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Joe Morrone, one of the greatest soccer players in UConn and state history, has died. He was 67.
Morrone, who played at UConn from 1977-80, the son of longtime coach, Joseph J. Morrone, is still the Huskies’ all-time leading scorer with 61 goals. He won the Hermann Trophy as best player in the nation in 1980, and was to play for the U.S. national team in the Moscow Olympics, before the U.S. government boycotted the games. Morrone died Sunday at Hartford Hospital from multiple illnesses, his family said.
“He was the best to ever play soccer at UConn,” said Bill Morrone, Joe’s younger brother, in announcing his passing on Facebook. “My brother’s nickname was ‘The Condor’ as he would control the soccer ball and extend both his arms so the other team’s players could not get near the ball.”
Joseph M. Morrone played at E.O. Smith High in Storrs, leading his team to state championships season in 1975 and ’76 and was twice a high school All-American before going to UConn to play for his father, who was just beginning to build a nationally known program. He was a three-time All-American in college.
“I was doing some soccer clinics with Walt Chyzowych, who was our national team coach (in 1980),” said Erhardt Kapp, who was Morrone’s teammate all four years at UConn. “And he said to me, ‘Joe was one of the players I could play anywhere, stopper, midfield, forward, and he was probably the best at those positions in his time.’ … If he were playing today, in his prime, he would be on the U.S. team that is going to play in the World Cup.”
In fact, though he played mostly at midfield and in the backfield, Morrone scored winning goals in two qualifying games for the U.S. Olympic team in 1980. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the North American Soccer League Draft in 1980 and went on to win rookie of the year honors for Tulsa in what was then the major pro league in the U.S. He played professionally, outdoor and indoor soccer, through 1984.
“Joe was a superstar in Connecticut and our first legendary home-grown player,” said Bill Duffy, president of the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame, which inducted Morrone in 2000, in informing members of Morrone’s passing. “Many young players were influenced by his size, ability, and skill in the 1970’s and ’80’s while watching him play and reach new heights.”
At UConn, Morrone had 61 goals and 36 assists as the Huskies reached the NCAA Tournament in 1978, ’79 and ’80. UConn went on to win the national championship in 1981.
“Joe and I came in together as freshman,” said Kapp, an All-American at UConn and Olympian in 1984, “and though our freshman year wasn’t the best, our sophomore, junior and senior years we pretty much led the country and we turned the program around, we were getting 8,000, 9,000 people to watch a game. Joe was one of the best players and an All-American and we just relied on him to score goals, You know, his credentials speak for themselves.”
Though not a big man, Morrone was exceptionally athletic and skilled among the players of his time. Ray Reid, who coached the UConn program from 1997 until 2021, remembered seeing Morrone play before packed bleachers at the stadium that was later named for his father, particularly an acrobatic goal against San Francisco in 1977.
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“Fantastic player,” Reid said. “I believe if the U.S. was as organized then as it is now, he would have played in two or three World Cups. If there was an MLS, he would have been a 15-year player. I mean, at times, Joe was like a man playing with little kids. He could play in the back and build the game, he could play in the middle and run the game, or he could play up front and score goals.”
Morrone would sometimes call Reid if a player was getting close to his scoring record and suggest he “rest him.” The record, though, still stands. His brother, Bill, and sister Melissa were both All-American soccer players at UConn. The Morrone family has planned private services.
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Morrone, who played at UConn from 1977-80, the son of longtime coach, Joseph J. Morrone, is still the Huskies’ all-time leading scorer with 61 goals. He won the Hermann Trophy as best player in the nation in 1980, and was to play for the U.S. national team in the Moscow Olympics, before the U.S. government boycotted the games. Morrone died Sunday at Hartford Hospital from multiple illnesses, his family said.
“He was the best to ever play soccer at UConn,” said Bill Morrone, Joe’s younger brother, in announcing his passing on Facebook. “My brother’s nickname was ‘The Condor’ as he would control the soccer ball and extend both his arms so the other team’s players could not get near the ball.”
Joseph M. Morrone played at E.O. Smith High in Storrs, leading his team to state championships season in 1975 and ’76 and was twice a high school All-American before going to UConn to play for his father, who was just beginning to build a nationally known program. He was a three-time All-American in college.
“I was doing some soccer clinics with Walt Chyzowych, who was our national team coach (in 1980),” said Erhardt Kapp, who was Morrone’s teammate all four years at UConn. “And he said to me, ‘Joe was one of the players I could play anywhere, stopper, midfield, forward, and he was probably the best at those positions in his time.’ … If he were playing today, in his prime, he would be on the U.S. team that is going to play in the World Cup.”
In fact, though he played mostly at midfield and in the backfield, Morrone scored winning goals in two qualifying games for the U.S. Olympic team in 1980. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the North American Soccer League Draft in 1980 and went on to win rookie of the year honors for Tulsa in what was then the major pro league in the U.S. He played professionally, outdoor and indoor soccer, through 1984.
“Joe was a superstar in Connecticut and our first legendary home-grown player,” said Bill Duffy, president of the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame, which inducted Morrone in 2000, in informing members of Morrone’s passing. “Many young players were influenced by his size, ability, and skill in the 1970’s and ’80’s while watching him play and reach new heights.”
At UConn, Morrone had 61 goals and 36 assists as the Huskies reached the NCAA Tournament in 1978, ’79 and ’80. UConn went on to win the national championship in 1981.
“Joe and I came in together as freshman,” said Kapp, an All-American at UConn and Olympian in 1984, “and though our freshman year wasn’t the best, our sophomore, junior and senior years we pretty much led the country and we turned the program around, we were getting 8,000, 9,000 people to watch a game. Joe was one of the best players and an All-American and we just relied on him to score goals, You know, his credentials speak for themselves.”
Though not a big man, Morrone was exceptionally athletic and skilled among the players of his time. Ray Reid, who coached the UConn program from 1997 until 2021, remembered seeing Morrone play before packed bleachers at the stadium that was later named for his father, particularly an acrobatic goal against San Francisco in 1977.
Dom Amore: How UConn softball handled the blows and clawed back to the NCAA Tournament
“Fantastic player,” Reid said. “I believe if the U.S. was as organized then as it is now, he would have played in two or three World Cups. If there was an MLS, he would have been a 15-year player. I mean, at times, Joe was like a man playing with little kids. He could play in the back and build the game, he could play in the middle and run the game, or he could play up front and score goals.”
Morrone would sometimes call Reid if a player was getting close to his scoring record and suggest he “rest him.” The record, though, still stands. His brother, Bill, and sister Melissa were both All-American soccer players at UConn. The Morrone family has planned private services.
Continue reading...
