Mark Morris to be Inducted into Hall of Fame on April 18

By Shelby Rosen

Mark Morris, an outstanding player and long-time coach, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 18. 

Born into a military family in South Georgia, Morris eventually made Columbia his home when his father was stationed at Fort Jackson. Growing up, he played both football and soccer. A graduate of Spring Valley High School, Morris earned an athletic scholarship to the University of South Carolina as a linebacker. 

After enrolling, Morris discovered that many of his former high school teammates had joined the university’s rugby club. They encouraged him to leave football and give rugby a try, but he initially refused—until he attended a match against the Charlotte Olde Originals. 

Watching from the sidelines, he was puzzled. 

“It looked like street football,” Morris recalled. 

At the time, head coach Jean-Pierre Chambas told him that if injuries occurred, he’d be put into the game. It didn’t take long. One player went down—then another—and suddenly Morris was on the field, whether he felt ready or not. 

What began as hesitation quickly turned into certainty. He loved the physicality and felt the game suited him perfectly. That same day, he called his father and made a life-changing decision: he would leave football and commit to rugby. 

Morris gave up his football scholarship, switched his major from engineering to business, and worked his way through the rest of college. 

At 6 feet tall and 185 pounds, he began his rugby career as a fullback before transitioning to flanker. His talent earned him selections to the Palmetto All-Star team, the USA South team, and the Eastern Rugby Union side. 

During one season, an injury sidelined him—but it also opened an unexpected door. When female students approached Chambas about starting a women’s rugby team, he didn’t have the time to lead both programs. Instead, he handed the responsibility to Morris. As a student coach, Morris led the team through a successful inaugural season. 

After graduating in 1981, rugby remained a constant in his life. He played for clubs in Charleston and Atlanta, founded a team in Myrtle Beach, and eventually returned to Columbia to play for Olde Grey. He played his final match in 1989. 

But Morris’ impact on the sport was far from over. 

His coaching journey began on the soccer field, where he coached his daughters for 12 years. After they graduated, Jeffrey Smolka introduced him to a newly formed high school rugby league. Morris became head coach at Spring Valley High School, where he led the program to multiple state championships. 

In 2008, Geoff Mason invited him to assist with coaching at the University of South Carolina. By 2011, Morris had taken over as head coach. 

Under his leadership, the program flourished. By 2012, the team had grown to 105 players—making it the second largest in the country. Morris recruited nationally, spending weekdays calling prospective players and weekends traveling to evaluate talent.

Former player Luke Paff summed up his dedication best: Morris “put his blood, sweat, and tears into the program when he could’ve been doing anything else.” 

As a coach, Morris focused on building for the future. He established a foundation that continues to shape the program today. More than a coach, he was a mentor to his players. He earned SEC Coach of the Year honors twice and led with unwavering passion. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic halted rugby seasons in 2020 and 2021, Morris decided it was time to step away. Even in retirement, he has remained a supporter of men’s and women’s rugby in Columbia. 

Today, Morris still resides in Columbia and works for South Carolina’s Education Lottery. He is the proud father of two daughters, Dana and Jamie, and grandfather to two grandsons, Rucker and Huck, with a granddaughter on the way. 

To RSVP for the Hall of Fame Gala, please visit our events page.