Jake Morton Named 15th Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Alcorn State University

LORMAN, Miss. (Alcorn Athletics) — Alcorn State University is proud to announce the hiring of Jake Morton as the 15th Head Men’s Basketball Coach in program history. Morton was officially introduced during a special Meet & Greet event held Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at The Watermark in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A seasoned coach and former standout player, Morton brings more than two decades of coaching experience across all levels of collegiate basketball, including time in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Atlantic Sun, and American Athletic Conference. Most recently, he served on the coaching staff at Florida State University under Head Coach Leonard Hamilton.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Morton to the Alcorn family,” said Director of Athletics E. Dwayne Robinson. “His leadership, championship-caliber mindset, and dedication to player development make him an ideal fit to lead our men’s basketball program into a new era.”

Before joining Florida State, Morton held assistant coaching positions at East Carolina and Jacksonville State. At Jacksonville State, he played a pivotal role in the program’s historic run, helping the Gamecocks capture the 2021-22 Atlantic Sun regular-season title and secure an NCAA Tournament berth. During his four-year tenure, Jacksonville State averaged 20 wins per season and twice broke the school’s Division I single-season wins record.

Morton’s coaching resume also includes stops at Miami, Western Kentucky, Coppin State, James Madison, St. Francis (Pa.), and Bowie State. As a player, Morton starred at the University of Miami from 1989-1993 under Coach Hamilton, scoring over 900 points and earning accolades as a tenacious defender and team leader. Following his collegiate career, he played professionally in Israel for six years.

At Alcorn, Morton aims to instill a culture built on accountability, resilience, and a commitment to excellence—focusing on developing student-athletes who thrive both on the court and in the classroom. His vision emphasizes building a championship foundation rooted in hard work, discipline, and pride in representing the Alcorn name.

“I’m very excited to be named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Alcorn State University. With the support of President Cook and A.D. Robinson, there is no doubt that we can take this program into the next stage of greatness,” said Coach Jake Morton.