Danny Morrison has been named President of the Carolina Panthers, Owner/Founder Jerry Richardson announced Wednesday. Morrison has served the last four years as Director of Athletics at Texas Christian University. He will assume responsibilities in approximately one month.
Morrison's direct relationship with the Panthers organization began during the team's inaugural season in 1995 at Wofford College. As Director of Athletics he oversaw a fundraising effort that enabled the school to refurbish its facilities to host an NFL training camp. The Panthers just completed their 15th year at Wofford, and the training camp is regarded among the best in the NFL.
Prior to going to TCU in 2005, Morrison was Commissioner of the Southern Conference. He joined the conference office after leaving Wofford, where he was senior vice president, in 2001.
"We are very familiar with Danny, and he is very familiar with our organization," Richardson said. "He has been successful as a college administrator and commissioner and brings a business expertise and sense of community that fits the position perfectly."
In his capacity as team president Morrison will be responsible for the Panthers business operations and Bank of America Stadium business interests as well as representing the organization in many league matters.
"We have been blessed to be part of the TCU and Fort Worth communities for the last four years. I have had a wonderful experience working at Texas Christian with Chancellor (Victor) Boschini and the entire staff at the university. Leaving is not easy, but working with Jerry Richardson and the Carolina Panthers is a tremendous opportunity," Morrison said. "I am thrilled to be joining an organization I have followed closely since its inception. Meeting the high standards that Mr. Richardson sets is a challenge I embrace."
Morrison oversaw the development of TCU into one of the most successful college programs in the nation. During his four years at TCU, he helped usher the Horned Frogs into the Mountain West Conference. During the 2008-09 athletic season, TCU had 16 of its 20 sports represented in postseason play, finishing with the seventh ranked football team in the nation. A total of 12 sports were nationally ranked and four conference titles were won with three coaches receiving coach of the year honors. Five of the school's 20 programs were ranked in the top 11 in the nation.
As Commissioner of the Southern Conference, Morrison established numerous progressive initiatives, creating partnerships with corporate entities while expanding and enhancing the television schedule for the conference through various networks.
"My business approach has been developed in large part from observing Mr. Richardson over the years," said Morrison, who first met him while playing basketball for Wofford. "It is a philosophy that I have come to trust. Mr. Richardson has emphasized the excellent staff and leadership in place throughout the organization, and I look forward to joining that team."
A native of Burlington, N.C., Morrison, 55, attended Wofford, where he lettered four years in basketball and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. He also obtained a Masters of Education in administration and supervision from the University of North Carolina in 1981 and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Carolina in 2000.
He returned to Wofford in 1985 as the school's first full time Director of Athletics and served in that capacity for 12 years, guiding the Terriers from NAIA to Division II to Division 1-AA and membership in the Southern Conference.
Morrison and his wife, Peggy, have two children.
