Justin Morrow ’10 (men’s soccer) has been named a recipient of the Frazier Thompson Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to inclusion and belonging by Monogram Club members and others in the Notre Dame community. The award is named in honor of Frazier Thompson ’47 (track & field), Notre Dame’s first Black Monogram winner.
Morrow was a standout on the Notre Dame men’s soccer team from 2006-09, earning four Monograms and serving as a team captain during his senior season. The Cleveland, Ohio, native was an All-Big East midfielder, who also earned conference recognition for his academic accomplishments. Morrow graduated from the Mendoza College of Business with a finance degree and was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2010 Major League Soccer (MLS) Draft. He played 12 seasons in the MLS with San Jose and Toronto FC before retiring in 2021.
In 2020, Morrow co-founded Major League Soccer’s player-led Black Players for Change Coalition (BPC). BPC consists of over 170 players, coaches and staff members of MLS clubs working to bridge the gap in racial equality. BPC is committed to tackling the racial injustices that have limited Black people from having an equitable stake in the game of soccer and society. Since its founding, BPC has transformed calls for justice into action – broadening access to the game in underserved communities, fostering pathways for diverse representation in coaching and executive roles, and advancing education and advocacy to confront racism in the sport. For this work, BPC was honored as the 2020 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year.
In 2023, Morrow was named the inaugural Head of Sports Programs and Partnerships at the USC Race and Equity Center. In this role, he works with leaders across intercollegiate and professional sports to advance inclusion initiatives, demonstrating the power of sport to drive equity, opportunity, and positive change at the highest level. His work has engaged major sport organizations, including Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games (LA28), Major League Baseball, and the National Women’s Soccer League, in developing programs and strategies that create meaningful, lasting impact.
Morrow is a dedicated community advocate, including successfully helping to end juvenile life without parole in Ohio and partnering with the City of Cleveland on community safety programs. He also serves in governance roles at U.S. Soccer and the International Olympic Committee, helping to shape policy and promote equity across the sport at the national and global levels. In recognition of his leadership in these areas, he was named a 2023 recipient of the ACC Unite Award, which was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league’s member institutions who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice.
“I am honored to be recognized with the Frazier Thompson Award as I know that this work is bigger than any one person,” Morrow said. “I stand alongside the community of athletes using sport as a force for good, including those who came before me and whose leadership made it possible for me to do this work. This recognition is a timely reminder that the values of inclusion are needed in both sport and society, and I remain committed to turning those values into action.”
The Notre Dame Athletics Department and Monogram Club announced the creation of the Frazier Thompson Award in 2021. The Monogram Club works with Athletics leadership to align the award with other initiatives related to the Together Irish platform. Together Irish builds on the University’s Spirit of Inclusion, and invites student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, alumni, supporters and community members to join in the work needed to create sustainable progress and change.
“The Monogram Club is proud to bestow the Frazier Thompson Award upon Justin Morrow for his tremendous work that focuses on inclusion, which is at the heart of what the award represents,” Monogram Club President Jeff Faine ‘03 (football) said. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see how Justin uses his platform to make a difference in many aspects of society, including the sports world. His legacy is defined not only by the success he achieved on the soccer field, but, more importantly, by how he continues to positively impact the lives of others.”
As a Frazier Thompson Award recipient, Morrow will receive a $10,000 grant to be donated to an organization whose work aligns with Together Irish commitments. Grants are funded by the creation of the Frazier Thompson Award Fund, generously gifted and endowed through the benefaction of former Monogram Club president Don Casey ’82, ’83 (swimming) and his wife, Ann.
Morrow is the second recipient of the Frazier Thompson Award. Daelin Hayes ‘20 (football) was the inaugural honoree in 2022. Morrow will be recognized for receiving the Frazier Thompson Award during the Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Legacy Weekend, which will be held on campus Oct. 17-19.
