TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football head coach Curt Mallory announced the addition of Steve Morrison, Donnell Kirkwood Jr., and Manny Harris will join the staff ahead of the 2026 spring season.
 
Morrison will take over as the Sycamores' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach heading into the 2026 season. Kirkwood will handle the running backs room, while Manny Harris joins the staff as the new wide receivers coach.
 
Steve Morrison
Steve Morrison joins the Sycamores as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach following a six-year stint at Bowling Green State University. He's added stops at Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Michigan over his coaching career.
 
"Steve (Morrison) is one of the best men, fathers, and husbands that I know," head coach Curt Mallory said. "He will bring so much to the team on and off the field. He will be a great leader of men and continue to develop our young men in their lives outside of football. He also brings such a wealth of knowledge and experience on the field. He is a sharp football mind and a great coach."
 
Morrison served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Bowling Green State University from 2023-25. In 2024, his defense ranked among the nation's top 35 in total defense (32nd, 331 yds/p/g), scoring defense (30th, 21.6 pts/p/g), third-down defense (27th, .339), red zone defense (26th, .769), and passing yards allowed (24th, 185 yds/p/g), while linebacker Joseph Sipp earned First Team All-MAC honors. The team went 7-6 (6-2 MAC), appeared in the 68 Venture Bowl, and earned its third consecutive bowl game. In 2023, the defense ranked 12th in pass defense (180 yds/p/g), 25th in total defense (326 yds/p/g), led the nation in turnovers gained (28), and posted the sixth-largest improvement in total defense nationally.
 
Before that, Morrison was associate head coach for the linebackers at Bowling Green from 2019-22. During that time, the program went 7-6 in 2019 with a Quick Lane Bowl appearance and recorded its first winning conference record and bowl appearance since 2015 in 2022 (6-7, 5-3 MAC). Standout linebackers he coached include Darren Anders, First Team All-MAC and MAC's leading tackler in 2021, and Kolby Coleman, Third Team All-MAC in 2019.
 
Prior to Bowling Green, Morrison spent the 2011-12 season at Syracuse University as the linebackers coach. During this season, Syracuse earned a share of the Big East title and won the Pinstripe Bowl in 2012, while the defense ranked 32nd nationally in rushing defense. He coached NFL players Marquis Spruill (Atlanta Falcons, 5th round) and Cam Lynch (Rams/Buccaneers, free agent), and also worked with Siriki Diabate, who went on to become the assistant run game coordinator and linebackers coach at UConn.
 
Morrison spent the 2009-11 seasons at Eastern Michigan University, where he served as the linebackers coach. In 2011, the team finished 6-6, marking EMU's best record since 1995, and he coached linebacker Justin Cudworth, who earned Third Team All-MAC honors.
 
Morrison began his collegiate coaching career at Western Michigan University. From 2005-2007, Morrison served as assistant head coach, linebackers and defensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator. During this time, he mentored standout players who achieved national and conference recognition. In 2005, freshman defensive lineman Nick Varcadipane earned Freshman All-American honors under his guidance. In 2006, linebacker Ameer Ismail, developed by Morrison, led the nation in sacks (17) and tackles for loss (25.5), was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, and earned All-American and First Team All-MAC honors, while the defense led the nation in interceptions (24) and set a MAC record for fewest rushing yards allowed per game (76.1). In 2007, he helped guide linebacker Boston McCornell to Second Team All-MAC honors and contributed to the team's International Bowl appearance.
 
In 2008, Morrison continued was promoted to the defensive coordinator for the linebackers where he mentored linebackers Austin Pritchard (1st Team All-MAC, 2nd Team in 2009) and Boston McCornell (3rd Team All-MAC) as the program posted a 9-4 record (6-2 MAC) and appeared in the Texas Bowl. That season, the defense ranked 2nd in the MAC in sacks and 3rd in total and rushing defense. Over his full tenure at Western Michigan, Morrison's leadership and player development helped the team achieve a 24-15 MAC record.
 
Morrison was a captain and earned All–Big Ten honors at linebacker while lettering for five seasons at the University of Michigan. During his career, he helped lead his program to three Big Ten championships and appeared in the Rose Bowl in 1991 and 1992, winning both games. He also competed in and won the Gator Bowl, Hall of Fame Bowl, and Holiday Bowl. Morrison graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports management and communications.
 
Following graduation Morrison signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1995 and played four seasons with the organization from 1995-99. During his tenure, he made 31 starts at inside and outside linebacker and was part of teams that reached the AFC Championship Game in 1995 and the AFC Playoffs in 1996. In recognition of his toughness and on-field impact, he was named the team's "Hard Nosed" Player of the Year in 1997.


After his stint in the NFL, he served at the University of Michigan as a graduate assistant working with the outside linebackers from 2002-04. During his time on staff, Michigan captured back-to-back Big Ten championships in 2003 and 2004, earning Rose Bowl appearances both years and finishing the seasons ranked #6 and #12 in the AP Poll, respectively. He coached standout players including Lamar Woodley and Pierre Woods, both of whom earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors. In 2002, he contributed in a quality control role as the team competed in the Outback Bowl and finished the season ranked #9 in the AP Poll.
 
Donnell Kirkwood Jr.
Donnell Kirkwood Jr. joins the Indiana State football coaching staff in 2026 as he joins the program by way of Washington State. He's added additional coaching stops at Wyoming, North Dakota, Western Illinois, and Northern State.
 
"Donnell (Kirkwood Jr.) brings valuable experience to the running backs room and familiarity with the Missouri Valley Football Conference," Mallory said. "He's a high-character mentor and is a strong role model for the group as we head into the spring."
 
Kirkwood Jr. spent the 2025 season at Washington State as the running backs coach. During the season, the Cougars' offense tied for fourth nationally in time of possession, tied for No. 12 nationally in red-zone offense, and averaged 16.78 yards per kickoff and punt return, ranking sixth in the country.
 
He also served as the running backs coach at the University of Wyoming from January through March 2025. During his time in Laramie, Kirkwood participated in the team's winter workouts and coached the kick and punt return units before departing.
 
Prior to Wyoming, Kirkwood Jr. spent two seasons as the running backs coach at the University of North Dakota. There, he mentored Gaven Ziebarth, who totaled 240 carries for 1,234 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns across the 2023-24 seasons, highlighted by a 700-yard, nine-touchdown campaign that ranked No. 16 nationally in yards per carry and among the MVFC's top rushers. Isaiah Smith also developed under his guidance, producing 198 carries for 1,299 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over two seasons, while adding significant receiving production and multiple 100-yard rushing performances.
 
Kirkwood Jr. spent the 2022-23 season at Western Illinois University, where he served as the player experience coordinator, organizing community service initiatives and conducting weekly check-ins with true freshmen. He also worked as the assistant special teams coach, overseeing all scout special teams units that ranked second nationally in NCAA FCS punt defense (-0.5 yards per return) and first in the MVFC in net kickoff average (42.6). While with the Leathernecks, he coached Erin Collins, the first WIU running back to rush for more than 150 yards in a game since 2016.
 
Kirkwood Jr. began his collegiate coaching career at Northern State University in January 2020 as the running backs coach. With the Wolves, he also served as the player experience and academic coordinator and coached the kickoff and punt return units. He mentored Vance Barnes, who led the NSIC and set a school single-season record with 848 kickoff return yards, averaged 24.2 yards per return on 35 attempts, ranked second in the NSIC and 19th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (139.45), and earned All-NSIC North Division First Team honors as a returner.
 
Kirkwood Jr. played for University of Minnesota Football from 2010-14. He won the 2014 Paul Giel award, which is awarded to the team's top offensive player, and was named the 2013 Offensive Back of the year and Offensive player of the year, while achieving Academic All-Big 10. Kirkwood graduated with a bachelor's degree in youth studies.
 
Following his graduation from the University of Minnesota, Kirkwood Jr. worked at Minneapolis Southwest High School from 2015-19 as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator. He also worked at River Bend Education Center from 2015-20 as a special education teacher.
 
Manny Harris
Manny Harris joins the Sycamores in the 2026 season following a stop at Syracuse where he has worked as an offensive graduate assistant since 2022. He's added coaching stops at Incarnate Word and Northwestern State.
 
"Manny (Harris) comes to the program with a strong coaching background, particularly in the wide receiver room," Mallory said. "He has the ability to lead the room with high character and will be a great role model for the group as they continue to develop in the offense."
 
Harris helped mentor quarterback Kyle McCord, who set ACC and Syracuse single-season records for passing yards with 4,779 yards. That total ranked first in the nation. In addition, McCord shattered the school record with 34 touchdown passes.
 
During his time at Northwestern State as the wide receivers coach, he mentored two all-conference wide receivers as well as the conference player of the year. Two of his wideouts recorded over 60 catches through 11 games at Northwestern State, which had the nation's No. 18 passing offense in the FCS in 2022.

He also spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Incarnate Word as a graduate assistant on the offensive side of the ball, assisting with quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and offensive line. While there, the Cardinals posted one of the best offensive seasons in the FCS in 2021. They ranked near the top of the NCAA in scoring offense (2nd), total offense (2nd) and passing offense (2nd). Quarterback Cameron Ward averaged 410 yards per game through the air, was named a second team All-American and a Walter Payton Award finalist in Harris' second season on staff.

A former college quarterback, he completed his playing career at Arkansas Tech in 2019 as a team captain, where he threw for 1,373 yards and five touchdowns while adding 125 yards and a score on the ground. Prior to his time in Russellville, he was a second team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference quarterback at Cisco Junior College, where he led the NJCAA in passing yardage before a season-ending injury. 

He began his college career at UTSA, where he was part of the Roadrunners' first bowl appearance in program history. An All-State quarterback at Copperas Cove (Texas) High School, Harris is a 2018 graduate of UTSA in multidisciplinary studies and earned his Master of Education in teacher leading and learning from Arkansas Tech in 2020.
 
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