Reggie Morris earns 2026 Shut Out the Stigma Advocate Award, presented by Blue KC and the Kansas City Royals
Focusing on mental health is not only important to Reggie Morris as the boys’ basketball head coach at Raytown South High School, but also as a counselor at the school.
“I help students who are going through depression, anxiety, trauma, loss of life and injury,” said Morris, who boasts more than 30 years of coaching experience.
So, what’s his overall message to them?
“I want them to be able to bounce back even stronger. I help them understand that life presents some tough curveballs and turnovers, but they are not to destroy us. They help us look within ourselves and show us that we’re stronger than the circumstances that are presented to us. This provides a platform that will be there the rest of their lives.”
For going above and beyond in prioritizing the mental health of his students and players, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the Kansas City Royals were proud to honor Coach Morris with the Shut Out the Stigma Advocate Award at the 2026 Kansas City Sports Awards on August 26 at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.
“To earn the Shut Out the Stigma Advocate Award just means that people are recognizing that I’m not just an X’s and O’s guy on the basketball court, but I’m also about the X’s and O’s of life,” Morris said. “Anything I can do to help my young men and my students understand and how to deal with the pressures of life, that’s what it’s all about. I’m very blessed to be in this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to continuing to assist in helping to develop young people to their full potential.”
“Mental health is so critical for our young kids,” said Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. “The role that Coach Morris plays with them and the role that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City plays in supporting that is so important. Knowing Coach Morris’ story and being able to showcase that to our Kansas City Sports Awards audience of 750 people is pretty special.”
“Coach Morris has unparalleled success on the basketball court but has made an even bigger mark outside of the gymnasium,” said Jenny Housley, Blue KC President. “While he’s seen as their highly successful basketball coach, he’s also seen in the community as a leader, educator, friend and supporter.”
The award features the name of the Shut Out the Stigma initiative, which is a partnership between the Royals and Blue KC – the Official Health Insurance Partner of the Royals – that focuses on removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Coach Morris, who is also a 2023 winner of the Blue KC Coaches with Character award, addresses the mental health of his players from the moment they gather to kick off a new season.
“We start by having our players take a deep breath, letting go of things that they are experiencing,” he said. “Then, we have them pause for one to two minutes and think about what they need as a way to humble themselves. They might be struggling with fatigue, frustration, lack of production or not getting enough playing time. But part of life is making sacrifices. We want to make people proud about how we represent ourselves.”
Early in his career, Coach Morris experienced inspiring coaches. His father was a coach and ultimately helped him develop into a highly successful player. When he competed for Creighton University, Morris had two-time NBA Champion and 7-time NBA All-Star Willis Reed as his head coach.
Morris would go on to coach NBA player Alec Burks and his two sons at Grandview High School, where he captured state titles in 2018 and 2019, was a two-time KC Metro Basketball Coach of the Year and four-time District Coach of the Year. Now, he’s coming off a trip to the state semifinals as he begins his fifth season at Raytown South.
“We were able to experience some success last year, and I’m hoping that will catapult us to have success this year,” Morris said.
For Morris, it won’t just be about continuing to teach X’s and O’s on the court, as he’ll also focus on building character to create a positive culture within his basketball program.
“You never know what people are going through, and I want each of my players to be a great teammate and a great friend,” he said. “I help them understand that every day is a new opportunity. We can’t allow our past to dictate our future. We have to shut the door on things holding us back and keep fighting.”
