Toriano Morgan walked across Tennessee State's campus recently and felt as if he had traveled back in time. "Making my walk to lunch today, I kind of felt like it was 2000 and I was a senior walking to the cafeteria," Morgan said. "The buildings have changed a little bit, the campus has grown a lot. But for the most part, it still has that homely feeling."

Morgan, a former TSU wide receiver and team captain, has returned to his alma mater as co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach under head coach Reggie Barlow. It is a homecoming more than two decades in the making for a coach with more than 20 years of experience at the high school and collegiate levels. "To be back and be able to serve in a school that's been great to me is just amazing," Morgan said. "This program groomed me as a player and transitioned me into coaching. I couldn't write a better story."

A native of Fort Lauderdale, Morgan began his coaching career at Tennessee State in 2002 as a graduate assistant before moving on to stints at Dillard High School, Virginia Union , and Virginia State . Most recently, he served as head coach at Edward Waters University, where he earned the nickname "Mr. 180" for turning programs around. Under his leadership, the Tigers recorded their first winning season in more than two decades and entered the HBCU D2 national polls for the first time as a full SIAC member in 2023.

Morgan's success has been recognized nationally. In 2022, he participated in the NFL's Coaching Academy, was named to FootballScoop's Rising Star Coaches Watch List, and was selected as head coach for the nationally televised HBCU Pigskin All-Star Classic. Throughout his coaching career, he has guided 35 all-conference players and helped 13 athletes reach the NFL. Known for his innovative offensive strategies, Morgan developed record-setting units at Edward Waters, including quarterback Jyron Russell, who became the school's modern-day all-time leading passer, and Johnny Jones, an All-American honoree.

Returning to Nashville, Morgan has been struck by the growth of both the city and the university. "Going downtown, the biggest building used to be the Batman building. Now you can't even see it because there are so many bigger ones," he said. "That expansion shows the growth of the city and the commitment of Tennessee State to grow as well."

On the field, Morgan has been impressed by the leadership of TSU's veteran players, who have helped set the tone for younger athletes. "Those guys have had team success and individual success, so they're able to show the younger guys exactly how to do it," he said. "From day one, we've set our expectations and our goals, and everyone has fallen in line." He emphasizes preparation and execution as central tenets of the team's philosophy. "It's about doing it the way we practice and letting the chips fall where they may," Morgan said.

The 2025 schedule features eight home games, a rarity for TSU in recent years. Morgan said that home-field advantage is significant not only for performance but also for the legacy of Tennessee State football. "There's no place like home," he said. "It's unacceptable for TSU football not to play well and to lose at home in front of our fans. Having eight home games on familiar turf gives us something to defend, and that's truly going to work in our favor."

The Tigers' schedule also features marquee HBCU matchups alongside nonconference tests, including perennial FCS power North Dakota State. Morgan sees these games as an opportunity to showcase both TSU football and the broader TSU experience. "Families can come out, tailgate, and young Tigers can see what it's all about," he said. "That's where it starts — making that impression so they want to grow up and be part of this tradition and legacy."

For Morgan, being back at Tennessee State is the culmination of a career built on both success and loyalty to his roots. "You couldn't script it any better," he said. "I'm blessed to be here and to help carry this program forward."