Morris led the Bobcats to a 16-5 overall record and a 9-1 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio captured the 2001 MAC regular season and conference tournament titles and earned their first appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament.

"This is quite an honor and a surprise awarded by my colleagues to me and my program," says Morris. "I am speechless but I am proud that my program is receiving recognition from winning the conference and advancing to the NCAA playoffs."

Ohio ranked in the NFHCA poll for nine consecutive weeks finishing ninth overall and 13th in the NCAA earning several awards and honors under Morris for the 2001 season. The Bobcats accolades includes three All-MAC first-team honorees, three All-MAC second-team awards, MAC Player of the Year recipient, four All-tournament team members, two NFHCA Senior All-Stars participants, two West Regional All-America first-team selections, one West Regional All-America second-team pick, and two NFHCA All-Americans.

In her inaugural campaign, Morris guided the Bobcats to a 13-9 record and a third place finish in the MAC. Under Morris, Ohio earned mid-season top 20 rankings in both the NFHCA and NCAA polls.

Shelly recorded her first victory on August 29, 1999 in her season opener over Maine, 3-0. She also led upset victories over Ball State and Kent State ending a 64-game MAC winning streak for Ball State.

In her second season as head coach, Morris guided Ohio to the MAC championship game for the first time since 1987compiling a 10-10 record, finishing second in the MAC. This noted the Bobcats highest since 1993 and marked the first time in schools history Ohio had back-to-back winning conference records.