Focusing on mental health is not only important to Reggie Morris as the boys\u2019 basketball head coach at Raytown South High School, but also as a counselor at the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI help students who are going through depression, anxiety, trauma, loss of life and injury,\u201d said Morris, who boasts more than 30 years of coaching experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what\u2019s his overall message to them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI 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\u2019re stronger than the circumstances that are presented to us. This provides a platform that will be there the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a> at the 2026 Kansas City Sports Awards on August 26 at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo earn the Shut Out the Stigma Advocate Award just means that people are recognizing that I\u2019m not just an X\u2019s and O\u2019s guy on the basketball court, but I\u2019m also about the X\u2019s and O\u2019s of life,\u201d Morris said. \u201cAnything I can do to help my young men and my students understand and how to deal with the pressures of life, that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. I\u2019m very blessed to be in this opportunity, and I\u2019m looking forward to continuing to assist in helping to develop young people to their full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMental health is so critical for our young kids,\u201d said Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. \u201cThe 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\u2019 story and being able to showcase that to our Kansas City Sports Awards audience of 750 people is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCoach Morris has unparalleled success on the basketball court but has made an even bigger mark outside of the gymnasium,\u201d said Jenny Housley, Blue KC President. \u201cWhile he\u2019s seen as their highly successful basketball coach, he\u2019s also seen in the community as a leader, educator, friend and supporter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The award features the name of the\u00a0Shut Out the Stigma\u00a0initiative, which is a partnership between the Royals and Blue KC \u2013 the Official Health Insurance Partner of the Royals \u2013 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<\/a>, addresses the mental health of his players from the moment they gather to kick off a new season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe start by having our players take a deep breath, letting go of things that they are experiencing,\u201d he said. \u201cThen, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s coming off a trip to the state semifinals as he begins his fifth season at Raytown South.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were able to experience some success last year, and I\u2019m hoping that will catapult us to have success this year,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Morris, it won\u2019t just be about continuing to teach X\u2019s and O\u2019s on the court, as he\u2019ll also focus on building character to create a positive culture within his basketball program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou never know what people are going through, and I want each of my players to be a great teammate and a great friend,\u201d he said. \u201cI help them understand that every day is a new opportunity. We can\u2019t allow our past to dictate our future. We have to shut the door on things holding us back and keep fighting.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\r\n\t\t\tWas this helpful?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t