NAU Coach

[n.ogdencat]

http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/04/12/memphis-murphy-take-over-nau-lumberjacks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Northern Arizona has hired Memphis assistant Jack Murphy as its basketball coach.

Murphy replaces Dave Brown, who served as interim coach last season after Mike Adras abruptly left the program Dec. 9. The Lumberjacks finished 5-24 and 1-15 in the Big Sky Conference, ending the season on a school-record 16-game losing streak.

The 32-year-old Murphy spent three seasons as an assistant to Josh Pastner at Memphis after being an advance scout for the NBA's Denver Nuggets for three years.

Prior to that, Murphy worked with Pastner on Lute Olson's staff at Arizona. Murphy spent eight years (1998-2006) at Arizona as a team manager, recruiting coordinator, administrative assistant, video coordinator and director of operations.

 

[heyoh22]

There is a lot of grumbling in Arizona about this selection. Many feel that NAU could recruit in-state and get kids that are now going out of state to play D1 ball.

David Grace, assistant at Oregon State has connections to AZ and was supposed to be up for consideration, and was contacted by the search committee, but never had an interview.

Weber has recruited and followed several AZ kids in the past and current classes, the new coach will not start out with any local connections.

 

[jon]

I'm hearing some pretty good things from NAU fans. Murphy started his career with U of Arizona and was there a long time. He has NBA ties (3 years with Denver Nuggets) and was at a high-level program at Memphis the last 3 years. I think his youth (32), and good pedigree will go over pretty well.

It's a big recruiting job... they were awful last year and there has been rumors of guys transferring, it's a big job. I think a young, energetic guy like Murphy will go over well.

 

[mt jack]

There is a lot of grumbling in Arizona about this selection. Many feel that NAU could recruit in-state and get kids that are now going out of state to play D1 ball.

David Grace, assistant at Oregon State has connections to AZ and was supposed to be up for consideration, and was contacted by the search committee, but never had an interview.

Weber has recruited and followed several AZ kids in the past and current classes, the new coach will not start out with any local connections.

I don't live in Flagstaff and I have limited connections with the athletic department but what I've heard from fans I know and read on the internet is the opposite, heyoh22. This signing has produced some excitement and interest in alum friends who've never shown much in the past.

Coach Murphy spent parts of his childhood in Prescott, Arizona and he graduated from and coached (recruiting coordinator for Lute Olson) @ U of Arizona. That sounds like at least some in-state connections to me.

I do agree with you that Weber State (and many out of state schools) have done a better job than NAU of recruiting Arizona players. Time will tell whether Coach Murphy can change this.

 

[oldrunner]

His first recruiting class is going to be a lot like Rahe's first class; a lot of lightly recruited JC kids. That is just the reality of getting this late of a start. He may get lucky with one or two of these kids, and that is all it may take to get the ball rolling. I hope he does get it going. The more good teams we have in the Sky, the better. I hope that, in the near future, teams will fear the trip to NAU.