Jay Murphy Will Not Return As Cleveland State Baseball Coach

June 12, 2006

Cleveland, Ohio - Jay Murphy, who posted a 184-347 record in 10 seasons at Cleveland State, will not have his contract renewed past the current 2006 season, CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed announced on Monday.

"I would like to thank Jay for the hard work and service that he has given the Viking baseball program over the last decade," Reed said. "I believe that it is in the best interest of the program that we make a change in the head coaching position at this time."

Murphy came to Cleveland State in 1997 after compiling a 116-134-1 mark in five seasons at George Washington. The Vikings posted 20-win seasons in each of the first five seasons under Murphy with Jeff Haase and Keith Lillash each earning All-America honors in 2000. CSU advanced to the championship game of the Horizon League Championship in both 2001 and 2004.

CSU has struggled the last two seasons, going 24-78 overall and 11-37 in league contests. Murphy led the Vikings past Youngstown State in the second round of the Horizon League Championship earlier this month to earn his 300th win as a collegiate head coach. He leaves CSU with a 300-470-1 record in 15 seasons at CSU and George Washington.

A search for Murphy's successor will begin immediately.