Carl
Murphree is entering his third year as the Head Women’s Wrestling Coach
for Missouri Valley after leading the Lady Vikings with an impressive
season last year. Murphree’s focus is not only on wrestling, but rather
trying to make sure that everyone obtains their goals personally, academically
and on the wrestling mat.
In his first year Murphree guided the Valley
team in an impressive season finishing 1st at the Lady Oak Invitational,
1st place at the Collegiate Nationals, 1st at the University Nationals,
3rd at the Dave Schultz International Open, 3rd at the US Collegiate
Duals and 4th at the US Open. Murphree coached 8 All-American’s and
the team finished their season being ranked number one in the Final
Mat.com College Rankings. Among the team individuals, many finished
their year with impressive personal achievements. Among those were,
Collegiate National Champions Debbi Sakai, Brooke Bogren, Mollie Keith
and Kelly Branham. Stephany Lee finished her year as – World University
Champion, 2nd in the US open and as a member of USA National Team.
The team also reflected academic success with 7 team members on Dean’s
Honor List. Murphree is involved in all aspects of the student-athletes
college stay at Missouri Valley where he also serves as Admission
and Financial Aid counselor. He also assists and conducts clinics
and camps during the summer months, as well as assisting in the development
of the sport for all ages of wrestlers throughout the year.
Murphree’s recruiting has ensured a successful team for years to come,
building a team with the most depth in the history of Women’s Wrestling
at Missouri Valley. This year he begins with a young team of 19 freshman,
11 sophomores and 2 juniors.
Murphree’s successful coaching style comes from experience not only
in coaching but also as an athlete who began wrestling at the age
of 12. His personal wrestling career spanned three decades, including
High School, College, National and International competitions. Murphree
began his coaching career in 1983 after graduating from California
State University, Sacramento with a degree in Bio-Dynamics. Murphree
has coached wrestling at all levels. He was the head wrestling coach
at Vintage High School and the director of the Napa Valley Wrestling
Club in Napa, CA, where he coached sixteen Wrestling USA All-Americans.
While under Murphree the Vintage High School girls were California
State Champions in 2001 and 2002. He, also, founded the Asics Napa
Valley Girls Classic, which was the first National High School Federation
tournament for girls in the United States. Jim Lanterman, who coached
with Murphree for 10 years at Vintage, was quoted as saying, "He's
got a personality that works with the kids,". "It's a magnetism
type of thing that he has with these kids.” Murphree was inducted
into the Vintage High Hall of Fame in 1999. Murphree’s coaching has
also included high school and club soccer.
