Dave Morrow
Dave Morrow was the 1991 NCAA National Player
of the Year, but he wasn't always a star. As a high
school defenseman from Detroit, Mich., Morrow lacked
knowledge of the game and polished skills. But in high
school he went to Top 205 recruiting camp anyway in
search of exposure to college coaches. There, surviving
only on unparalleled intensity and raw athletic ability,
Morrow drew the attention of Princeton University coach
Bill Tierney, who would later recruit Morrow to
Princeton. While at Princeton, Morrow considered
quitting the game, but after Tierney convinced him to
stick it out, he quickly developed into one of the
nation's best defensemen. He earned first-team
All-American honors in 1991 and 1992 and won the 1992
National Championship. During that 1992 season, Morrow's
father noticed the large number of aluminum shafts the
players were using could be easily bent. So he headed
back to his Michigan tubing business and produced four
titanium poles. Morrow and his teammates immediately
fell in love with them. The Tigers subsequent run to the
title created a buzz around the titanium shafts. Coaches
and players began calling, looking to get their hands on
the poles. The word spread and after graduation, Morrow
started Warrior Lacrosse, after some encouragement from
John Davie, who was starting a graphic design business
with his brother. Davie, who's still heavily involved
with Warrior, helped Morrow develop some cutting edge
advertisements. In one photo shoot to promote Warrior
Lacrosse, former Maryland goalie Jim Beardmore got a
little overzealous and nearly fell off a cliff. In
another, a live king cobra started jumping and nearly
left its cage. The risks seem to have paid off. Now,
Warrior is one of the biggest manufacturers in the
sport.
Company Timeline
1992 – Princeton Junior Dave Morrow and his
dad develop the first titanium lacrosse shaft
prototypes. They are twice as strong and half the weight
of aluminum or wood. Morrow and his Princeton teammates
use these prototypes en route to the National
Championship.
1993 – Dave Morrow starts Warrior lacrosse in
his Princeton dorm room. The name Warrior is taken from
his high school team in Michigan – the Brother Rice
Warriors.
1994 – Warrior’s titanium shafts take the
lacrosse world by storm, becoming a must for all
defensive players at the NCAA level.
1998 – Warrior sponsors the victorious United
States National team at the World Games in Baltimore,
MD. This legitimizes Warrior as a true lacrosse brand.
2004 – Warrior is acquired by privately-held
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. Morrow stays on as
President and CEO.
2005 – Warrior acquires California-based
manufacturer Innovative Hockey and establishes Warrior
Hockey. Warrior hockey sticks are an immediate hit in
the NHL, and are quickly recognized as the highest
quality hockey sticks available.
References
Warrior Lacrosse Official Website
External links
