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RFH 2010, Colgate Sports

'Gate Hires Lacrosse Coach

Wed, Jul 20, 2011

'Gate Hires Lacrosse Coach

Colgate Director of Athletics David Roach today announced today that Mike Murphy is the new head coach of the men’s lacrosse team. He succeeds Jim Nagle, who recently became head coach at SUNT Stony Brook.

Murphy spent the past eight seasons as an assistant coach at Army. He was the defensive coordinator for the Black Knights who consistently ranked among the best defensive teams both in the Patriot League and nationally. 

"I'm very excited that Mike has chosen to join the Colgate Athletic family and continue the success of our national caliber program,” said Roach. "With 14 years experience, he has a wealth of knowledge of lacrosse, particularly the Patriot League. We look forward to the future of our lacrosse program."

During his eight years at West Point, Murphy helped lead the Black Knights to three NCAA Tournament appearances (2004-05, 2010), two Patriot League regular season titles and one Patriot League tournament championship in 2010. During Army’s run in 2010, the Black Knights finished third in the Patriot League in scoring defense (9.31 gpg), while holding then No.2 Syracuse to just eight goals in 9-8 upset victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Murphy helped Bill Henderson win Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors. Henderson also collected All-Patriot League first-team plaudits and was tabbed a NCAA All-American. Henderson and Army goalkeeper Tom Palesky both earned honorable mention All-America honors that season. 

During his 14-years of coaching Murphy has mentored 17 All-Americans, 80 All-Conference performers, eight Patriot League Players of the Year, one member of the 2010 Team USA and one finalist for the 2011 Tewaaraton Trophy. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to be given the opportunity to be the head coach at Colgate,” stated Murphy. “Colgate is the perfect fit for me. I can't wait to start working under Dave Roach, who has brought a lot of excitement around campus.” 

Murphy joined Army after spending two seasons at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where he was in charge of the Big Red's defensive unit and face-off personnel. He also served as an assistant on Denison's football coaching staff and held a position in the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation as an instructor. 

Before his work at Denison, the University of New Hampshire graduate served as head assistant coach/defensive coordinator at Wingate University from 1999-2001. The Beverly, Mass., native helped the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Division III National Semifinal appearance in school history. 

Murphy also did one-year stints at Pfeiffer University and Merrimack College after his graduation from New Hampshire in the spring of 1996, where he was a three-year letterman for the then-Division I Wildcats.

Source: Colgate

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