More than 10 years later, Morrison wants to be the mentor. He was named new head baseball coach at Warren earlier this week.

Morrison takes over for Rick Eaton, who was an assistant coach at Warren when Andrew played baseball for the Dragons, graduating in 2011.

“I enjoyed, and will always cherish the 25 years (17 at Warren and eight at Eisenhower) being around players and other coaches who had the same passion for the game as me,” said Eaton.

He coached Warren for nine years and eight seasons (with the 2020 season cancelled due to COVID). The Dragons won the District 10 championship in 2019 and Eaton steps down with more than 100 career head coaching wins there.

Submitted Photos Andrew Morrison goes from player to coach for the Warren Dragons baseball team.

“First and foremost, I’m just looking forward to getting to know the team and earning their trust and respect,” said Morrison. “Coaching is about the kids and I’ll do whatever I can to make their experience here a positive one. Coach Eaton did a phenomenal job of keeping the team competitive every year and that’s something I hope to continue. Beyond that, I’m really looking forward to helping the younger kids develop and producing college-ready players as has been the standard at Warren.”

At least a half-dozen former Dragons are playing college ball from just the past two seasons.

“Just having the chance to have a positive impact on these kids and help them achieve their goals on and off the field (excites me the most),” Morrison said of the opportunity. “This is one of the most consistent programs in the district and I hope to maintain and build on that standard.”

Morrison will be assisted by his cousin, Johnny White, and Ed Baldensperger will continue to work with pitchers. His younger brother, Aidan, is a redshirt freshman catcher for Division II Mercyhurst University.

From a family of baseball (or softball) players, teachers and coaches, Morrison is a guidance counselor with the Warren County School District. At 28, he already has a ton of coaching experience, having been an assistant football coach on Mark Morelli’s staff at Warren. He was an assistant football coach at Cambridge Springs in the fall.

“I’ve got more (mentors) than I can even list. My parents were both teachers so learning from them is where it started,” Morrison said of mom, Jeana, and the late Jim Morrison. “My mom and three of my uncles all coached when I was younger so I grew up going to games and watching them. All three of my high school head coaches, Brad Wright, Jeff Berdine, and Jeff Passaro, are men I have a great deal of respect for and I learned a ton from them. The two head coaches I’ve worked with in football, Mark Morelli and Nate Liberty, are both mentors of mine and I consider them both friends. Rick (Eaton), Don Trubic, Mark Bupp, and the late Larry Himes are four assistants I played for that I learned a ton from as well.

“(Baseball) goes back as far as I’m aware of; my grandpa on my mom’s side was really involved with baseball and softball, my dad played, my mom coached softball for a long time, my brother plays at Mercyhurst and several of my uncles and cousins have been or are involved with the game,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted to coach back here in Warren,” said Morrison. “I was very lucky to get a chance from Greg Latimer to start coaching football at Beaty when I was 20, and it has sort of just evolved from there. It’s something I really, really enjoy. … One of my favorite parts of coaching is getting to know the kids and finding out what motivates them. … I enjoy the work that comes along with it. Definitely the biggest pro is that this is an established program; Rick was one of the best coaches in D-10 and always had the team ready to go. I have a ton of respect for him and I hope to maintain and build on the standards he set.

“My family is here, my friends are here,” he said. “Warren has been good to me and I’m glad to be here.”