Former Patriot Sammy Morris joins Dean College as running backs coach

Two months ago, Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho announced that it had brought in former New England Patriots defender Shea McClellin as an assistant linebackers coach. McClellin, who has yet to officially retire from the NFL, is apparently not the only ex-Patriot to get hired as a coach this offseason: Dean College announced on Tuesday that the school’s football program added Sammy Morris to its coaching staff.

Morris, a fifth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2000, joined the Patriots as a free agent signing from the Miami Dolphins in 2007. He went on to spend the next four years in Foxboro – the most productive stretch of his career – and played a total of 49 games for the team. The versatile runner registered a combined 384 offensive touches as a Patriot, for 1,948 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns.

Following his release by the Patriots in 2011, Morris appeared in three games for the Dallas Cowboys before announcing his retirement after the season. It did not take long for him to start his coaching career: in 2013, Morris joined Attleboro High School as an assistant coach. He was back in Foxboro three years later, working as a strength and conditioning assistant during training camp.

Now, the 41-year old has earned his first college gig. Morris will serve as running backs coach at Dean, taking over a ground game that gained more than 150 yards per game last year. “His knowledge and experience will make an immediate impact on our coaching staff and student athletes,” said Bulldogs head coach Steve Tirrell about the Division III school hiring of Sammy Morris.