Began: 2011-12 season
Season: 2024-25 will be his 14th season at Webber
Overall Record At Webber Entering 2023-24 Season: 180-188 overall record (13 seasons; .489 winning percentage)
Accolades: Over 150 career wins; 2013 Sun Conference Tournament Champions; Three NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship appearances (2012-13, 2020-21, and 2021-22); Six Sun Conference Tournament Championship game appearances (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2019-20, and 2021-22); Ten Sun Conference Tournament appearances (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24)
Grady Morrell is entering his 14th season and Head Coach of the Warriors in 2024-25. Coach Morrell is originally from Canton, Ohio. After graduating high school, Coach Morrell went on to play NCAA Division-I Football at Ohio University. After two years, Coach Morrell left to play football and basketball at Tiffin University. Once finishing his eligibility, Coach Morrell graduated from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.
Coach Morrell started his coaching career on the AAU and high school circuits. After winning three straight District titles at Victory Christian Academy. Coach Morrell then started his career at Webber posting a 3-27 season. The following four years he improved by posting records of 15-14, 16-10, 22-7 and 20-11. With a career record of 140-146 at Webber, Coach Morrell is currently in the 100-win club, a feat he accomplished on December 28, 2018, with a 76-53 victory at home over Fisher College (Mass.).
In just his second season leading the Warriors in 2012-13, Webber won its first Sun Conference Tournament Championship and advanced to the program's fourth NAIA Division-II Women's Basketball Championship appearance.
Overall, Morrell coached Webber to five straight TSC Tournament appearances throughout his first five seasons leading the team, including making four straight TSC Tournament championship games from 2012-13 to 2015-16.
During the 2019-20 season, Coach Morrell and the Warriors returned to the TSC Tournament for the sixth time and in the semifinals, they toppled No. 1 Southeastern University 91-83 in overtime to advance Webber to its fifth TSC Tournament championship game appearance in nine seasons under Morrell.
During the 2020-21 season, Coach Morrell and the Warriors advanced to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, the team's second national tournament appearance under Coach Morrell and fifth appearance overall.
Coach Morrell is married to Laura Mischley and they have five children in their blended marriage: Grady III, Mitchell, Nate, Emily and Miles Morrell. In addition, Grady, Mitch and Nate are Webber alums with Mitch and Grady playing football and Nate playing basketball.
|
Morrell at Webber
|
| Year |
Season at WIU |
Record |
Conference Finish |
| 2011-12 |
1st |
3-27 |
TSC Tournament Quarterfinals
8th TSC |
| 2012-13 |
2nd |
15-14 |
TSC Tournament Champions
NAIA Division-II Women's Basketball Championship Appearance
3rd TSC |
| 2013-14 |
3rd |
16-10 |
TSC Tournament Runners-Up
4th TSC |
| 2014-15 |
4th |
22-7* |
TSC Tournament Runners-Up
*Coach's Record for Wins
3rd TSC |
| 2015-16 |
5th |
20-11 |
TSC Tournament Runners-Up
3rd TSC |
| 2016-17 |
6th |
9-18 |
8th TSC |
| 2017-18 |
7th |
9-20 |
T-9th TSC |
| 2018-19 |
8th |
10-16 |
9th TSC |
| 2019-20 |
9th |
19-12 |
TSC Tournament Runners-Up
4th TSC |
| 2020-21 |
10th |
17-11 |
TSC Tournament Semifinals
NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Appearance
3rd TSC |
| 2021-22 |
11th |
21-8 |
SUN Tournament Runners-Up
NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Appearance
2nd SUN |
2022-
23 |
12th |
11-16 |
SUNC Tournament Appearance
4th SUNC |
2023-
24 |
13th |
8-18 |
SUNC Tournament Appearance
5th SUNC |
| Overall |
180-188 (.489 winning percentage) |
