John Murphy Position: Assistant Coach

John Murphy enters his second year as an assistant with the Clemson men's soccer program. Murphy was named an Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Clemson in March of 2010.

Murphy has over 20 years as a player and coach at every level of the game in the United States, in addition to a growing international reputation. By joining Livingston FC of the Scottish 1st Division in 2009, he became the first American born to work in British football as a professional coach, and later as a manager. His time at Livingston was highlighted with a two-month stint as head coach including a 2-1 victory over English Championship side Plymouth-Argyle in a pre-season friendly.

A native of Quincy, MA, Murphy joined the professional ranks after a successful stint at the college level with Massasoit CC (MA), Brown University (RI), and as a Head Coach at Assumption College (MA) respectively. While winning championships at all three programs, Murphy was rewarded for his efforts with six different all-league or regional Coach of the Year awards, culminating in two NSCAA National Coach of the Year nominations (1994 and 2000). He served as an assistant under Noonan at Brown from 1995-97.

Previously, he was an instrumental force in three MLS franchise' successes in challenging for championships as well as developing players such as Revolution goalkeeper Adin Brown, the Crew's Jon Busch and the Rapid's Bouna Coundol. He supported two different coaches to MLS Coach of the Year awards (Steve Nicol in 2002 and Greg Andrulis in 2004) while establishing one of the longest tenure of coaching service in the MLS.

During his four seasons with the New England Revolution, the team qualified for three playoffs (2000, 2002, and 2003), won the 2002 Eastern Conference Championship, appeared in the 2001 US Open Cup, the 2002 MLS Cup, and qualified for the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup. In 2004, he joined the Columbus Crew, and assisted his new team to their best season ever by earning the MLS Supporter's Shield, the Eastern Conference Championship while garnering the 2nd best goals against average in the league.

From 2005 to 2008 with Colorado, Murphy helped the overall growth of the Rapids organization in his dual role of Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Murphy was the head coach of the reserve team (2006 and 2007 MLS Reserve League Champions), and director of the Rapids Youth Academy.

Murphy holds the prestigious UEFA Professional Badge from the Scottish Football Association, a U.S. Soccer "A" License, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and is the first foreign born coach to earn a UEFA "A" Goalkeeper Coaching Badge from the English Football Association.

John has an Associate's Degree from Massasoit CC (MA), a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Bridgewater State College (MA) and earned a degree in Applied Management from the University of Warwick in Coventry this past June. Murphy has just authored his second book on soccer released in March through World Class Coaching and as a National Staff Coach for the NSCAA, is a nationally recognized clinician. He is married to Erin Murphy and they have three sons, Shay (8), Eamon, (5) and Declan (2).