Murphy eager to take over West Holmes girls soccer program
Bruce Murphy, right, has coached youth soccer in the area for several years. The West Holmes Board of Education recently approved his hiring as varsity girls soccer head coach.
Bruce Murphy has coached youth soccer in the area for several years.
When the West Holmes varsity girls soccer head coaching job became available, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“I coached a lot of these girls at the youth level when they were younger, and it just seemed like a good opportunity to get in (to high school coaching),” said Murphy, who was recently approved by the WH Board of Education to take over the program. “(Former coach) Schuyler (Snyder, who stepped down after last season), did a great job. Coaching is fun for me anyway. I coach at a club (Ohio Strikers United) in Wooster, so it just kind of made sense for me when the job opened up, and I figured why not throw my hat in the ring.
“Some of the familiarity with the players that are already there makes it a good fit. I was just looking to coach and help build up the youth in this area.”
Murphy is taking over a program coming off its first state semifinals appearance in school history. Several key players are back including his daughter Charli, who led the Lady Knights with 43 goals as a freshman last fall.
“I started coaching (in Holmes County),” Murphy said. “My wife kind of signed me up when Charli was younger, and I coached the youth in this area. There’s a club, Ohio Strikers in Wooster, that both my daughters now play for, so I started coaching up there. Coaching there and coaching here became impossible.”
Although this will be Murphy’s first time coaching high school soccer, he has ample knowledge to draw from besides his time as a youth coach.
He played at Strongsville High School and was a United States Youth National Team member between his freshman and junior years. He earned numerous accolades while at SHS including Ohio Player of the Year, Ohio’s Gatorade Player of the Year and All-American first-team honors. Murphy, a 2000 SHS graduate, was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2017.
He went on to play collegiately at the University of Akron.
Needless to say, he’s as prepared as anyone can be for their first high school coaching job.
“I can pull on a lot of experience from playing, just different experiences that I’ve had,” Murphy said. “My soccer journey was pretty unique. There are not a lot of people who necessarily had the privilege of having the background that I have, so I have a lot to draw on, a lot of experience, a lot of time playing and learning from coaches, learning from players. I think that it all kind of comes in a good spot for high school because I think it’s a pretty diverse group. You have kids from all different backgrounds, kids that are playing club, kids that have played rec.
“I think you have to draw on all of those things to make (coaching high school) work.”
Murphy has already held an informational meeting with his players and parents about his plans for the summer and moving forward.
“I’m just really looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited for this opportunity. It’s a new challenge, and I’m just kind of champing at the bit to get started.”