Andrew Murphy joined Alabama A&M as the head men’s and women’s track & field and women’s cross country coach on December 6, 2021, bringing with him 12 years of collegiate coaching experience, 11 of which came at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and NCAA Division I level.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY (2009-11, 2017-21, ASSISTANT CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD COACH)
Most recently Murphy spent four years, and six overall, as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at his alma mater Howard University. He served in those roles from 2009-11 before returning for a four-year run from 2017-21.
In his first two years with the Bison he helped lead the women’s cross country program to consecutive top three finishes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) while coaching Ashley Hodges to the 2010 league individual title. She would also set the conference’s 5,000-meter indoor championship record and be one of 17 All-MEAC performers during that time.
Upon his return, Murphy built upon those accomplishments as he helped develop individuals that would break 11 school records across men’s and women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. In addition to those marks, he would see Sydney Benson (2019) and Melanie White (2021) earn trips to the NCAA Division I Championships as members of the 4x400 meter relay.
Most recently the Bison notched runner-up finishes by the men’s and women’s teams at the 2021 league cross country championships while earning eight All-MEAC honors across both squads.
The 2019-20 season, while impacted by COVID-19, would still see Howard delivering at a high level as Gavin Williams earned All-MEAC recognition during cross country, a season that would also see 11 individuals named to the league’s All-Academic Team, and posting a pair of program records during the indoor campaign. Williams would set one of those in the mile with Dasia Wilson earning the other in the 800-meters.
It would be a steady progression for both programs following three school records and multiple All-MEAC honors in Murphy’s first year back in 2017-18 Coming off that performance, the Bison would both earn United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team honors and Destiny Stanford claimed All-MEAC at the 2018 cross country championships.
CAL STATE EAST BAY (2014-15, ASSISTANT CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD COACH)
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Murphy spent the 2014-15 season at NCAA Division II California State East Bay in Hayward, California.
During that time he served as the meet director for all home cross country and track & field meets for the Pioneers and helped produce four record-setting performances that season. Included among those would be the development of Marquise Cherry who earned All-American honors in the triple jump.
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (2011-14, ASSISTANT CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD COACH)
Following an impressive high school coaching stretch, Murphy got his start at the NCAA Division I level with MEAC member Morgan State, serving as assistant coach for the cross country and track & field programs for three years from 2011-14.
In just three short seasons he would contribute to a program that would produce three individual league titles and 19 All-MEAC selections. The latter would include five in cross country during a tremendous 2013-14 campaign. That year the Bears women earned an NCAA Regional ranking and finished second at the conference championships.
That effort would be spearheaded by Ashley Seymour, who claimed the first individual MEAC Championship in team history and would become the program’s first National Athlete of the Week as named by USTFCCCA. She also was named the MEAC Outstanding Athlete of the Year for her efforts.
In addition to the accomplishments on the course and track, Murphy was also responsible for helping to run the Morgan State Legacy Track & Field Meet, an event that generated revenue for the program and featured more than 30 teams from seven conferences.
HIGH SCHOOL COACHING CAREER: MEADE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (2007-09, ASSISTANT COACH), HIGH POINT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (2005-07, HEAD COACH)
Before jumping to the college ranks, Murphy helped a pair of high school programs in two year stints, first with High Point Senior High School from 2005-07 and Meade Senior High School from 2007-09.
With Meade he was part of a program that won three outdoor and two indoor state championships as well as four county and region titles. Additionally, he helped guide better than 40 individuals to the Maryland State Championships, a group which would produce 12 individual titles to go with nine program records.
Along with those efforts, he oversaw the development of the Meade Stampede Invitational, an event that grew to become the largest invitational meet in the state with more than 600 athletes from 41 schools and three states.
As the head coach at High Point he was responsible for all academic, athletic and social development of all student-athletes within the track & field program. He also oversaw the Francis G. Tracey Stadium Improvement Plan that included the design and resurfacing of a seven- lane all-weather track.
On the course he helped lead the Eagles to the program’s first appearance at the state championships in 12 years.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
Murphy earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Howard University and also holds certifications with the United States of America Track & Field (USATF).
The latter includes a Level I Coaching Certification and Level II Coaching Certifications in Sprints/Hurdles/Relays and Endurance Events. Additionally, he is certified through the American Red Cross for CPR and First Aid.
