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RH Soccer Club names Murphy director of coaching
John Murphy
John Murphy

The Richmond Hill Soccer Club has named Georgia Southern University men’s Coach John Murphy as the club’s director of coaching. Murphy will serve in the role and will continue as Georgia Southern’s head coach.

“The hiring of Coach Murphy is a giant step forward for Richmond Hill Soccer Club,” said Drew Corbett, RHSC Board of Directors president. “The caliber of the Richmond Hill Soccer Club program has grown over the past several years and Coach Murphy’s expertise, knowledge and experience will catapult our program to the next level. We are looking forward to this exciting time in Richmond Hill Soccer Club’s history.”

Murphy will begin his third year as Georgia Southern’s head coach this fall. In 2017, he led the Eagles to their first winning season since 2006 with a 9-8-1 record. GSU earned its first regional ranking from the United Soccer Coaches since 2008, finishing No. 10. In 2016, the Eagles went 3-1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, claiming a share of the regular-season league title and earning a bye into the semifinal round of the Sun Belt Championship. This was the first conference championship in the program’s 37-year history. For his effort’s, Murphy was named the 2016 Sun Belt Coach of the Year.

“I’d like to thank the board of Richmond Hill Soccer Club for the opportunity to work with the players and coaches,” Murphy said. “Now that I am settled into my role at Georgia Southern, I want to branch out and help impact the game at the grass roots level. I have always committed myself to developing young people through the game of soccer, and this role will allow me to continue this in an exciting and vibrant area of Georgia. I look forward to helping Richmond Hill Soccer Club reach their development goals moving forward.”

Murphy has more than 20 years of coaching experience, with 10 years coaching in the professional ranks and has served as an assistant coach at Boston College, Clemson and Brown. His dual roles with the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids saw him develop two comprehensive youth academies as assistant coach and director of youth development.

He was also a head coach at Anderson University (S.C.) (2012-13), Livingston FC (2009), Assumption College (1998-2000) and Massasoit Community College (1994), his alma mater. He was twice named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) New England Coach of the Year in 1994 and again in 2000.

In 2009, he became the first American citizen to work in British professional soccer as a coach when he was hired by Livingston of the Scottish First Division. During that time, he worked with current standout players Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Andy Halliday (Rangers) and Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).

He holds the UEFA Pro Badge from the Scottish Football Association, a U.S. Soccer "A" License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He was the first foreign-born coach to earn an English Football Association "A" Goalkeeper Coaching License in 2003.

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