The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Track & Field / Cross Country
- Title:
- Director of Operations
- Email:
- lavera.morris@utexas.edu
- Phone:
- 512-232-3882
LaVera Morris is in her third season as the Director of Operations for Texas Track & Field/Cross Country. She joined the support staff with the Longhorns midway through the 2016 indoor season after three seasons as an assistant coach and director of operations for the UTSA Roadrunners.
As director of operations at Texas, Morris handles the day-to-day operations of the program working closely with the coaching staff on scheduling as well as organizing and planning team travel during the season and other administrative duties.
During her three years at UTSA, Morris worked with the Roadrunners’ middle distance runners and assisted with the cross country team. With her guidance she helped the Roadrunners win their first-ever Conference USA title in women’s cross country in 2013. In 2015, she also coached Stephanie Wangui to Conference USA indoor and outdoor titles in the 800 meters. Wangui also qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in her event.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at UTSA, Morris served as the director of operations at her alma mater, Kentucky. There she planned team travel, handled athletic apparel and equipment distribution for the athletes, organized recruitment visits on campus along with various other administrative duties for the program.
Before joining the staff at Kentucky, Morris attended the University of Central Florida where she earned two master’s degrees in business administration and sports management in 2011. During her time at UCF, she served as a graduate research assistant for the DeVos Sport Business Management Program Alumni Association at UCF. Morris also served as a marketing and sales intern for the Black Coaches and Administrators/Learfield Sports.
Morris earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Kentucky in 2008. While competing for the Wildcats, she was a two-time All-American in the 800 meters. In 2006 she won the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship in the distance medley relay. Her personal best times still rank her as one of the top 800 runners in Kentucky Wildcat history.
