When coach Morgan McGhee (RU-2021 & 2022) steps onto the turf at Ken White Field, she returns to familiar ground. She once celebrated goals here with her lacrosse stick raised. Now she watches the game from the coaching box, reading plays and guiding athletes. 
The view has changed, but the reverence is the same. Reinhardt Women’s Lacrosse helped her become a leader who set a high standard on the field, and she finished her career as one of the program’s top playmakers.
In June 2025, Jonathan Burton, Executive Director of Athletics, announced McGhee as the new head coach for Reinhardt Women’s Lacrosse and celebrated her All-American playing career. He credits her with helping establish the program’s foundation and expresses excitement to see her leave her mark on a team she once helped build. The program shaped her during her playing years. Now she leads it forward.
Morgan McGhee competing as a student-athlete. (Reinhardt University)
McGhee recognized Reinhardt’s potential early. As a freshman, she saw her team advance to the national level and understood what the Eagles could become. “I saw how big our ceiling could be,” she said.
Her senior season deepened her understanding of leadership. On a postseason trip to Kentucky, the team bus broke down on a quiet highway after a long day of travel. The moment could have drained morale. Instead, music rose from the back of the bus. Teammates chose joy, even in frustration. Morgan watched the group shift the atmosphere. “I realized joy can appear in moments when it seems impossible,” she said. The unity created on the roadside carried further than any drill.
Weeks later, two early fouls forced McGhee to the sideline during a postseason game. She watched teammates step into roles she once held. They carried the team to victory. “I saw our strength as a team, not as a collection of individual stars,” she said. She learned leadership expands when everyone shares in the work.
McGhee’s junior year injury also reshaped her. A torn hamstring kept her off the field for the first time in her career. Until then, she had always felt durable and expected to contribute through play. Cheering from the sideline showed her how much she had received from others and how much she needed to give when she could not step into action. The experience taught her leadership continues even when participation looks different.
One season earlier, COVID-19 restrictions introduced another type of challenge. Classes moved online. Practices paused. The pace of campus life slowed. Morgan missed the face-to-face connection, but she learned patience and steadiness during a year defined by uncertainty.
These experiences now guide McGhee’s coaching philosophy. She encourages honesty when pain signals something deeper and teaches her athletes to protect a full season rather than risk long-term strength for a short-term gain. “When you tell the truth about what hurts, you protect your ability to finish strong,” she said. She believes smart choices create sustained success, and trust builds confidence.
Today, Morgan mentors young women on the same field where she grew into her own leadership. She now helps future coaches, business owners, and community leaders discover what Reinhardt once revealed to her. The University shaped her as an athlete and a leader. Now she guides the next generation of Eagles.
Your gift to the Annual Fund supports these full-circle stories and helps build the next season of growth at Reinhardt University.
