Converse University

Brandon Morton enters his 10th season as the Valkyries Head Coach of the Cross Country and Track & Field program. While at Converse, Morton has coached the Valkyries to 129 All-Conference performances.

Morton carried the momentum from the 2023-24 academic year right into the 2024-25 academic year. The men's indoor track team won the Conference Carolinas title in the program's fourth season. The women's track & field team, who were the defending champions, finished second at the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championship. Morton led the Valkyries to 24 indoor all-conference finishes and seven conference championships between both the men's and women's teams. Seven student-athletes as well as one relay team were named USTFCCCA All-Region performers for the indoor season. Morton led the Valkyries to strong showings during outdoor season as well, with the men's team finishing second and the women's team finishing third at the conference championship meet. Junior Devron Davis was named the Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year, winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Coach Morton led the Valkyries to 31 outdoor all-conference finsihes and eight conference championships across both teams. The Valkyries' 4x100 meter relay team of sophomore Dorian Bomar, graduate student Zephaniah Cox, Davis and senior Gavin McFadden became the first male student-athletes in program history to qualify for the National Championship meet. Senior Eseose Okoduwa became the first female student-athlete in program history to compete at the National Championship meet, qualifying in the 100-meter dash. Morton's team's earned 11 USTFCCCA outdoor all-region honors at season's end. Between indoor and outdoor season, Morton and the Valkyries set 34 school records during the 2024-25 season.

The 2023-2024 Converse Track & Field season was one for the record books. Morton was named Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year and USTFCCCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year after he guided the Valkyries to their first-ever Indoor Championship in program history. During the Outdoor season, the Valkyries finished Runner-Up at the Conference Carolinas Championships. A total of 42 school records were broken this past season, 31 athletes were All-conference performers, and 11 athletes won Event Championships between both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons.   

The 2022-2023 Converse track season will go down as one of the best in program history. Under the guidance of Morton, the women's team finished third overall at the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships and Runner-Up at the Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships. A total of 11 school record were broken this past season, 17 athletes were All-Conference performers and 9 athletes won conference championships between both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons. A trio of athletes also met NCAA provisional marks for the Outdoor season, Amora Okoduwa - 11.73 in the 100 meter dash, Phebe Myers - 14.15 in the 100 meter hurdles and Gavin McFadden - 10.40 in the 100 meter dash. 

Coach Morton coached numerous student-athletes to individual Conference Carolinas championships. Daeja Belton won the 100m hurdles in 2021 and went on to run the 15th fastest time in the nation at 13.95 which would also be the fastest time in Conference Carolinas history. Kristin Frost took first place honors in the pole vault in 2019, while Shakura Wesley took home top honors in the weight throw during the indoor track and field season. During the 2017-18 season the program saw Serenity Hunt win the Conference Carolinas Championship and set the conference record in the long jump.

Morton saw the inception of Converse’s first men’s track and field program where Gavin McFadden went on to win Freshman of the Year and run school records and all-conference performances in the 100 and 200 in school record times of 10.67 and 21.33.

Morton came to Converse from South Carolina State University where he worked with the men's and women's cross country/track and field programs for two years. Morton also served as the recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs.
While at SC State, Morton coached a 400-meter hurdler to a MEAC Championship and a NCAA Championship qualifier.

Prior to SC State, he spent three years at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) as an assistant track and field coach. While there, Morton coached 44 Atlantic Sun (A-Sun) All-Conference performances, 15 individual conference champions and six conference record holders as well as 11 NCAA East Regional Qualifiers, 11 school record holders and one All-American Honorable Mention Relay team.

During the 2011-12 season both of the ETSU's men's and women's track and field teams received U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team Honors. In 2012-13 two of his athletes were selected to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.

Prior to his stint at ETSU, Morton served as an assistant at Campbell University. During his tenure at Campbell, he coached 13 A-Sun Conference Champions, nine NCAA East Regional Qualifiers and 61 A-Sun All-Conference performers. Coach Morton is USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning certified.

Morton was a standout track performer at Winthrop. He was a two-time NCAA East Regional Qualifier and Big South Conference Champion. Morton was named to the Big South All-Conference seven times.

The Greenwood, S.C. native earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Winthrop in 2005 and his Master's in Exercise Science from Campbell in 2010.

Morton along with his wife, Shelitha Cole-Morton, resides in the Spartanburg area.