Ryan Murphy - Women's Golf Coach - University of Texas Athletics

Ryan Murphy

Title:
Head Coach

In nine impressive seasons at the helm of The University of Texas women’s golf program, Ryan Murphy has returned the Longhorns to the nation’s elite, winning three consecutive Big 12 Conference Championships (2017-19) for the first time in program history and posting a top-five finish at three of the last four NCAA Championships (2019, 2021, 2023). In 2022 Murphy earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors.

In the 2022-23 season, Murphy led the Longhorns to their seventh straight NCAA Championship appearance and a tied for fifth place finish. Texas is one of four programs who have advanced to the last seven NCAA Championships. The Longhorns finished second place in the stroke play portion of the 2023 NCAA Championship. Texas won the Cactus Cup and the Big 12 Match Play Championship. Murphy was named 2023 WGCA Central Region Coach of the Year.

In the 2021-22 season the Longhorns captured their fourth Big 12 Championships in the last five seasons. Freshman Bohyun Park led Texas with a third-place finish at the Big 12 Championships. The Longhorns finished runner-up at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional to punch their ticket to the NCAA Championships, where they finished in 13^th place. Park earned WGCA All-America Second Team honors.

Murphy, who as an assistant coach helped the Texas men’s golf team to the 2012 NCAA Championship, was named the fourth head women’s golf coach in program history on May 29, 2014. Murphy’s efforts have resulted in bringing some of the nation’s top prep golfers to the Forty Acres and putting the Longhorns on a steady ascent to the top of the collegiate golf world. In addition to winning the conference title, he also was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2017-19.

Under the direction of Murphy, Texas golfers have recorded 18 of the best 19 18-hole scores in program history, and each of the top-10 54-hole totals in school annals. Each of the top 18 18-hole team scores in school history have come during Murphy’s tenure. Additionally, each of the top-20 54-hole team scores in program history have been charted by Murphy’s teams.

In 2020-21, Murphy's Longhorns capped off another outstanding season by advancing to the quarterfinal round of match play at the NCAA Championships. It marked the second straight time Texas finished in the top-five as a team at the NCAA Championships. Senior Kaitlyn Papp was tabbed All-American for the fourth consecutive season, earning second-team honors along with fellow senior Agathe Laisne. Junior Sara Kouskova was tabbed honorable mention All-America.

In a 2019-20 season shortened by COVID-19, Murphy had the Longhorns ranked No. 1 nationally for the majority of the year and finished ranked No. 2 by Golfweek. Texas won three of seven tournaments in which it participated during the season and recorded three of the top-five 54-hole scores in school history en route to winning those events. Kaitlyn Papp was a first-team All-American and freshman Sophie Guo also garnered All-America honors.

In 2018-19, Murphy led the Longhorns to an historic season that culminated in the program’s first appearance in match play at the NCAA Championship and the Longhorns’ first top-five national finish since 2003. Texas was the stroke-play medalist at the 2019 NCAA Championship, giving the Longhorns their sixth victory of the season, which tied the school record first set in 1987-88. Golfstat tabbed the Longhorns No. 1 nationally in their final rankings of the season. Three Texas golfers earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association First-Team All-America honors and the Longhorns placed four in the top-10 at the NCAA Championship. Both were program firsts. Freshman Hailee Cooper, the 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, finished fourth individually at the NCAA Championship, becoming just the fourth player in program history to earn a top-five finish at the NCAA Championship and first since 1997. Junior Emilee Hoffman, sophomore Agathe Laisne and Papp all tied for 10th at the NCAA Championship. The Longhorns also won the NCAA Norman Regional, marking the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional win.

In 2019, Texas won its third consecutive Big 12 Conference Championship. The Longhorns set two league records along the way, winning the conference title by 37 strokes and also by placing its golfers in each of the top-four spots individually. Laisne captured the Big 12 Conference individual championship, becoming the program’s third Big 12 champion and first since 2011. Laisne was named the 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year. In addition, all five golfers in the championship lineup earned All-Big 12 Conference honors for the first time in Big 12 history.

In 2017-18, Murphy led the Longhorns to their second consecutive Big 12 Conference Championship, a second-place finish at the NCAA Austin Regional and a tie for 12th place at the NCAA Championship, which then marked the program’s best finish at the NCAA Championship since 2004. His team won three tournaments and also earned three individual tournament medalist honors. In 13 tournaments in 2017-18, Texas recorded nine top-five team finishes and UT golfers posted 19 rounds in the 60s.

Murphy’s mentorship of Papp resulted in her becoming the first golfer in program history to be named both the Big 12 Player of the Year and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. She was one of three First-Team All-Big 12 Conference selections for the Longhorns in 2017-18, joining senior Sophia Schubert and Hoffman. It marked the first time since 2003 that Texas had placed three people on the All-Big 12 Team in a single season.

Schubert in 2017-18 became the program’s first WGCA First-Team All-American since 1997 and Papp was named a WGCA Second-Team All-American. Schubert broke her own single-season school-record stroke average at 71.76.

In his third season of 2016-17, Murphy directed Texas to its first Big 12 Championship since the 2011 season. The Longhorns finished 13th at the NCAA Championship which, at the time, marked the best finish for Texas since a tie for 13th in 2012. The team posted 11 top-four finishes during the season, including two team wins and two individual medalists.

Murphy mentored Schubert to Honorable Mention All-America honors from both Golfweek and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. Schubert, who also was an All-Big 12 Conference selection, concluded her junior campaign with a team-best 72.49 stroke average and finished as the Longhorns’ low scorer on seven occasions, including five top-five team finishes and individual medalist honors at the Lady Buckeye Invitational.

Schubert, in August 2017, became the third Longhorn to claim the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, joining Michiko Hattori [1985] and Kelli Kuehne [1995 and 1996]. Her victory earned her exemptions into four of the five major women’s championships – The Evian Championship, the ANA Inspiration, the U.S. Open and the Women’s British Open.

Also in 2016-17, Murphy mentored freshman Greta Isabella Voelker to Big 12 Freshman of the Year accolades. She became the third golfer in program history to earn that distinction, joining Randi Meadows [1999] and Kelley Louth [2005]. Voelker posted seven top-15 finishes her rookie season, including four top-10 showings. She was the individual runner-up at the Las Vegas Collegiate, where she tied the school record for lowest 18-hole score at 65.

Fellow rookie Hoffman was the runner-up at the 2017 Big 12 Championships and earned a spot on the 2017 Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Hoffman, who was one of three collegiate golfers nationally to be selected to represent the United States at the World University Games, also tied the school record for lowest 18-hole score [65] at the Lady Paladin Invitational, winning individual medalist honors in that event with the fifth-lowest 54-hole score [210] in program history.

Murphy’s 2015-16 team earned a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Championships. The Longhorns earned seven top-five finishes in 12 events and individuals posted 12 top-10 individual finishes, led by Schubert’s five. At least four golfers finished in the top-10 at least once during the season. Texas returned to the NCAA Championship for the first time in two years, finishing 23rd.

In Murphy’s first season, he led the Longhorns to a vastly improved season, where they earned 10 top-10 team finishes, including three in the top five and a bid to the 2015 NCAA San Antonio Regional. During the 2014-15 season, Murphy coached senior Bertine Strauss into becoming one of the country’s best. Strauss earned six top-10 individual finishes, including four in the top five and the first win of her career at the Ping/ASU Invitational in April. She went on to Big 12 Player of the Year honors, qualified for the NCAA Championship and gained full LPGA membership in December of 2015.

Murphy was named the head women’s golf coach at Texas after six seasons as an assistant men’s coach for the Longhorns. During that time, Murphy recruited and developed the talents of All-Americans Dylan Frittelli, Cody Gribble, Beau Hossler, Bobby Hudson, Jordan Spieth, Brandon Stone and Julio Vegas. From 2008-14, the Longhorns recorded 19 team titles, including their first NCAA Championship title since 1972, and 12 medalist honors. Murphy was named the 2013 Jan Strickland Assistant Coach of the Year, recognizing his efforts as the top NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA assistant coach who, among other things, has helped their student-athletes both excel on the course and in the classroom.

Prior to arriving on the Forty Acres, Murphy was the men’s head golf coach at NCAA Division II power St. Edward’s [Texas] University. He led the Hilltoppers to national prominence as he guided St. Edward’s to 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.

Murphy was a four-year letterwinner for New Mexico from 1994-97 under current Texas men’s head coach John Fields. He twice earned Academic All-America honors for his performance in the classroom. Murphy had a career stroke average of 75.04 and played in the NCAA Championships each of his four seasons. He was a member of UNM’s Western Athletic Conference championship team in 1996 and helped lead the Lobos to a sixth-place tie in the 1996 NCAA Championships, their best finish since 1979. Murphy’s best career finish as an individual was a tie for sixth in the 1995 WAC Championships. His low round was 68 in both the 1995 and 1996 Taylor Made Intercollegiate, and his low tournament was 213 [-3] in the 1994 John Burns Intercollegiate.

Murphy began his coaching career as an assistant men’s coach [2001-05] at his alma mater where he helped the Lobos to a fifth-place showing at the 2005 NCAA Championships and three consecutive Mountain West Conference titles.

Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology in 1997 and a master’s degree in sport administration in 2001 from New Mexico. He married the former Terry Furuta in June 2010, and the couple has two sons – Aiden and Jackson.

THE MURPHY FILE

COACHING EXPERIENCE
• New Mexico, Assistant Men's Golf Coach [2001-05]
• St. Edward's, Head Men's Golf Coach [2005-08]
• Texas, Assistant Men's Golf Coach [2008-14]
• Texas, Head Women's Golf Coach [2014-present]

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
• College: New Mexico [1994-97]
• Professional golf [1997-2005]

MURPHY YEAR-BY-YEAR

Year	School	Position	Conference	Regional	NCAA
2001-02	New Mexico	Assistant Coach [M]	2nd	1st	26th
2002-03	New Mexico	Assistant Coach [M]	1st	5th	24th
2003-04	New Mexico	Assistant Coach [M]	1st	1st	19th
2004-05	New Mexico	Assistant Coach [M]	1st	2nd	5th
2005-06	St. Edward’s	Head Coach [M]	3rd	3rd	-
2006-07	St. Edward’s	Head Coach [M]	1st	3rd	-
2007-08	St. Edward’s	Head Coach [M]	1st	1st	T2nd (playoff)
2008-09	Texas	Assistant Coach [M]	8th	3rd	26th
2009-10	Texas	Assistant Coach [M]	3rd	T1st	T21st
2010-11	Texas	Assistant Coach [M]	3rd	5th	T12th
2011-12	Texas	Assistant Coach [M]	2nd	2nd	1st
2012-13	Texas	Assistant Coach [M]	1st	3rd	5th
2013-14	Texas	Assistant Coach [M]	1st	5th	13th
2014-15	Texas	Head Coach [W]	6th	7th	-
2015-16	Texas	Head Coach [W]	2nd	6th	23rd
2016-17	Texas	Head Coach [W]	1st	4th	13th
2017-18	Texas	Head Coach [W]	1st	2nd	T12th
2018-19	Texas	Head Coach [W]	1st	1st	T5th-Quarterfinals
2019-20	Texas	Head Coach [W]	N/A *	N/A *	N/A *
2020-21	Texas	Head Coach [W]	5th	T2nd	T5th- Quartefinals
2021-2022	Texas	Head Coach [W]	1st	2nd	13th
2022-23	Texas	Head Coach [W]	7th	T3rd	T5th