On May 6, generations of Amherst athletes gathered to honor Coach Michelle Morgan and to recognize the storied and successful history of women’s athletics at the College. The evening’s events included a dedication of the newly named “Morgan Way,” a celebration called Breaking Barriers, Breaking Records, and a reception in Middleton Gym.
“Michelle coached at Amherst for 44 years,” said Jen Hughes, Amherst’s head women’s soccer coach. “She was a quintessential Amherst educator, rightly holding the title of professor. Coaching is educating, supporting, teaching and mentoring with the field, the rink, the pool, the court or the track as the primary classroom. As an educator, Michelle played an important role in the development of Amherst students and had a profound impact on many of them.”
In addition, the College named the walkway leading from Alumni Gym up Memorial Hill to the main quad “Morgan Way.” President Michael A. Elliott '92, noting that he is fond of talking about the halls and hills we walk on at Amherst, said, “I think it’s wonderful that one of those hills and the way we walk up it will be forever associated with Michelle Morgan and the generations of female athletes she coached.” This path, traveled frequently by all members of the Amherst community, symbolically connects the athletic complex to the academic core of the campus, just as Coach Morgan did throughout her career.
Photos courtesy of Slate Taylor ’25.