Eastern Michigan Athletics

Head Coach Rob Murphy
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka

EMU Names Rob Murphy Head Men's Basketball Coach

4/21/2011 11:20:09 AM | Men's Basketball

New coach spent the last seven years as an assistant at Syracuse University

Photo Gallery.

Click Here for an Exclusive Web Interview.

Click Here to Re-Watch the Announcement.

Press Clippings.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) —
Rob Murphy, an assistant coach at Syracuse University for the past seven years, has been named the new head men's basketball coach at Eastern Michigan University, Director of Athletics Dr. Derrick Gragg announced today, April 21.

The 38-year-old Murphy is familiar with the state of Michigan after spending six years coaching in the Detroit Public School League (1996-2002), three as the head boys basketball coach at Detroit Crockett Technical High School. He led Crockett to the Class B State Championship in 2000-01.

"We are excited about having Rob Murphy leading our men's basketball program into the future," EMU Director of Athletics Gragg said of the addition of Murphy. "Coach Murphy has been on the staff of two outstanding college basketball programs and was also a highly successful high school head coach in Detroit, leading Crockett to the Class B State Championship in 2000-01 and was the associate head coach on the staff of the Detroit Central High School team that won the Class A state title in 1997-98. We feel that his experience with outstanding teams has prepared him for this opportunity."

Murphy will be paid $210,000 annually with a $15,000 radio stipend as part of a five-year contract and he will have incentives for victories, post-season opportunities, high level of performance in Mid-American Conference play and for actual attendance figures.

A 1996 graduate of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, Murphy was a two-year starter on the basketball team and the team's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

After graduating from Central State, Murphy returned to his hometown of Detroit to begin his coaching career at Detroit Central High School staff as the associate head coach in 1996-98. Central won the state Class A championship in 1997-98 after finishing runner-up in 1996-97.

Murphy then moved over to become the head boys basketball coach at Crockett H.S. and after his first team posted a 5-13 mark, the Rockets improved to win three consecutive Class B District titles and captured the state championship in 2000-01. His Crockett teams had a 64-27 record and he was named All-Metro Coach of the Year by the Detroit Free Press in 2000-01.

From Crockett, Murphy joined the Kent State University staff for two seasons, 2002-03 and 2003-04, and the teams turned in back-to-back 22-9 seasons on the way to two Mid-American Conference East Division crowns. Both teams were invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

After that successful two-year stint as an assistant for the Golden Flashes, Murphy joined Head Coach Jim Boeheim's Syracuse University men's basketball program as an assistant. During his seven years on the staff, the Orange recorded a 180-67 overall record and played in the post season every year, with five NCAA appearances and two NIT stops.

A native of Detroit, Murphy attended Mumford High School where he graduated in 1991 after lettering in both football and basketball, earning All-State honors in football.

He and his wife. TeNesha, have one son, Robert II (3) and a daughter, Ryann (10 months).

THE ROB MURPHY FILE
Name: Rob Murphy
Born: Detroit, Mich.
High School: Detroit Mumford
Graduated in 1991
College: Central State University - Wilberforce, Ohio
Graduated in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in education
Family: Wife: TeNesha; Son: Robert II (3-years-old), Daughter: Ryann (10 months)

COACHING EXPERIENCE
YEAR SCHOOL JOB TITLE-COACHING ASSIGNMENT HIGHLIGHTS

2010-11 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 27-8 (NCAA Tournament)
2009-10 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 30-5 (NCAA Tournament)
2008-09 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 28-10 (NIT)
2007-08 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 21-14 (NIT)
2006-07 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 24-11 (NCAA Tournament)
2005-06 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 23-12 (NCAA Tournament)
2004-05 Syracuse University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 27-7 (NCAA Tournament)
2003-04 Kent State University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 22-9 (NIT)
2002-03 Kent State University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach 21-10 (NIT)
2001-02 Detroit Crockett H.S. Head Boys Basketball Coach
2000-01 Detroit Crockett H.S. Head Boys Basketball Coach Class B District Champs
1999-00 Detroit Crockett H.S. Head Boys Basketball Coach Class B State Champs;
1998-99 Detroit Crockett H.S. Head Boys Basketball Coach Class B District Champs
1997-98 Detroit Central H.S. Associate Head Boys Basketball Coach Class A State Champs
1996-97 Detroit Central H.S. Associate Head Boys Basketball Coach Class A State runnerup


Ben Braun Video at MAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Friday, May 30
Ben Braun at MAC Hall of Fame Induction
Friday, May 30
Charles E. Ramsey - MAC Hall of Fame Induction of Ben Braun
Friday, May 30
Jack Brusewitz - MAC Hall of Fame Induction of Ben Braun
Friday, May 30