Rich Murphy

Rich Murphy became head women’s basketball coach at the University of Redlands in the summer of 2007 and also serves as a faculty member in the Department of Physical Education.

The 2024–25 season saw the Bulldogs tie for fourth in the SCIAC regular season with an 8–8 conference record and finish 13–13 overall. AJ Wick earned first-team All-SCIAC honors, while Leila Hosn was named to the second team. Wick also received first-team D3hoops.com All-Region 10 recognition. Alex Facelo posted four top-15 single-game records for three-pointers made. Hosn recorded two nine-assist games, tied for 14th most in program history, and added a seven-steal performance, ranked 11th. Wick recorded six top-23 rebound games, including 24 rebounds against Caltech—the second most in program history. She finished the season with the ninth-most points in a single season (414), second in offensive rebounds (115), second in defensive rebounds (227), second in total rebounds (342), and seventh in blocks (37). Colbi Zorich recorded the eighth-highest free-throw percentage in program history (83.8 percent), and Hosn finished with the second-most assists in a season (140).

With a young roster comprised largely of underclass students, the Bulldogs finished 13–12 in 2023–24 and advanced to the SCIAC postseason semifinal. Zorich earned All-SCIAC first-team honors, while Aliyah Anderson was named to the second team. Zorich and Anderson finished ninth and 12th, respectively, in single-season free-throw percentage at 82.2 and 81.0 percent. Freshman AJ Wick recorded 167 defensive rebounds and 239 total rebounds, the sixth- and ninth-highest totals in program history.

In 2022–23, Redlands posted a 19–8 record and earned an NCAA tournament berth for the third time in program history—all under Murphy—after winning the SCIAC postseason tournament. Seven single-season top-10 marks were set, including the program record for blocks, broken by Hannah Jerrier with 63. Alyssa Downs became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,661 career points and also set career records for three-pointers made (291) and free-throw percentage (.871). Jerrier finished her career with a program-record 146 blocks. Downs, Jerrier, and Chyanne Pagkalinawan were all named All-SCIAC.

The Bulldogs enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in 2021–22, finishing 19–5 overall and 14–2 in SCIAC play to win the regular-season title and earn the top seed in the postseason tournament. The 14 conference wins tied the program record and marked the 10th time in 14 full seasons under Murphy that Redlands reached double-digit wins. Jerrier, Downs, and Angelina Roque were named to the All-SCIAC first team, while Pagkalinawan earned second-team honors. Jerrier was also selected to the D3hoops.com All-West Region second team, and the program received special mention from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

Murphy joined the Bulldogs from Humboldt State University, where he was involved in the athletics program for nine years as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and physical education instructor. Most recently, he served as assistant women’s basketball coach, overseeing recruiting and contributing across all aspects of the Division II program. During the 2006–07 season, he helped guide the Lumberjacks back to the NCAA Championships for the first time in 11 years, finishing third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Murphy has also worked with men’s basketball programs at Humboldt State, Columbia College, and De Anza College. Throughout his career, he has taught a range of physical education courses, as well as Spanish.

Murphy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, a teaching credential, and a Master of Science degree from Humboldt State University. As a student-athlete, he competed for the Lumberjacks for two seasons as a shooting guard, earning All-Conference first-team honors twice and being named team MVP both years. In 1993–94, he received second-team All–West Region recognition, was named Humboldt State Male Athlete of the Year in 1994, and was later voted to the university’s All-Century Team. He was inducted into the Humboldt State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Prior to attending Humboldt State, Murphy competed in basketball at Moorpark College.

In his spare time, Murphy enjoys competing in and watching a wide range of sports and spending time with his family.