June 27, 2021 – Jacksonville, FL –
Toriano Morgan brings 19 years of coaching experience with him as he looks to instill a winning culture in to the Edward Waters football program. On April 15th Toriano Morgan was hired as head coach of the Edward Water’s football program. Morgan, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is returning home as the 15th head coach for Edward Waters.
Coach Morgan coached at Dillard High School in 2018 where they finished with a 9-2 record. The record was their best record in 15 years. Most recently Morgan worked as an offensive coordinator at Virginia State University where he compiled an 8-2 record in 2019. Virginia State finished in second place in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern division in 2019. Toriano’s offense finished 4th in scoring offense, scoring 31.4 points per game, and averaging 382.2 yards per game as well as 228.4 rushing yards per game.
Toriano Morgan has had multiple years leading a high scoring offense. In 2014 as offensive coordinator at Virginia Union University, the football team finished 1st in total offense and averaged 409.3 passing yards per game. In 2015, Virginia Union averaged 36 points per game and 439 yards per game which was first in the CIAA.
Coach Morgan brings with him another offensive mind in Coach Brian Jenkins Sr. Coach Jenkins was hired as the offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, and quarterbacks coach. Coach Jenkins’ most recent job was as an assistant coach at Alabama A&M. While at the head of the A&M offense, Coach Jenkins helped the Bulldogs win their first Southwestern Athletic Conference championship (2020) which was their first since 2006 averaging the 40 points per game and 457.0 yards per game.
Edward Waters has been a losing program for the past ten years. In the last decade, the football program has averaged 1 win a season and has only won 7 games over the last 4 seasons and has lost a remarkable 29 games. During an interview with ABC Forecast News Morgan states, “I am a winner, we are winners here at Edward Waters.” Morgan believes he can bring a winning mindset to Edward Waters by putting in the work and getting players ready for the season.
Edward Waters will open their season against Florida Memorial University in their new home stadium on August 28th, followed by Central State University for their homecoming game. They will play Miles College for their senior day on October 30.
Coach Morgan and Coach Jenkins can steer Edward Waters in the right direction. His past success shows that Coach Morgan can adapt to new coaching environments. However, Coach Morgan’s winning mindset will be tested when he enters the second half of his season. Four of the Tiger’s last five opponents in the second half of the season will enter the 2021-2022 season with a winning pct. of 76%. Coach Toriano and Jenkins will need to prepare Edward Waters for an uphill battle against quality opponents.
