|
Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
The women's basketball team has all the essential
parts to make a run deep into the NCAA
tournament in the upcoming season, but they
will have to do it without the man who brought
those parts together as head coach.
After fi ve years as the head coach of the
women's basketball team, Dave Murphy has
called it quits. Murphy shocked the Metro community
with the abrupt announcement of his
retirement on June 12. He had given no word
or inclination of his retirement in previous interviews
and there was no indication of possible
health issues. His tenure at Metro offi cially ends
on June 30.
Metro Athletic Director Joan McDermott,
who hired Murphy, was also caught off guard by
his sudden resignation.
"I thought he would stick around a couple
more years," McDermott said.
The players were just as surprised and fi gured
Murphy would've hung around for their
senior years. Senior guard Paige Powers, who
was recruited by Murphy, was informed of the
news through an e-mail that every player received.
"We were all a little shocked," Powers said.
"But we support his decision to step back and
spend time with his grandkids. He said they
are all over the country, so we respect his decision."
Murphy had just fi nished a 24-7 season and
led the Roadrunners to the fi nals of the conference
tournament and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
Both ended in losses to conference rival Regis.
The 2007-2008 team looks primed for an
even better season, having lost only one senior
to graduation and returning 12 players, including
seven veteran seniors. Murphy's resignation
raises the question as to why he would
leave with the return of an experienced roster
and the potential for a serious championship
run.
"He'd have to answer that question," said
McDermott, who was also unsure of the reasons
for his departure at this point in his career.
Although Murphy was unavailable for comment,
he said in a press release that he wanted
to spend more time with his wife, his six children
and seven grandchildren.
"Metro State is a very special place of which
I have been privileged to be a part of," Murphy
said in a statement on June 12. "I will miss the
sincere support of my colleagues and everyone
associated with the athletic program that have
embraced and supported the women's basketball
program over the past fi ve years. I wish the
players, administration and fans great success
in the years to come."
Despite Murphy's unexpected exodus, it
doesn't seem he left on bad terms with the college
and McDermott understood his reasons
and said she wished him the best in his future
endeavors.
"I think he just had a lot of refl ection on himself
and his family." McDermott said. "I think he
just decided it was time to spend this time with
his family. We'll miss his upbeat and warm personality
as well as his high energy. He was so
great for not only the women's basketball program,
but for our entire athletic program."
After Murphy served four seasons as head
coach for the University of Colorado-Colorado
Springs' women's basketball team, Murphy was
hired on as head coach for the women's program
at Metro for the 2002-2003 season. Murphy directed
the team to a 13-15 record in his fi rst season,
and earned a berth in the Rocky Mountain
Athletic Conference tournament.
Murphy posted a 91-54 record in his fi ve
years at Metro and led the Roadrunners to fi ve
RMAC tournament appearances, an RMAC tournament
championship in 2004-2005 and two
NCAA tournament appearances.
His best season at Metro was the 2004-2005
season when his team had an overall record
of 24-7, went 15-4 in the conference, won the
RMAC conference tournament and given a spot
in the NCAA tournament.
The search now begins for a new head coach
for the women's basketball team and, according
to McDermott, there have been many inquiries
about the position. Todd Dickson, the likely
front-runner for the job, served under Murphy
as an assistant for fi ve years. He already knows
the players and may institute the same system
Murphy installed to keep the team going in the
same direction of success.
|
|
|
