Michael Murphy, a 25-year veteran at the collegiate coaching level, has been named as the director of basketball operations for the Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball program, head coach Bob Marlin announced on Thursday.
The hiring of Murphy is subject to approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors.
"I’ve known Mike for 18 years and he’s an excellent basketball coach," Marlin said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. He brings to our program head coaching experience and a great basketball mind. He understands the game and knows all of the right things. He will be a valuable asset to our program."
Murphy joins the Louisiana men’s basketball program after serving for 10 years as head women’s basketball coach at Troy. Murphy also spent three seasons as head coach at Viterbo (Wisc.) and served on staffs at Alabama and Coastal Carolina.
Named the third head coach in Troy history in 2002, Murphy steadily improved the Trojans as the school transitioned from the Atlantic Sun Conference to the Sun Belt. He recruited 14 all-conference players in his tenure at Troy along with 75 academic all-conference selections.
Murphy spent seven years at Alabama where he worked with both the men’s and women’s programs. For five seasons, Murphy was an assistant on the women’s staff for Rick Moody where he helped the Crimson Tide reach the postseason each year. He was an administrative assistant on the men’s team from 1995-97 on David Hobbs’ staff that included Marlin and current Ragin’ Cajuns assistant Neil Hardin.
"It’s indeed an honor and a privilege to work again with Bob Marlin," Murphy said. "I’ve had the privilege to work with him before (at Alabama) and I have a great deal of respect for him, both as a coach and a person. It’s a great opportunity to work for the Ragin’ Cajuns and it was something that I couldn’t pass up."
Murphy served as head coach at Viterbo from 1992-95, winning the Midwest Classic Conference championship in 1992 and the National Catholic Championship in 1995. He led the team to a pair of NAIA Top-25 finishes (No. 22 in 1994, No. 8 in 1995).
He spent four seasons as an assistant at Coastal Carolina and helped the Chanticleers to three Big South Conference championships and a trip to the 1991 NCAA Tournament.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
