Long Beach State University Athletics
Rob Murray Named Long Beach State Head Men’s Golf Coach
11/14/2022 11:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Murray comes to the Beach after having worked as an assistant coach at Kansas State for the last six seasons.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State has announced the hiring of Rob Murray as the 12th head coach of the Long Beach State Men's Golf program. Murray is an experienced coach as he brings 15 years of both playing and coaching championship caliber golf to the Beach.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rob as the new Head Men's Golf Coach at Long Beach State University," said Interim Director of Athletics Ted Kadowaki. "We love Rob's competitive drive and desire to build a program of sustained excellence, to build relationships with the community, and lead the program with integrity. It is an honor to welcome Rob, his wife Emily and daughters Ava & Ellie to Long Beach and the Beach Family."
Murray comes to Long Beach State after having worked as an assistant coach at Kansas State for the last six seasons where he coached five Academic All-Americans, led the team to their eighth NCAA Regional appearance in school history, and their first since 2009. While at K-State, Murray helped guide the team to six top-five finishes a year ago as they boasted the second-lowest stroke average in program history (287.67).
This season, the Wildcats have gotten off to another strong start with Murray's assistance. Kansas State is currently ranked in the Top 25 and won their first three tournaments of the season with a scoring average of 279.3, on track for another record-breaking season with five players inside the Top 175 in the Golfstat rankings.
Two seasons prior, with Murray on staff, the Wildcats set the school record with the lowest team scoring average as they fired a 286.07. The 2018-19 season was a very successful one for Murray as he coached Rolando Massimino, Jake Eklund, and Jeremy Gandon to postseason qualifications, marking the most individuals to do so in program history. Murray also coached Gandon in 2017-18 as he was the
2018 Individual Big 12 Champion and an NCAA Regional individual qualifier.
"I'm grateful to Ted Kadowaki and Sean Ferrera for the opportunity to represent Long Beach State Men's Golf going forward," said Murray. "The program is in an exciting position and I look forward to building upon the success of our current and previous student-athletes and teams. Long Beach State has everything a student-athlete needs to be successful on the course, in the classroom and in the community. My family is very excited, and I look forward to getting to work with the team to bring championships home to Long Beach. GO BEACH!"
Prior to his service at Kansas State, Murray worked at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa for four years. His first two years were spent as an assistant coach as he helped the squad capture the 2014 and 2015 NJCAA Division I National Championships. He was subsequently promoted to head coach where he was named 2017 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year as the team was the National Runner-up at the 2017 National Championship. Additionally, Murray coached the 2017 Individual National Champion, Ricky Sanders, who went on to win the 2017 Phil Mickelson Award.
A native of Colchester, Essex in England, Murray made his way to the United States in 2007 to play collegiately at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz. At SMCC, he was an all-conference selection and won two events for the top-ranked NJCAA Division II squad. The Academic All-American went on to help his team win both the conference and regional championships, while coming in third in the 2009 National Championship. He graduated with an Associate's Degree in General Studies in 2009.
Murray went on to play two seasons at Washington State where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Social Science in 2011. He obtained his Master's Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in 2013 from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif.
"I'd also like to acknowledge our Assistant Coach Reilly Hegarty for leading the team to great success this fall," added Kadowaki. "A new school record, a tournament win, and a No. 1 golfer in the country are all parts of where our program is headed for the future."
"We are thrilled to welcome Rob as the new Head Men's Golf Coach at Long Beach State University," said Interim Director of Athletics Ted Kadowaki. "We love Rob's competitive drive and desire to build a program of sustained excellence, to build relationships with the community, and lead the program with integrity. It is an honor to welcome Rob, his wife Emily and daughters Ava & Ellie to Long Beach and the Beach Family."
Murray comes to Long Beach State after having worked as an assistant coach at Kansas State for the last six seasons where he coached five Academic All-Americans, led the team to their eighth NCAA Regional appearance in school history, and their first since 2009. While at K-State, Murray helped guide the team to six top-five finishes a year ago as they boasted the second-lowest stroke average in program history (287.67).
This season, the Wildcats have gotten off to another strong start with Murray's assistance. Kansas State is currently ranked in the Top 25 and won their first three tournaments of the season with a scoring average of 279.3, on track for another record-breaking season with five players inside the Top 175 in the Golfstat rankings.
Two seasons prior, with Murray on staff, the Wildcats set the school record with the lowest team scoring average as they fired a 286.07. The 2018-19 season was a very successful one for Murray as he coached Rolando Massimino, Jake Eklund, and Jeremy Gandon to postseason qualifications, marking the most individuals to do so in program history. Murray also coached Gandon in 2017-18 as he was the
2018 Individual Big 12 Champion and an NCAA Regional individual qualifier.
"I'm grateful to Ted Kadowaki and Sean Ferrera for the opportunity to represent Long Beach State Men's Golf going forward," said Murray. "The program is in an exciting position and I look forward to building upon the success of our current and previous student-athletes and teams. Long Beach State has everything a student-athlete needs to be successful on the course, in the classroom and in the community. My family is very excited, and I look forward to getting to work with the team to bring championships home to Long Beach. GO BEACH!"
Prior to his service at Kansas State, Murray worked at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa for four years. His first two years were spent as an assistant coach as he helped the squad capture the 2014 and 2015 NJCAA Division I National Championships. He was subsequently promoted to head coach where he was named 2017 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year as the team was the National Runner-up at the 2017 National Championship. Additionally, Murray coached the 2017 Individual National Champion, Ricky Sanders, who went on to win the 2017 Phil Mickelson Award.
A native of Colchester, Essex in England, Murray made his way to the United States in 2007 to play collegiately at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz. At SMCC, he was an all-conference selection and won two events for the top-ranked NJCAA Division II squad. The Academic All-American went on to help his team win both the conference and regional championships, while coming in third in the 2009 National Championship. He graduated with an Associate's Degree in General Studies in 2009.
Murray went on to play two seasons at Washington State where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Social Science in 2011. He obtained his Master's Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in 2013 from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif.
"I'd also like to acknowledge our Assistant Coach Reilly Hegarty for leading the team to great success this fall," added Kadowaki. "A new school record, a tournament win, and a No. 1 golfer in the country are all parts of where our program is headed for the future."
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