Patrick Murphy (softball coach)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Murphy is an American softball
coach and the current head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide Softball team
. Murphy built one of the most successful college softball
programs east of the Mississippi River
, taking Alabama to seven Women's College World Series
appearances (2000, '03, '05, '06, '08, '09 & '11) since 2000, which ranks third in the NCAA, with only Arizona
(9) and UCLA
(8) making more appearances in that stretch. Murphy has also served as the hitting coach for the Canadian National Team
in the 2004 Olympics
and as an assistant coach for the United States national softball team
in the summer of 2009. On June 9, 2011, Murphy announced that he was leaving Alabama to take the head coaching position at LSU. Three days later on June 12, 2011, Murphy announced he was returning to Alabama before signing a contract at Louisiana State, saying Alabama is where his heart was.
* Interim head coach.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
coach and the current head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide Softball team
Alabama Crimson Tide softball
The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. It is currently led by head coach Patrick Murphy and assistant coaches Alyson Habetz and Stephanie VanBrakle...
. Murphy built one of the most successful college softball
College softball
College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.As with other intercollegiate...
programs east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, taking Alabama to seven Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
appearances (2000, '03, '05, '06, '08, '09 & '11) since 2000, which ranks third in the NCAA, with only Arizona
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
(9) and UCLA
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
(8) making more appearances in that stretch. Murphy has also served as the hitting coach for the Canadian National Team
Canada women's national softball team
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=white| 5th || 1996 Atlanta|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=white| 8th || 2000 Sydney|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=white| 5th || 2004 Athens...
in the 2004 Olympics
Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States won the gold while Australia took silver and Japan , the bronze....
and as an assistant coach for the United States national softball team
United States women's national softball team
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=white|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=white...
in the summer of 2009. On June 9, 2011, Murphy announced that he was leaving Alabama to take the head coaching position at LSU. Three days later on June 12, 2011, Murphy announced he was returning to Alabama before signing a contract at Louisiana State, saying Alabama is where his heart was.
Year-by-year record
| School | Year | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NW Missouri State Northwest Missouri State University Northwest Missouri State University is a state university in Maryville, Missouri. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum.... * |
1995 | 28 | 20 | .583 |
| Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide softball The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. It is currently led by head coach Patrick Murphy and assistant coaches Alyson Habetz and Stephanie VanBrakle... |
1999 | 39 | 26 | .600 |
| Alabama | 2000 | 66 | 14 | .825 |
| Alabama | 2001 | 50 | 11 | .820 |
| Alabama | 2002 | 46 | 21 | .687 |
| Alabama | 2003 | 49 | 21 | .700 |
| Alabama | 2004 | 45 | 20 | .692 |
| Alabama | 2005 | 63 | 15 | .808 |
| Alabama | 2006 | 54 | 11 | .831 |
| Alabama | 2007 | 55 | 10 | .846 |
| Alabama | 2008 | 58 | 8 | .879 |
| Alabama | 2009 | 54 | 11 | .830 |
| Alabama | 2010 | 52 | 11 | .825 |
| Alabama | 2011 | 51 | 9 | .860 |
| OVERALL | 710 | 208 | .774 | |
Academic degrees
- Northern Iowa, 1988 B.S. in History Education
- Southwestern Louisiana, 1992, M.S. in Mass Communication