Colorado Springs, CO - 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist, 4x Olympian and 2008 Olympic Judo Head Coach, Jason Morris, has been named by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the 2007 Development Coach of the Year. Morris' Glenville-based Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) at 584 Saratoga Rd. has become one of the top Judo programs in the US. The Development Coach of the year award comes on the heels of the JMJC's record-setting performance at the US Nationals at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, VA over the past weekend. The JMJC crowned three of their members national champions this month. 15 of Morris' athletes are competing for Olympic team berths for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Incredibly, Morris' partner in business and life, wife Teri Takemori, won the Development Coach of the year award in 2000. Each Olympic/Pan American sport's National Governing Body (NGB) is invited to recognize three coaches -- a National, Developmental and Volunteer Coach of the Year -- for their respective sport. The goals of the USOC's Coach Recognition Program are to evaluate the status of coaching as a profession and to recognize the best coaches in the US. Glenville born and raised, Jason Morris takes particular pride in developing a grass roots program of national reputation here at home. Last year USA Judo awarded Morris their "Coach of the Year" honors. Morris sees the two awards as a beneficial to the continued success of his and wife Teri's program. Morris stated, "I am honored to be selected for this award and want to thank USA Judo and the USOC for providing me with the credentials necessary to continue to be successful."