 Morton began his professional career in 1969 as assistant football and head wrestling coach at Moline High School in Illinois, and served there through 1971.His successes at Moline High earned him his first collegiate position as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from 1971 to 1976.He then moved on to North Dakota State University as offensive backfield coach from 1977 to 1978 and was named head coach there in 1979.