Wasatch Academy Basketball Coach, Geno Morgan, 49, Dies Unexpectedly
MOUNT PLEASANT, Utah – July 2, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) Wasatch Academy’s renowned basketball coach, Geno Morgan, died at age of 49 Wednesday. He was on vacation visiting family in Chicago at the time.
Confirmation of Morgan’s death came by way of a Wasatch Academy news release.
Morgan coached the Wasatch Academy boys basketball team since 2009 where he won three state titles during that time.
Morgan also coached at Emory University, Alaska Pacific University, and East and Palmer high schools in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Joseph Loftin, head of the Wasatch Academy said he spoke with Morgan’s wife about the devastating loss. She told that him she and Geno had celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary just two weeks earlier.
In addition to bis wife, Morgan leaves behind a wife, two sons and a daughter. He was the oldest of three boys. His mother and youngest brother live in Chicago, and another brother lives in Seattle.
“He was a complete human being,” Loftin said. “He exemplified everything good about humanity. His character, his compassion, and his caring for others were as strong any I’ve encountered. He set high standards of excellence for himself and others, but pushed for those standards with great humanity. He developed great players, and even more important, he developed great people. His impact on myself and everyone else goes well beyond the sport of basketball.”
In the most recent season, Morgan led the Wasatch Academy basketball team played nearly a dozen teams ranked in the top 50 nationally, and notched wins against top 50 teams St. Benedict’s (N.J.) and Bogan (Chicago). They also gave three-time national champion Montverde Academy one of their toughest games, leading as late as the fourth quarter on MVA’s home court.
Morgan’s accomplishments as a coach include being named the best high school coach in Utah by the Best of State organization for six straight year. He also won the Best of State Statue in 2015 for the Sports & Recreation Category.
Three of Morgan’s former players have earned Div. 1 college scholarships, an uncommon feat for a 2A school in Utah. Those players include Jerryn Skeete (University of Buffalo), Geno Luzcando (Idaho State University) and Cody John (Weber State University). Multiple players on the current Wasatch Academy squad have also received offers from Div. 1 schools.
A close friend, Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers, also posted his condolences on his twitter.
