Topsail’s Tod Morgan Receives Prestigious Dave Harris Award for Athletic Leadership

Topsail High School Athletic Director Tod Morgan has been named a recipient of the Dave Harris Athletic Director Award of Excellence, one of the most distinguished honors handed down annually by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Foundation.

Morgan, a seasoned leader with 28 years of experience in public education, has worn many hats across North Carolina—serving as a coach, assistant principal, principal, and now as an athletic director. His résumé includes stops at Greene Central, New Bern, Chapel Hill, Jones Senior, C.B. Aycock, and East Carteret before taking the reins at Topsail, where his impact continues to resonate deeply.

Recognized for his commitment to integrity, mentorship, and statewide athletic advancement, Morgan has long been a respected voice within the NCHSAA. His involvement on several association committees reflects his dedication to shaping policy, promoting sportsmanship, and championing the development of student-athletes and athletic personnel alike.

NCADA Executive Director Roy Turner praised Morgan as a “committed servant leader,” adding, “Tod’s dedication to student-athletes and the community is reflected in his achievements. His leadership and impact extend beyond his coaching roles, as he has influenced countless students and peers through his transformational coaching philosophy and lifelong learning approach.”

Chad Duncan, current NCHSAA Board member and Gaston County Schools system athletic director, echoed those sentiments: “Tod has the qualities necessary to work with all people, which include a true interest in them as people, a driving work ethic to make them try to achieve at the highest level possible, a positive role model in the community, a love for his occupation and community he represents, and a non-partial person in dealing with everyone as he attempts to make things better for all.”

The Dave Harris Award, named after the longtime Charlotte-Mecklenburg County system athletic director, celebrates athletic directors who leave lasting imprints both in their school systems and across the state. Morgan’s career stands as a model of that mission—blending passion, professionalism, and purpose.