Mayor Jim Watson awards Earle Morris the Brian Kilrea Award at city hall.
Veteran curler, coach, and “club pro” with Centretown’s Ottawa Curling Club, Earle Morris, has been awarded the Brian Kilrea Award for excellence in coaching by the City of Ottawa.
Morris, 68, fell in love with curling at an early age in Saskatchewan after watching his grandfather, Cliff McLachlan play at a high level.
Morris’s first of many curling awards came in Grade 7, when his teacher organized a bonspiel.
“I won a bottle of 7 Up as a prize and I’ve been hooked ever since,” Morris says with a laugh.
And hooked is right.
Morris worked in human kinetics co-ordinating sports and recreation programs with the Canadian military which required frequent relocation.
Despite this he competed in three Briers (the Canadian national men’s championships of curling) finishing out of the playoffs, but representing three different provinces: Manitoba in 1980, Quebec in 1982, and Ontario in 1985, something Morris is unique in accomplishing.
Morris, however, is more proud of his family’s achievement.
Both his grandfather McLachlan, and his son John Morris, an Olympic gold medalist, competed at the Brier, as well.
“No other family’s done that and that’s really important to me,” he says. “We’ve not only passed on the love of curling, but the ability to play at a high level, so that’s a neat combination.”
More recently, however, Morris has earned acclaim for his coaching abilities.
He guided four- time Canadian champion Jennifer Jones’s team in the 2010/2011 season, and the Australian national team between 2006 and 2008.
He is currently coaches Grand Slam-winning Team Homan of the Ottawa Curling Club
Morris started, however, by coaching youth sports, first at the military and then as his children grew up.
“I always coached them in ball or soccer or hockey, and it was just natural to start coaching them in curling,” Morris says.
Morris coached his son, John, to the World Juniors of curling in 1998.
His current team, Rachel Homan’s rink, won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts (the Canadian women’s championships) earlier this year.
Most recently, Morris guided the team to their first ever Grand Slam victory. The women will compete this December for a spot at the Sochi Olympics.
Morris focuses on five core values when it comes to coaching: technical excellence, strategic approach, mental toughness, team dynamics, and healthy lifestyles.
“If you have that package and you work hard in all those five areas, then anything is possible,” he says.
Alison Kreviazuk, who plays second on Team Homan, says Morris provides much wisdom – both technically and strategically – to the young team.
They also have a unique advantage because Morris has coached them since before they were teenagers.
“Earle’s been there through thick and thin . . . He knows what we need to hear and what we don’t need to hear,” says Kreviazuk.
“He can see trends in our performance and he knows what works for our team and what doesn’t. He knows each of us inside and out, so I couldn’t think of a better coach to suit our team," he says.
On top of coaching, Morris is currently the club professional for the Ottawa Curling Club.
He also runs various curling camps where he teaches young and old, new and experienced curlers to improve their game.
“His gentle manner and his sense of humour take the pressure off and allow (new curlers) to progress at their own rate,” says Joe Pavia, of the Ottawa Curling Club.
“Despite the fact he’s coached some of the most famous curlers in the world, he’s still very down to earth, easily approachable, and not afraid to to answer questions,” he says.
Although he retired from his day job in 2003, Morris is unlikely to stop curling or coaching any time soon.
“I love the sport,” says Morris. “I love it as much today as I loved it in Grade 7 when I won the 7 Up.”
Morris's Team Homan will be competing for a spot in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games from December 1 to the 8 at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Winnipeg.
The teams consists of players, Homan, Kreviazuk, Lisa Weagle, and Emma Miskew.