“font-family: Verdana;”>It would be a huge understatement to say that basketball has been a huge part of Mesho Morrow’s life.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Morrow is currently the girls basketball coach at McCluer South-Berkeley in the Ferguson-Florissant school district. Her current post as a high school coach is just the latest step in a long career in basketball that has seen her play, coach, officiate and instruct clinics at every level imaginable.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>While she develops the talents of her high school girls at Berkeley, Morrow has also undertaken a new challenge in her basketball career: team ownership. She will serve as the head coach and owner of Arch Angels Basketball, the newest local semi-pro team. The Arch Angels will play in the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL).
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>The team will be conducting its first tryout session on January 28. The season will run from mid-May to early August. The Arch Angels will play a 12-game schedule with the games tentatively scheduled for Fontbonne University.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>”I feel fortunate for this opportunity,” Morrow said. “I played the game. I coached the game. I have been a referee and now I’m going to be an owner. I am just blessed to have all of these opportunities.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>”It’s exciting and challenging at the same time because it is a new venture for me. You’re a little nervous because you’re putting yourself out there in the public, but it also motivates me.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>What may help Morrow in her new venture is that she already has some experience in the WBCBL. She was once the head coach of the St. Louis Surge of the WBCBL in 2010.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>”I think the previous experience is going to help me a lot as I get started,” Morrow said. “I got the chance to see what it’s all about and I think the experience will help me tremendously.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>A native of East St. Louis, Morrow played at Lincoln High School on some powerhouse teams in the early 1980s for then-coach Ernest Riggins. Morrow played with great players such as All-American Tina Hutchinson. She earned All-State, All American and academic honors as a senior at Lincoln in 1984.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Morrow earned a basketball scholarship to Kansas, where she was a four-year letter-winner for the Jayhawks. She played a big role in the Jayhawks’ two Big 8 Conference championships and NCAA Tournament teams in 1987 and 1988. “font-family: Verdana;”>Â
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>After her graduation from Kansas, she eventually got a job, but soon moved back home where she then began to volunteer coach at her high school alma mater. She did one year as a volunteer coach and then decided to take a different turn in her life and gave up basketball.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>”I decided to walk away from basketball,” Morrow said. “I didn’t think I could make any money coaching.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>When she began to get back into basketball, she became an assistant coach at St. Louis Community College–Florissant Valley for two years and “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>started officiating games.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>During her time as a referee, Morrow noticed a lack of fundamentals in many of the girls games that she worked. Being proactive, Morrow started her own Mesho Morrow Basketball Basics organization, which puts on clinics throughout North County.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>”I was just disappointed with the level of play that I saw,” Morrow said. “I saw so many kids with great athletic ability, but underdeveloped skill. I always thought about what I could do to help our young ladies get better, so I started doing clinics.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Morrow will continued to conduct clinics as part of her outreach for the Arch Angels in the bi-state community. As she begins to get her franchise off the ground, Morrow is seeking volunteers who have expertise is marketing or social media as she continues to build the Arch Angels.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>She said, “I greatly desire that the bi-state metropolitan community take a part in building the Arch Angels.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>You can follow them on Facebook or contact via email at
“mailto:coach@archangelsbasketball.com”>coach@archangelsbasketball.com
