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Aug. 26, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas men's golf coach John Fields announced Tuesday the hiring of Ryan Murphy, the head men's golf coach at NCAA Division II power St. Edward's (Texas) University, as the new assistant coach for the UT men's golf program. Murphy assumes his coaching position immediately and replaces Steve Keasler, who recently accepted a position as the athletics director of the Midlothian Independent School District.

"Ryan brings tremendous confidence to our team, having been a successful player and coach," Fields said. "He is a proven winner as a coach, given his success as an assistant at New Mexico and as the head coach at St. Edward's. As a player, Ryan was a great, great competitor, one of those guys that never gave up." 

Murphy served as the head coach at St. Edward's during the last three seasons and led the Hilltoppers to national prominence. St. Edward's finished in a tie for first at the 2008 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships, before falling in a three-team playoff for the national title. The Hilltoppers qualified for the NCAA Championships by posting a 31-stroke victory in the eight-team NCAA Men's South Central Regional Championship at the Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin.

Prior to his stint at St. Edward's, Murphy was the assistant men's golf coach at his alma mater, The University of New Mexico, where he helped the Lobos to a fifth-place showing at the 2005 NCAA Championships and three consecutive Mountain West Conference titles.

"As a golf coach, you won't find a better man than John Fields, and I'm happy to join him at The University of Texas," Murphy said. "He was a father figure to me as a player. When I got out of college and started getting into coaching, he really became a mentor and friend to me in this profession." 

Murphy played college golf under Fields at New Mexico from 1994-97. An Academic All-American, Murphy played in four NCAA Championships, helping the Lobos to a sixth-place team finish at the 1996 NCAA Championship and placing 25th individually at the 1997 NCAA Championship.

"Ryan will give us a different perspective in terms of competitive golf," Fields added. "Having coached him for four years in NCAA Championship events, I look forward to participating in NCAA Championships alongside Ryan here at Texas, as coaches."

Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in criminology in 1997 and a master's degree in sport administration in 2001 from New Mexico.