Cuesta College Athletics announces the 2023 Alberta Deutsche Fan of the Year- Don Morris. Don was an active participant in athletics all his life and when he was not finding a way to get in the action, he was happy to support those engaged in competition. He also spent a lot of time at Cuesta College as a fan of Cougar Athletics and was especially engaged and visible in the gym sports, where he was revered by local coaches Rusty Blair, Ron Barba and Casey Blair. Coach Rusty Blair said, "Don was my mentor. He was the guru of local basketball coaches and a true friend and ally of all basketball players. He will be greatly missed." Coach Barba, who grew up down the street from the Morris family noted, "I got a lot of my competitive drive from Don. He was a neighborhood dad to all of the kids." His time supporting the Cougars spanned decades, but he was especially visible and vocal when his family was competing. Don's son Cliff Morris, who still ranks 4th all time in the 400 hurdles, and Daughter Sharon Donovan (Morris) were both Cuesta athletes, while his Granddaughter Meredith Donovan just wrapped up two years of all-Conference play for the Cougars' volleyball team. In her nomination for the award, Volleyball Coach Whitney Meyer cited, "(Don's) strong support of his granddaughter and the volleyball program." "Merry's" final match was just two weeks before Don's passing on November 30, 2022.
This award was created in 2010 to honor Alberta Deutsche and her dedicated support of the Cuesta Cougars and to all those who share her passion for collegiate athletics.
Fan of the Year Award
(Est. 2010)
Alberta Deutsche Fan of the Year
2010 Monica Satterwhite
2011 Jim Battersby
2012 Frank Martinez
2013 Anthony Koeninger
2014 Tommy Gin
2015 Jani Johnson
2016 Henry Valaau
2017 Kris Ballew
2018 Mike Kinter
2019 Rob Thomas
2020 Stephanie Shinkawa
2021 Cuesta Virtual Fan
2022 Robert Meyer
2023 Don Morris
(Picture courtesy of the Morris Family)
