Cally Morrill enters her 15th year as a collegiate head soccer coach and her seventh consecutive season leading the Lees-McRae College women's soccer program.Her tenure in Banner Elk, now in its second stint after initially serving from 2010 to 2012, has been marked by competitive excellence, academic leadership, and a deep commitment to student-athlete development.
"The opportunity to come back to the mountains and the community of Banner Elk is a dream come true for our family," said Morrill. "I cannot thank Craig McPhail and Rita Smith enough as I have always valued the relationships and the passion that they both have for Lees-McRae. I am beyond excited to lead this program and continue the momentum of the College's vision.
Over the course of her head coaching career—including roles at Lees-McRae College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Lynn University—Morrill has amassed 115 career victories and led her teams to four regular season conference championships, two conference tournament titles, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. She has coached 54 all-conference student-athletes, 22 all-region performers, two conference freshman of the year honorees, one defensive player of the year honoree, and three All-Americans.
A respected leader across the collegiate landscape, Morrill is a five-time Conference Coach of the Year, earning the accolades of two-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year (at Lenoir-Rhyne - 2012, 2013) and three-time Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year (at Lees-McRae-2011, 2021, 2024).
In addition to her coaching duties, Morrill serves as the college’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), supporting departmental leadership and student-athlete advocacy. She also contributes academically as a faculty adjunct in the School of Business, teaching Sport Management courses that prepare students for careers in the sports industry.
Morrill’s influence extends beyond Lees-McRae. She works with North Carolina Youth Soccer’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) at both the state (NC) and South Region levels, and has served multiple years on the NCAA Division II Regional Athletic Committee (RAC) for women’s soccer—helping shape postseason selections and regional rankings.
Morrill is a 2006 graduate of the University of Alabama, and holds an education licensure from Lenoir-Rhyne University as well as an MBA from Lynn University.
Through her leadership in coaching, higher education, athletic administration, and national governance, Morrill continues to elevate Lees-McRae and champion excellence in collegiate women’s soccer.
