Women's Basketball

University of Redlands Names Rich Murphy
as Head Women's Basketball Coach

Following a nation-wide search, Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez announced today that Rich Murphy has been named Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Redlands.  He also will serve as a member of the faculty for the Department of Physical Education.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," stated Coach Murphy.  "I look forward to working with the Bulldog women's basketball team and building upon the already-established program.  Overall, this is a really good change for me and my family."

Murphy joins the Bulldogs from Humboldt State University where he has been involved in the athletics program either as a student-athlete or assistant coach/ P.E. instructor for nine of the past 13 years.  Since 2004, he has served as the Lumberjacks' Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, heading up the recruiting responsibilities and working in all aspects of the Division II program.  In 2006-07, he helped guide the team back to the NCAA Championships after an 11-year absence, finishing third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).

"I believe Coach Murphy is a great fit for our department, our women's basketball program, and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)," commented Martinez.  "I am confident in his ability to provide the leadership necessary for our young women to have a tremendous educational experience, while also competing for the conference championship."

In addition, Murphy has worked with the men's basketball programs at Humboldt, Columbia College and De Anza Community College.  Throughout his career, he has gained teaching experience in a variety of Physical Education courses, along with Spanish.

Murphy completed his Bachelor of Arts, teaching credential, and Master of Science at Humboldt State University.   He competed for the Lumberjacks for two seasons as a shooting guard.  He landed on the All-Conference team on two occasions and was voted the team's MVP both years of his career.  Murphy was named the 1994 HSU Male Athlete of the Year and voted onto HSU's All-Century Team.  In 2002, he was inducted into the HSU Athletic Hall of Fame.  Prior to attending Humboldt, Murphy competed in basketball at Moorpark Junior College.

Murphy will begin at the University of Redlands on July 2, 2007.