Edmonton Elks Name Three-Time Gray Cup Champion Chris Morris as President and CEO – Edmonton
Chris Morris has been named the new president and CEO of Edmonton ElksTHE CFL club announced it on Wednesday.
Morris was an offensive lineman with Edmonton from 1992 to 2005 and won the Gray Cup with the club in 1993, 2003 and 2005.
He spent the last 12 years as head coach of the University of Alberta U Sports football team.
“This is a dream opportunity for me,” Morris, the 2023 U Sports Coach of the Year, said in a statement. “As a proud EE alumnus and passionate supporter of soccer in Northern Alberta, I know how much this club means to the community and look forward to continuing our tradition of giving back and winning games football.”
Morris succeeds Rick LeLacheur, who came out of retirement to assume the role of interim president and CEO following the departure of Victor Cui in August 2023. The team said LeLacheur would remain with the team as advisor to the owner. Larry Thompson and will remain alternate governor of the club.
Morris’ first tasks will be deciding the future of general manager Geroy Simon and head coach Jarious Jackson.
Simon and Jackson took over the team on an interim basis when the Elks fired former head coach and general manager Chris Jones after an 0-5 start. The team had a winning record (7-6) after the change.
The team said Morris will be introduced in his new role during a news conference Thursday. A Toronto native, Morris was a two-time All-Canadian while playing for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
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Thompson called Morris a “winner and a leader” while playing for Edmonton, taking him eighth overall in the 1992 CFL draft.
“As a teacher, principal and most recently coach of the Golden Bears, Chris has strived for excellence and commanded respect,” Thompson said in a statement.
“His connection to our past, his leadership qualities and his understanding of what it takes to win made him the right choice to lead us through 2025 and beyond.” »
Morris faces a once-proud team that has struggled in recent years and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019.
Thompson was revealed as the club’s first private owner in August. The franchise has been community-owned since its inception in 1949.
