UTEP’s Ken Murphy named head volleyball coach

Ken Murphy

Ken MurphyA seasoned professional with 16 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level was named the new head coach of the NAU women’s volleyball program this week.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ken Murphy to the Lumberjack family,” said Lisa Campos, vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics. “His experience as a head coach and his demonstrated commitment to student-athletes exemplify the qualities integral to the Lumberjack culture of excellence. He is passionate about the sport of volleyball and committed to developing student-athletes on and off the court.”

Murphy recently finished his seventh year at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was named the 2012 Conference USA Coach of the Year. He was the second-most tenured head coach in school history, as he completed his stint with the Miners with an overall record of 82-135, including four Conference USA Tournament appearances. Murphy led UTEP to a 35-26 record over the last two seasons with five players earning All-Conference USA honors. In 2012, Murphy had two student-athletes earn American Volleyball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-America honors.

“I have a lot of faith in [Campos’] vision for NAU Athletics and our ability to expand on the past successes of the program,” Murphy said, adding that NAU is “the sort of place that I wish I would have attended college, and I’m excited about the opportunity to coach in that environment.”

Murphy previously coached at the University of Idaho and Colorado State University.