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Bluffton, Ind.

By Sarah Pulliam
Sibling rivalry hit home for two brothers when Eric Morgan was hired as athletic director at Norwell High School May 10.
Eric’s younger brother, Todd, coaches and teaches at Norwell’s rival, Bluffton High School.
Eric and Todd both played sports and graduated from Bluffton High School in 1989 and 1994 respectively.
Todd works as the sixth-grade teacher, head baseball coach and football defensive coordinator at Bluffton High School.
Eric’s new position will create the first opportunity for the brothers to compete since childhood.
“Growing up, we were the only two kids in the family and he was always the big brother I was trying to be better than,” Todd said. “Whether it was shooting baskets or cleaning the house, we were very competitive in everything we did.”
Eric was chosen from 30 applicants to replace Mike Gilbert as the athletic director at Norwell High School. Gilbert will retire at the end of June.
“We’re competitive like brothers, but at the same time, he’s my best friend with the exception of my wife,” Eric said. “It’ll be an interesting situation for my parents.”
Sharon Morgan, Eric and Todd’s mother, said her sons didn’t become close friends until Eric went to college.
“You know how big brother really doesn’t want little brother to be around,” she laughed.
Sharon described Eric as being more vocal than Todd and said the brothers don’t look anything alike. Even though Eric will work for the rival school, she’s happy to have him back in Wells County.
“We’re going to have to sit in the middle aren’t we? We’ll probably root for the home team which is probably normal.”
Rick Morgan, the brothers’ father, said he’ll still root for Bluffton.
“As much as I love Bluffton, I think he made the right decision,” Rick said. “It’s a tremendous job opportunity for him and I think his brother feels the same way.”
Todd said he will be excited to play Norwell at the annual baseball double-header.
“You always want to do well because a lot of people come. People always circle that date,” Todd said. “I’ll be glad that he’s there and watching, but at the same time I’ll be sure that my team comes out with a victory.”
Eric finished his job as athletic director at Prairie Heights two weeks ago and is taking a graduate course through Ball State University to receive his administration license. In addition, he has spent time with current athletic director Gilbert to adjust to Norwell.
Coming from a 2A school almost half Norwell’s 3A size, Eric sees advantages in a more competitive athletic program, and being closer to home.
“Because it’s a bigger school there’s going to be some new experiences for me,” he said. “We did not have a soccer or swimming program so those will be two new arenas for me which is exciting but also challenging.”
Gilbert’s assistant also retired and Eric will conduct interviews for his own assistant later this week.
Eric sold the family’s house in Auburn about a week ago and plans to move with his wife Holly, their daughter Macy, 3, and son, Bo, 1, to the Northern Wells district when he finds a house.
Holly taught at DeKalb Middle School and hopes to find a teaching job in Wells County.
“It’ll be an adjustment for myself and my family because it’ll be new,” Eric said. “We’ve been in the same community for the last few years, so it’ll be difficult but at the same time exciting.”
Eric received an education degree from Manchester College where he played baseball and football. He then earned a masters in secondary education from Ball State and spent three years at the University of Missouri as a residence hall director.
Eric began teaching social studies at Prairie Heights in 1999. He was named athletic director in 2001 and was head baseball and head football coach.
Eric said he’s been so removed from Bluffton that he doesn’t think working for his high school’s rival will be difficult.
He said, “I’ll always root for Bluffton as long as they’re not playing the blue and gold.”