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One of the top offensive line coaches in the nation, Steve Morton was named to Buddy Teeven's staff at Stanford on February 8, 2002. Morton, who had coached at Washington State, Iowa State, Washington, USC and Nevada-Reno prior to his appointment on The Farm, has 29 years of coaching experience, including 23 in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Born October 19, 1953, Morton coached the offensive line at the University of Nevada-Reno in 2001 before joining the Cardinal staff. Throughout his career, he has coached an NFL first rounder, three All-America first-team offensive linemen, five Pac-10 Morris Trophy winners (presented to the top lineman in the Pac-10) and eight All-Pac-10 first-team offensive linemen.
Morton added to those numbers last year when he coached Cardinal offensive tackle Kirk Chambers to First-Team All-Pac-10 honors. In his first season at Stanford in 2002, Morton coached tackle Kwame Harris, considered by many as one of the top offensive lineman in the country. Under Morton's tutelage, Harris won the Pac-10 Morris Trophy as the league's best lineman and was named First-Team All-Conference.
Prior to his one-year stint at Nevada, Morton spent two years at USC (1999-2000), the first as the tight ends coach and the second as offensive line coach.
He spent seven seasons as the offensive line coach at the University of Washington (1992-98). He also worked with the Huskies kicking game. Among the Husky linemen he coached were three All-American first teamers (guard Benji Olson in 1996 and 1997, center Olin Kreutz in 1997 and tackle Lincoln Kennedy in 1992) and five All-Pac-10 first teamers (Olson and Kreutz twice each, Kennedy, Frank Garcia and Tom Gallagher).
He also coached three players who won the Pac-10's Morris Trophy as the league's top linemen (as voted by the league's defensive linemen): Kreutz (1997), Bob Sapp (1996) and Kennedy (1992). Kennedy, who was a Lombardi Award finalist in 1992, was a NFL first round selection in 1993. In all, seven Huskies coached by Morton were NFL draft picks, including six who went in the first five rounds. Washington played in five bowl games during his tenure: the 1993 Rose, 1995 Sun, 1996 Holiday, 1997 Aloha and 1998 Oahu.
Morton began his coaching career at his alma mater, Washington State, where he served for 12 years (1975-86). First, he was a graduate assistant for two seasons (1975-76). He then was the Cougars' offensive line coach and junior varsity head coach in 1977. He handled WSU's tight ends for the next four years (1978-81) and then was the offensive line coach for the final five seasons (1982-86). He coached Dan Lynch, the 1984 Morris Trophy winner who was an All-Pac-10 first team pick in 1983 and 1984. He also earned All-America honors in '84. Three of his Cougars were NFL draft selections. The 1981 WSU squad played in the Holiday Bowl.
Morton followed former Cougar head coach Jim Walden to Iowa State, where he was in charge of the offensive line for five years (1987-91) before moving on to Washington. Among the future NFLers he coached at Iowa State was Keith Sims.
Morton played center and offensive guard at Washington State in 1973 and 1974 after transferring from Grays Harbor Community College in Aberdeen, Wash., where he played in 1971 and 1972. He was an All-Northwest Junior College pick in 1972. He received his Bachelor's degree in physical education from Washington State in 1977.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Morton attended W.F. West High School in Chehalis, Wash. He and his wife, Karen, have a son, Beau, and a daughter, Bethany.
| Coaching Assignments | |
| 1975-76 | Washington State - Graduate Assistant |
| 1977-86 | Washington State - OL ('77, '82-86), |
| TE ('78-81) | |
| 1987-91 | Iowa State - Offensive Line |
| 1992-98 | Washington - Offensive Line |
| 1999-00 | USC - Tight Ends ('99), |
| Offensive Line ('00) | |
| 2001 | Nevada - Offensive Line |
| 2002-04 | Stanford - Offensive Line |
| Bowl Experience | |
| 1981 | Holiday Bowl - Washington State |
| 1993 | Rose Bowl - Washington |
| 1995 | Sun Bowl - Washington |
| 1996 | Holiday Bowl - Washington |
| 1997 | Aloha Bowl - Washington |
| 1998 | Oahu Bowl - Washington |
Prominent Players Coached
Dan Lynch, OL, Washington State
Pat Beach, TE, Washington State
Mike Utley, OG, Washington State
Keith Sims, OL, Iowa State
Gene Williams, OG, Iowa State
Benji Olson, OG, Washington
Olin Kreutz, C, Washington
Lincoln Kennedy, OT, Washington
Frank Garcia, OL, Washington
Tom Gallagher, OL, Washington
Bob Sapp, OL, Washington
Andrew Peterson, OL, Washington
Kwame Harris, OT, Stanford
Kirk Chambers, OT, Stanford
Drew Caylor, C, Stanford
The Morton File
Full Name: Steve Morton
Hometown: Chehalis, Washington
High School: W.F. West
College: Washington State, 1977 (B.S., Physical Education)
Wife: Karen
Children: Beau, Bethany
Playing Experience: OG, C Washington State, 1973-74