BASEBALL HEAD COACH, RECREATION CO-COORDINATOR Chuck Murray

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SEASONS

• 2009-10 - Head Coach

Chuck Murray enters his 14th season as the Lions head coach and his 17th season overall with the Mount’s baseball program. Coach Murray has been with the program since its inaugural season of 1994, when he served as an assistant coach.

The 2009 season saw Murray lead the Mount to a 27-15 overall mark, 16-6 in the HCAC, good for second place and a berth in the HCAC Tournament for the seventh consecutive season (the longest current streak in the HCAC).

The Lions now have recorded seven straight 20-wins or better seasons, and have posted 14 consecutive seasons without a losing record. Murray has won 342 games over his 13-year Mount head coaching career, against 205 losses, good for a .625 winning percentage.

In 2008, the Mount recorded a 24-18 overall record and won the HCAC regular season championship with a 16-5 mark. The season was capped by Murray winning the HCAC Coach of the Year award. It was the program’s 13th consecutive non-losing season, and 11th season of 24 or more wins. The HCAC Tournament appearance was the sixth straight season that they have accomplished that, and their eighth overall HCAC Tournament appearance in ten seasons.

In 2007, the Mount recorded a school-record 33-11 mark, and qualified to the HCAC Tournament, winning the HCAC Championship for the second consecutive season (going undefeated at 3-0). They moved on to the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional, where they lost two, one-run games. It was their third NCAA Division III post-season appearance over an eight-year time period. The 30-plus wins marked back-to-back 30-win seasons, after a 30-17 mark in 2006.

Murray was also named Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 as the Mount recorded a 17-4 regular season HCAC mark and first place finish. In addition, Murray helped lead the Mount to a 27-15 overall mark and runner-up finish in the HCAC Tournament in 2003 and again in 2004.

In 2000 the Lions were the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference champions and Division III Regional runner-up. Murray, who has helped place the Mount baseball program among the top schools in the country, has a 315-190 career record at the Mount, giving him a winning percentage of .623. The Lions have been a member of the HCAC since the 1999 season.

Murray has coached three All-Americans while at the Mount, Mark Schorsch (1999), Mark Sheppard (2003), and Steve Matre (2008 and 2009), and five of his former players have been signed to professional baseball contracts: Mike Ayers (1996), Mike McNutt (2000), Dennis McRoberts (2003), Jason Miller (2004), and Michael Mayer (2007). In addition, he has coached 13 all-region, 89 all-conference players, and two conference Most Valuable Players while at the Mount.

Murray began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Cincinnati’s Colerain High School, in 1984, under veteran hall of fame coach Don Colussi. He helped guide the Cardinals’ baseball program for three seasons and in 1987 he assisted St. Xavier High School Hall of Fame head coach Bill Slinger until 1993. While at Colerain, Murray helped lead teams to district runner-up and regional runner-up finishes. His St. Xavier teams finished twice as GCL champions, as well as two-time district runner-ups and a sectional runner-up finish.

In 1999, Murray led the Midland Braves to the 1999 Dizzy Dean World Series Championship. He also guided Braves’ teams to World Series appearances in 1989, 1991, 1995, and 1998. After coaching in the Midland ranks for 14 seasons, Murray stepped down as a coach and now serves primarily as an advisor to the program. In addition, Murray has coached former players turned pro: Chris Sexton (Cincinnati Reds), Chris Hook (San Francisco Giants), Ricky Stone (Cincinnati Reds), Sam McConnell (Atlanta Braves), Aaron Cook (Colorado Rockies), Mike Hill (Asst. GM Florida Marlins), Ahmed Plummer (San Francisco 49ers, NFL). He also has had former college coaches under his tutelage that have moved on to coach high school, collegiate or summer team programs.

Coach Murray earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Northern Kentucky University and received a master’s degree from Xavier University. In addition, Murray is a 15-year member of the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association).

He resides in Colerain Township with his wife, Melissa, 11-year-old twin sons Ryan and Patrick, and nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

Los Angeles Dodgers scout Tom Keefe, who scouted and signed former Mount pitcher Mike McNutt to a professional contract with the Florida Marlins in 2000, had this to say about the Lions’ baseball program:

"The Mount’s coaching staff is special because of the leadership of Coach Murray and all his assistants,” said Keefe, who was a Marlins scout for nine years and has been with the Dodgers for seven years. “Coach Murray has assembled a fine coaching staff which produces the opportunity for young men to attend the Mount and get dramatically better."

"The openness, friendliness and cooperation that I’ve gotten from the Mount’s coaches over the years have been great and it’s gone a long way in developing a solid relationship."