TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati men's basketball assistant coach Tim Morris has been selected to participate in the prestigious 2020 TopConnect Virtual Seminar on June 11 and 12. TopConnect, formerly Villa 7, was originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander to identify the top basketball assistant coaches in the country and connect them with mid-major Athletic Directors, providing tremendous networking opportunities for both parties.
TopConnect also develops programming that allows these top assistant coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders. Prominent head coaches, panels of mid-major Athletic Directors, major media and sport influencers, the inner circle of college basketball and extremely successful business leaders share their leadership experiences. The three-word mantra of "Connect. Prepare. Lead." identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
This year's presenters include national coach of the year Dayton's Anthony Grant, national mid-major coach of the year ETSU's (now Wake Forest) Steve Forbes, Hall of Fame Coach Muffet McGraw, Hall of Fame Coach and current University of Tennessee Athletic Director, Phillip Fulmer and three-time NFL Coach of the Year, Mike Smith. Additionally, three panels of AD's will discuss what they look for in hiring a coach, expectations of the head coach and building a successful basketball program. A panel of Division 1 University Presidents organized by ETSU's President Dr. Brian Noland will discuss basketball's role from the CEO perspective.
Other areas covered will be the search process moderated by Dan Walters (Buffkin/Baker) and Jeff Schemmel (College Sports Solutions), the media perspective including ESPN's Seth Greenberg and Debbie Antonelli, as well as Stadium Basketball Insider's, Jeff Goodman. Also presenting is ETSU's Chair of the Department of Media and Communications, Dr. Stephen Marshall, who will share his expertise in using social media to build a personal brand.
Since its inception, the program has spawned numerous Division I head coaches including Anthony Grant (Dayton), Buzz Williams (Texas A & M), Shaka Smart (Texas), Steve Forbes (Wake Forest), Rodney Terry (UTEP), John Groce (Akron), Kevin Keatts (NC State) and recently Greg Gary (Mercer), Brett Nelson (Holy Cross) and Bryan Mullins (Southern Illinois).
Morris completed his first season as an assistant coach under John Brannen at Cincinnati in 2019-20, helping guide the Bearcats to a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship and top seed in the league's postseason tournament.
He served as an assistant coach under Brannen at Northern Kentucky for three seasons (2017-19), helping guide the Norse to two NCAA Tournament appearances (2017, 2019), an NIT showing (2018) as well as a pair of Horizon League regular-season championships (2018, 2019) and two league tournament titles (2017, 2019). During Morris' three campaigns with NKU, the Norse posted a 72-30 overall record.
TopConnect also develops programming that allows these top assistant coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders. Prominent head coaches, panels of mid-major Athletic Directors, major media and sport influencers, the inner circle of college basketball and extremely successful business leaders share their leadership experiences. The three-word mantra of "Connect. Prepare. Lead." identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
This year's presenters include national coach of the year Dayton's Anthony Grant, national mid-major coach of the year ETSU's (now Wake Forest) Steve Forbes, Hall of Fame Coach Muffet McGraw, Hall of Fame Coach and current University of Tennessee Athletic Director, Phillip Fulmer and three-time NFL Coach of the Year, Mike Smith. Additionally, three panels of AD's will discuss what they look for in hiring a coach, expectations of the head coach and building a successful basketball program. A panel of Division 1 University Presidents organized by ETSU's President Dr. Brian Noland will discuss basketball's role from the CEO perspective.
Other areas covered will be the search process moderated by Dan Walters (Buffkin/Baker) and Jeff Schemmel (College Sports Solutions), the media perspective including ESPN's Seth Greenberg and Debbie Antonelli, as well as Stadium Basketball Insider's, Jeff Goodman. Also presenting is ETSU's Chair of the Department of Media and Communications, Dr. Stephen Marshall, who will share his expertise in using social media to build a personal brand.
Since its inception, the program has spawned numerous Division I head coaches including Anthony Grant (Dayton), Buzz Williams (Texas A & M), Shaka Smart (Texas), Steve Forbes (Wake Forest), Rodney Terry (UTEP), John Groce (Akron), Kevin Keatts (NC State) and recently Greg Gary (Mercer), Brett Nelson (Holy Cross) and Bryan Mullins (Southern Illinois).
Morris completed his first season as an assistant coach under John Brannen at Cincinnati in 2019-20, helping guide the Bearcats to a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship and top seed in the league's postseason tournament.
He served as an assistant coach under Brannen at Northern Kentucky for three seasons (2017-19), helping guide the Norse to two NCAA Tournament appearances (2017, 2019), an NIT showing (2018) as well as a pair of Horizon League regular-season championships (2018, 2019) and two league tournament titles (2017, 2019). During Morris' three campaigns with NKU, the Norse posted a 72-30 overall record.