Mark Morris leaves Charlotte Checkers for St. Lawrence University

Mark Morris is leaving the Charlotte Checkers after one season to return to college coaching.

Morris, coach of the Carolina Hurricanes’ American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte for one season, has accepted the head coaching job at St. Lawrence (N.Y.) University, it was announced Tuesday. The Hurricanes have begun a search for Morris’ replacement.

“We respect Mark’s decision to return home to coach at St. Lawrence,” Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. “We thank him for his work in Charlotte this season and wish him nothing but the best with the Saints.”

At St. Lawrence, an NCAA Division I program in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, Morris replaces Greg Carvel, who left in March to be head coach at the University of Massachusetts.

Morris, who coached 13 seasons at Clarkson University, has won more than 300 games at the professional and college levels. The Checkers finished this past season 36-32-8, missing the AHL playoffs.

Morris, 58, took over in Charlotte last year for Jeff Daniels, who was named to the Hurricanes’ pro scouting staff.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Mark Morris leaves Charlotte Checkers for St. Lawrence University."