MCLA ANNOUNCES NEW BASKETBALL AND SOCCER COACHES

NORTH ADAMS, MA - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has named two new head coaches for its men's basketball and soccer teams.

On Aug. 15, Jamie Morrison, previously the head men's basketball coach at Haskell University in Lawrence, Kan., will take over as the head men's basketball coach and the assistant sports information director at MCLA. Also in mid-August, MCLA's assistant soccer coach, Adam Hildabrand, will become the head soccer coach at the College.

Morrison, who grew up in Massachusetts and is a graduate of Winchester High School, served as the head men's basketball coach at Haskell for the past four years. He holds a Masters in Education degree in sports management from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Native American Studies Certificate from the UMass-Amherst.

"Jamie brings to the College a wealth of knowledge through his diverse experiences. He has a tremendous work ethic and has a wide recruiting base," said Scott Nichols, director of MCLA's athletics department.  "His personality will be a great fit for the Athletics Department and MCLA, and I have no doubts he will bring the men's basketball program to another level."

Morrison's career highlights include a fourth-place finish in 2006-07 in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC), coaching two All-Americans, coaching the 2006-07 MCAC Rookie of the Year, coaching three First Team All-Conference players and four All-Conference Honorable Mention players. Morrison also has had two players go on from Haskell to play professionally in this country, and expects a third player to play professionally in Europe.

In addition to serving as MCLA's assistant soccer coach since 1999, Hildabrand is a special needs teacher at Drury High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from MCLA (formerly North Adams State College) in English/Communications.

"Adam brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and energy to the position. He had a great mentor in Ron Shewcraft, one of the best coaches in New England," Nichols said. "With over 13 years as a player and coach with the men's soccer program at MCLA, I have full confidence Adam will continue the tradition of success in men's soccer." 

While at MCLA, Hildabrand has successfully recruited student athletes from high schools, prep schools and community colleges, been an active fundraiser for the men's soccer team, worked with various College departments such as Admissions and Alumni Development, and set up student tutorials.

For more information, go to www.mcla.edu/athletics .