Texas high school football: Allen hires former Arkansas coach Chad Morris

Allen (Texas), one of the most prominent high school football programs in the nation, found its next head coach, announcing Wednesday that former Arkansas coach Chad Morris will lead the Eagles. The hire comes two weeks after Terry Gambill announced his retirement following a five-year tenure that saw the Eagles go 65-4 with a 2017 6A Division 1 state title.

"I am honored to join Allen ISD and the Allen Eagles football program," Morris said in a statement. "My roots run deep in Texas high school football, and I am excited for the opportunity to get back to coaching young student-athletes and making an impression on their lives."

Morris was Auburn's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last year and was the head coach at Arkansas from 2018-19. He was 4-18 as Razorbacks coach. He last coached in Texas from 2015-17 as the head coach at SMU. He went 14-22 in three years with the Mustangs. He also was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Clemson under Dabo Swinney from 2011-14 and spent a year at Tulsa the year prior.

Before his college coaching career started in 2010, Morris was one of the best high school football coaches in the Lone Star State.

He spent two years at Texas power Lake Travis (Austin) as the head coach from 2008-09 and led the Cavaliers to back-to-back 4A Division 1 state titles going 32-0 in his two years. Garrett Gilbert was his quarterback during the 2008 season when he was named the Gatorade Athlete of the Year after throwing for 4,851 yards and 55 touchdowns.

Morris is 169-38 during his 16 years high school level and also had previous stops at Stephenville (Texas), Bay City (Texas), Elysian Fields (Texas) and Eustace (Texas).

This was one of the most sought-after coaching jobs in the nation. The Eagles have won five state titles since 2008, led by a three-peat with Kyler Murray under center from 2012-14. Allen has the largest enrollment in the state and a $60 million stadium in which they've never lost.

The Texas high school football power has won at least 10 games in 15 consecutive seasons and return a lot of talent next fall led by three-star offensive lineman Neto Umeozulu, junior running back Jaylen Jenkins and 2022 Harvard commit Jackson Newville.