrella, Great Falls MT, Alum: Marc - I definitely remember that after spending 8 summers attending his soccer camps. I loved getting away for a week of soccer. What a great time. I also remember going to UConn soccer matches before they put the fence around the field. It was awesome watching the team play right along the sideline.

Joe Stickles (Coventry CT): I always saw Joe when he came into Highland Park Market. I would bag his groceries and walk him out to his car. He will always be remembered as building up not only the soccer program at UConn, but building up college soccer in general. Rest in peace Joe

University of Connecticut Athletics

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