University of Connecticut Athletics
#MorroneMemories – Remembering Coach Morrone
10/24/2018 3:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer
When Joe Morrone was hired as head coach in 1969, the UConn soccer program was largely unknown and unpopular in Connecticut. Thanks to, a new stadium (known back then as the Connecticut Soccer Stadium) was built for the team. "The fall of 1969 saw us move to a new field beside the ice rink," said Morrone. "…A covered swamp I was told. One row of bleachers and for the dozen or so fans and we were in business."
Morrone, who is credited as "the Godfather of UConn soccer" by current head coach Ray Reid, transformed a struggling UConn soccer program into one of the nation's elite. Morrone led UConn to 16 NCAA appearances in 18 seasons, three final fours, and the 1981 National Championship. For his career, Morrone held a record of 422-199-64.
In celebration of the sun setting of the current Morrone Stadium, we reached out to some of his former players – Kenneth Murphy (KM), Neil Brickley (NB), Ehrardt Kapp (EK) and Joe Morrone Jr (JMJ) – who reflected back on their UConn playing career and offered some thoughts on the new Morrone Stadium set to be complete in the fall of 2020.
Playing for Coach Morrone…
NB: It was a wonderful experience! Soccer was growing in Connecticut, and it was fun to be a part of UConn's transition from a new, middle of the pack team into a national power.
KM: My experience was fantastic, Morrone was a pioneer of the game. He provided a place where you could really develop your game at a high level. Coach Morrone provided us with opportunities to play year round, which included a 21-game regular season and four matches in the off-season.
EK: Coach Morrone was a good coach, an innovator and tactician. He was always out in the community and was excellent at drawing crowds. He was like a father figure to me.
JMJ: It was all about Husky Pride! Everyone knew we were looked at as a national power. Everyone knew who the Connecticut men's soccer were.
Favorite Morrone Memories…
JMJ: The fans at the home games during the last three years of my career were unbelievable, it was an incredible feeling as a player…I also enjoyed the walk from the fieldhouse to the stadium – we would carry roses and hand them out to a particular fan of our choice, which I felt was a classy touch…I had a lot of great memories – playing for my father, my teammates, the fans, the school – but some of my most favorite memories were playing on the road. I loved playing at away venues so you could stick it to their fans.
KM: The 1976 game vs. Brown is a game that I will always remember. We beat Brown, 3-2, in overtime and I scored the game-winning goal…Overall, I just loved watching the evolution of the stadium, from when I was in high school to my playing career – I remember seeing people climbing trees to watch the game.
NB: In 1974, just seeing the change from sparse crowds to the largest we ever had. I remember the 1974 mid-season match against top-ranked Brown, beating them 1-nil – there were easily over 6000 in attendance. We ended up playing Brown again at the Northeast Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. The crowd was packed, and late arrivers couldn't even see the game! We beat them again, this time 4-3 on penalty kicks.
On Staying Connected to the Program…
EK: Ray Reid stepped right in and has continued to build upon the legacy the Morrone built. He's also continued to reach out and stay engaged with the past players.
KM: I've had a long-lasting relationship with Coach Reid and Coach Deeley – my brother played for them at Southern Connecticut State. It's also great to see the current team continue the success that the program has had historically.
NB: I love what Ray Reid is doing - he's very inspirational and hardworking. I lived in Weathersfield, so it was easy to watch the growth of the program. My son also played for the Huskies, captaining the 2010 team.
What Building the New Stadium Means…
JMJ: A new stadium shows that UConn soccer is still growing, and that it's here to stay forever. Future generations will see that.
EK: A new stadium will take UConn soccer to the next level. The first class facility will serve as a major attribute in allowing UConn to recruit the nation's top players. The new building also shows that the community and student support has and will continue to grow.
NB: When the current stadium was first built, it was considered the premiere stadium but has sunk in the rankings over the years. The new stadium will allow us to recruit the top prospects, host big games, and bring soccer back to prominence. It will be a first-class facility for players, staff, and fans. It's also important to point out that we are very fortunate to find someone as gracious and generous as Tony Rizza, who's enabled the stadium to be built with his generous donation.
