Stetson University Basketball Coaching Notebook, 1956–57[Original Manuscript — Game Plans, Scouting Reports, Box Scores & NAIA National Tournament]
Morland, Richard B. [Dick Morland] (1919–2010) [Head Basketball Coach, Stetson University, 1952–1957]

DeLand, Florida: Richard Morland, 1946


A COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON FROM INSIDE THE COACH'S HUDDLE.
Richard Morland's working coaching notebook for the 1956–57 Stetson University men's basketball season, recording in his own hand the scouting, preparation, strategy, game results and postgame assessments that carried the Hatters from preseason practice to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City.

This is not a retrospective season record. Morland writes as the season unfolds. Opponents are scouted, defenses diagnosed, plays diagrammed, personnel evaluated and adjustments planned. Newspaper box scores are pasted beside his handwritten accounts, while candid postgame notes record both successful decisions and failures.

The 1956–57 season was Morland's final year as Stetson's head coach. The Hatters finished 17–8, defeated Florida State and the University of Miami, won the NAIA District 25 playoff, and advanced to the 1957 NAIA National Tournament.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION & CONTENTS
300 MANUSCRIPT PAGES OF SCOUTING, STRATEGY AND GAME-BY-GAME COACHING NOTES.
+++ Small six-ring coaching notebook, approximately 5.25 by 3.75 inches, in flexible black covers with metal ring binding; approximately 158 lined manuscript pages, written primarily in black and green ink and pencil.
+++ Entries include preseason preparation, player evaluations and statistics, scouting reports, opponent personnel notes, offensive and defensive strategy, game scores, postgame analysis, diagrams of opposing plays, and Stetson's own offensive sets.
+++ Numerous pages contain hand-drawn basketball diagrams recording screening action, cuts, passing sequences, defensive positioning and offensive movement. The final portion of the notebook is substantially devoted to diagrams and descriptions of Stetson's offensive plays.
+++ Contemporary newspaper box scores are pasted onto the appropriate game pages, placing published statistical accounts beside Morland's own observations and evaluations.

CONDITION: VERY GOOD — AN INTACT WORKING COACH'S NOTEBOOK.
Flexible black covers show moderate rubbing, scuffing and handling wear consistent with use. The six-ring metal binding mechanism remains intact.
Leaves show expected handling, edge toning and occasional minor soiling. Newspaper clippings are age-toned, with localized offsetting and adhesive staining from their original attachment. The manuscript remains strong and generally legible throughout

Very Good / No Dust Jacket As Issued. Near Fine.

In 1956 – 57 the Stetson Hatters of DeLand, Florida has a tremendous year with an invitation to the 1957 NAIA National Tournament.  During the season they also had regular season wins over Florida State and the University of Miami.

An interesting game occurred in mid-January against a team in Tampa. With Stetson having a commanding lead the game was stopped after the first half.  Due to a slippery floor.  [As much as that may sound as an excuse it was a common winter occurrence in high schools in South Florida when a hot day followed a cold front.] p168

Background Information:
Stetson University
Founded in 1883, Stetson University is a nationally ranked private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida in the city of DeLand

NAIA: The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1937 (with the exception of 1944 and 2020). The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities.

Brief Biography:
Richard Morland was the kind of basketball coach whose lessons were useful on the court and off.

Morland never had a losing campaign while coaching the Hatters. Twice they were chosen the top college team in Florida by a state poll of sports writers.

"Coach always taught, 'You're going to have ups and downs, you're going to have successes and failures,'" said Richard Layer, who played for Morland at Stetson University in the 1950s. "That's part of being on a team and that's part of life as well."

He was president of his high-school class and a basketball star at Birmingham Southern College, where he lettered in both that sport and track and field. After college, Morland joined the U.S. Navy. He served four years and earned 11 battle stars.

After World War II, Morland coached at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where he also earned a master's degree. From 1947 to 1950, he coached at Florida Southern College, where he met his wife, who worked in the publicity department. The two had been married 61 years at the time of his death.

From 1950 to 1952, Morland completed his doctorate in education while studying at New York University. By 1952, he was at Stetson, where he took a job as head basketball coach and chairman of the department of physical education.

He was named to the university's Sports Hall of Fame and also received an award for excellence in teaching. A bust of him is in Stetson's DuPont-Ball Library.

Ref Orlando Sentinel October 3, 2010

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