Clarkson Fires Coach As M. Hockey Arrives

POTSDAM, N.Y.—The Harvard men’s hockey team has traveled to Clarkson and St. Lawrence for a weekend series the past 20 straight seasons. The Crimson’s trip last weekend will stand out among the rest, though—and not just because it witnessed Harvard’s first sweep of the two teams since the 1992-1993 season.

The rinks at both schools were buzzing about a controversial decision made by the Clarkson administration just two hours before Harvard and St. Lawrence faced off on Friday night.

After a 10-day investigation into a physical altercation between Clarkson coach Mark Morris and one of his players during a Nov. 2 practice, the university announced that Morris had been fired.

Even though sources indicated that the announcement had been eminent, the decision still rocked the hockey-crazed town. Morris, who began coaching at Clarkson in 1989, was the school’s all-time winningest coach (306-156-42) and had brought the Golden Knights to nine NCAA tournaments.

After his firing was announced, Morris listened to a broadcast of his former team’s 5-1 win over Brown before holding his own press conference at the office of the Potsdam-Massena Daily Courier-Observer.

According to that paper, Morris called his firing a “done deal,” saying he believed that university administrators had decided to terminate him before the official investigation even began.

“Clarkson had contacted their attorney about my termination before the investigation was started,” he said.

A statement released Friday evening by Clarkson President Denny Brown, however, stressed that the university had used an “independent interviewer” to conduct its investigation into “Mr. Morris’ use of physical force and threatening conduct toward a Clarkson player.”

The altercation reportedly took place during a game of shinny before the Golden Knights’ 2-1 loss to rival St. Lawrence on Nov. 2. According to the Watertown Daily Times, Morris said he was twice struck into the boards by one of his players during the pick-up game, prompting him to retaliate.

“I felt as though I was being threatened and I attempted to defend myself,” he told the Daily Times.

“I told the player to take his things out of the locker,” he continued. “In 15 seasons I’ve played shinny with a lot of guys and I’ve never been body checked into the boards by a player. It was apparent to me he was dissatisfied that he would not be playing in the St. Lawrence game.”

Several sources have indicated that the player involved in the incident was junior winger Zach Schwan, but Schwan’s name was left out of statements made by both Brown and Morris on Friday.

Schwan has not been disciplined beyond missing Clarkson’s 2-1 win over Rensselaer on Nov. 8. He suited up for the Golden Knights’ 2-2 tie with Union the next night and also skated against Brown and Harvard this weekend.

Morris, on the advice of his attorney, refused to take part in the investigation, citing what he perceived to be a predetermined conclusion. In his statement, Brown said Morris’ decision to do so was a key factor in the university’s decision.

“Mr. Morris refused to participate in the investigation, despite repeated attempts by the university to secure his cooperation,” Brown said. “The facts collected from other witnesses to the incident indicated clear evidence of conduct by Mr. Morris that was inappropriate for a Clarkson faculty or staff member.

“This, coupled with Mr. Morris’ unwillingness to participate in the process, left the university with no choice but to terminate his employment.”

Clarkson announced that Fred Parker, an assistant new to the program this season, will serve as interim head coach. Parker had filled in for Morris since the investigation began and is 2-1-1 since taking over.

Parker said his team has maintained focus in spite of the distractions.

“They’ve really kept their eyes on the prize,” Parker said shortly before Clarkson’s loss to Harvard on Saturday. “This was a close-knit team beforehand, and this has been a true statement of their character.”

A nationwide search for Morris’ replacement will commence after the season, Clarkson athletic director Sean Frazier told the Daily Times.

“We believe in Coach Parker,” Frazier said. “He’s the right person for the job to lead us for the rest of the season. We will go aggressively to a national search for the head coaching position, [but] if [Parker] wants to throw his hat in there, I’ll back him … If he can do the things he’s currently doing now, he’s got a good situation.”

—Staff writer Jon P. Morosi can be reached at morosi@fas.harvard.edu.