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James Morton Will Be The Lead Rebel At Midland Lee

Midland Lee did not take very long to find their next head coach. It only took a two week search before the Rebels hired James Morton away from Lubbock Monterey. Morton will be replacing Randy Quisenberry, who resigned as part of a separation agreement with the district earlier this month.

Lee's search brought in a great list of coaches. They interviewed Snyder head coach Chad Rogers, Burleson head coach Mel Maxfield and Los Fresnos head coach Scott Ford. They also contacted former Brownwood head coach and current Odessa Permian assistant Steve Freeman about the opening.

Morton, who was one of eight finalists for the Lee job in 2004, spent 11 years at Lubbock Monterey (a District 2-5A Rival) where he compiled a record of 75-56 record. His career record is 117-80-1. He led the Plainsmen to the postseason 9 times in his 11 years, missing the playoffs only in his first season in 1998 and last year when the Plainsmen finished 5-5. Under Morton, the Plainsmen won or tied for 6 district championships and reached the Division II quarterfinals 4 straight years from 2000 to 2003, a figure unmatched by any previous Monterey coaches.

Coach Morton came to Monterey after six seasons as the head coach at 3A Friona where he had a 42-24-1 record. His first year with the Chieftains, they finished 0-10. His last 2 season there, they finished a combined 23-3. He now takes over a Lee program that went 7-4 last season, finishing fourth in District 2-5A and nabbing the final playoff spot. The Rebels were eliminated from the postseason in the bi-district round, 24-21, by El Paso Montwood. Quisenberry was 30-26 in five seasons with the Rebels after Lee won back-to-back state championships in 1999 and 2000.

By: Michael Wright
Lone Star Gridiron

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