[Cross-posted from the 2025 Coaching Carousel thread]
Lewis & Clark promotes Fraser Morrison to head men's soccer coach
This is something I have been calling for since the program was created. Instead of hiring a men's coach when they started the team in 2022, they just asked the women's coach, Jim Tursi, to coach both the men's and women's teams. He has continued to do so for the first three years. That clearly wasn't working. Lewis & Clark has a record of 0-46-1 in the past three years, their recruiting has been very poor, and when they happened to stumble upon a halfway decent player, they transferred or left the program after one year. That's as big an indictment of how a program is run that you can find. The dual coaching arrangement seemed to be a disservice to both programs. So, although I have no idea whether Morrison is the right person for the job after being with the program all three years, I'm glad that they finally created a structure where someone can take ownership of and be fully accountable for the men's program.
Lewis & Clark promotes Fraser Morrison to head men's soccer coach
This is something I have been calling for since the program was created. Instead of hiring a men's coach when they started the team in 2022, they just asked the women's coach, Jim Tursi, to coach both the men's and women's teams. He has continued to do so for the first three years. That clearly wasn't working. Lewis & Clark has a record of 0-46-1 in the past three years, their recruiting has been very poor, and when they happened to stumble upon a halfway decent player, they transferred or left the program after one year. That's as big an indictment of how a program is run that you can find. The dual coaching arrangement seemed to be a disservice to both programs. So, although I have no idea whether Morrison is the right person for the job after being with the program all three years, I'm glad that they finally created a structure where someone can take ownership of and be fully accountable for the men's program.
QuoteLewis & Clark College Director of Physical Education & Athletics Mark Pietrok announced the promotion of Fraser Morrison to men's soccer head coach on Tuesday afternoon.
Morrison, who has worked as an assistant with the program for the past three years, will lead the men's program and continue to work with Director of Soccer Jim Tursi for this upcoming season. Tursi will also continue on his role as the women's soccer head coach.
"I'm very excited to see Fraser move into this larger role," Pietrok stated. "He has been with our men's program since it's inception and this will give both of our programs a better chance to grow and be successful. Fraser has over 25 years of coaching experience and tremendous connections throughout the Pacific Northwest at the high school and club level."
Over the past three seasons, Morrison has worked his way up and served as the lead assistant for Lewis & Clark's new varsity soccer program in 2024. With each season, the Pioneers have proven to be more competitive, as they work to establish themselves in the Northwest Conference and Pacific Northwest.
"I am honored and delighted to be named the head men's soccer coach at Lewis & Clark College," Morrison said. "I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the administration for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity.
It is important to me to recognize Jim Tursi, our director of soccer, for his mentorship and support over the past three seasons. It has been a privilege to work with him, and I look forward to continuing to push the program forward, building on the strong foundation laid by Jim."
Morrison is a native of London and he played at the University of Luton. In his final year of college, he began his coaching career by serving as a Football in the Community Coach for West Ham United and a Center of Excellence Girls Coach for Barnet Football Club.
"Moving forth, I'm excited for the seasons ahead and helping our student-athletes grow both on-and-off the field, as we continue to develop and strengthen the program," Morrison noted.
After moving to the US in 2000, he worked with the Oregon United Soccer Academy (Director of Youth Development), US Soccer Youth Region IV (Region IV Staff Coach) and the Oregon Olympic Development Program (Girls 1992 ODP Head Coach).
He was named head coach of the Lake Oswego High School boys varsity team in 2005 and led the Lakers for nearly 20 years. Morrison led the program to the playoffs in eight of his final nine seasons, including a trip to the State Semifinals in his final year (2023).
At the club level, he has worked as the Director of Coaching at the Lake Oswego Soccer Club since 2004 and served in the same role for Oregon Premier FC since 2008. In his roles, he oversees programs for well over 2,000 soccer players in the state of Oregon and helps develop players of all ages and skill levels.