After nine years at the helm and numerous postseason appearances, West Haven softball coach Joe Morrell has decided to step down. Morrell announced to his team his decision earlier in the month at the team’s end of season banquet.
The long-time West Haven coach has been at the helm of a variety of sports, spanning 35 years at the high school. Morrell took over for legendary and Hall of Fame coach Frank Biondi.
Biondi retired following the 2014 season after 33 years and 431 wins.
A staple of West Haven sports, Morrell cited the desire to spend more time with his family, including the upcoming title of grandfather with his daughter Jocey expecting.
Morrell remains as the Athletic Director at the high school.
“Thirty-five years at West Haven High School was my pleasure and honor to coach there,” Morrell said. “With my daughter (Jocey) being pregnant, a baby coming soon, I thought this was the perfect time. Being able to be an athletic director, a coach and a grandfather might have been a little too much. I just want to make sure I can spend the time with the grand kids.”
Morrell finished his softball tenure with a record of 110-69, qualifying for the postseason in each year the team played. The 2020 season was wiped away due to the COVID pandemic.
Morrell’s teams were known for their hard work and always being prepared. The Westies got as far as the Class LL quarterfinals in 2022, falling to Danbury in an excruciating extra inning loss.
“We hoped to be the first female team to win a state championship, which unfortunately didn’t happen,” Morrell said. “I thought we did get better every year. We hit the ball hard it seemed at the end of every year when you are supposed to hit the ball. Breaks here and there, you never know. Things could have been different.”
Morrell’s final game saw the Westies falling, 8-7, to Norwich Free Academy in the second round of this year’s Class LL state tournament.
“It is always our first goal we set in the beginning of the season,” Morrell said of playing in the postseason each year. “Every year, we accomplished that goal which is important to me. You can’t go to the state tournament if you don’t win those games. That is very important to the team and myself as a coach.”
The legendary coach also had a two-decade stint coaching the high school hockey team. In his 21 years at the helm of the West Haven hockey team, Morrell qualified for the state tournament in 20 of those campaigns, only missing the postseason during the 2005-2006 season.
Morrell compiled a regular season record of 223-170-23 and overall mark of 234-190-23 on the ice.
A 1983 graduate of West Haven High, Morrell was a three-sport star in baseball, hockey and soccer under Hall of Fame coaches George Hanchette, Art Crouse and Elliot Marnell.
Morrell, who was inducted into the West Haven Hall of Fame in 2014, coached youth sports from 1984 to 1997, winning a Division I state championship in hockey, along with four New England appearances.
Coaching youth soccer in West Haven for 14 years, Morrell’s teams won eight league titles and one state title. Morrell was named the top soccer coordinator for 10 years and had been the commissioner of the West Haven Invitational soccer tournament.
Morrell coached in Shore Haven baseball and served as the softball commissioner. He also coached the Shoreline Sting of the AAU for several years.
Morrell has also coached the girls soccer team at the high school for six years, winning one Southern Connecticut Conference title and making five state tournament appearances. He also served as the tennis coach early on in his coaching career.
Morrell has received the 2005 Connecticut Outstanding Coach Award. He was named the Connecticut Post Coach of the Year in 2010 and the SCC Coach of the Year in 2014.
“I’m going to miss practice with the kids,” Morrell said. “That and the camaraderie with the coaches. Heading into next year, we are ranked third out of 20 teams in the SCC (Southern Connecticut Conference) which is pretty amazing. That is a two-year schedule.”
The search to replace the long-time head coach has begun. Long-time assistant coach Bridget Figmic is expected to be in the running.
Congratulations to Joe Morrell on the long serving 35 years of coaching and asst. coaching just about
every WESTIE athletic team during his tenure as a COACHES COACH.
His dedication to WESTIE sports, as a player, manager, asst. coach, head coach and AD athletic director
is by far the most accomplished of any before him.
Knowing Joe a very long time and also playing some Hockey with him, I can tell you there is no other finer gentlemen and athlete I’ve had the pleasure to know.
Good luck to Joe in remaining as Westie AD and the challenges that presents.
Great run Joe!!!!!! and God Bless Gracie!!!!!
Joe was a great coach to all. When my daughter played U12 travel soccer she had to tryout for U14 the following year. There were rumors that she wouldn’t make the team because someone else was going to be the goalie seeing she was only 12. Joe called me up wanting to know why my daughter did not try out so I explained it to him and he told me to have her come. That rumor was not true. She made his team as a goalie. She was only 12 playing with 14-year-olds and I respect him for letting her have that opportunity. That year the girls won the Barrington tournament they went 4-0 and my daughter got to play half a game in all four games and let up only one goal the whole tournament along with his 14-year-old goalie. Joe took the time to go over to her and congratulate her for doing such an amazing job in goal. Now that’s respect.