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Tyler Murray promoted; Rich McCray, Tyler Watkins join MBB staff
By Matt Green
ROME – Shorter University head men’s basketball coach Chad Warner has announced the promotion of Tyler Murray from graduate assistant coach to head assistant on the Hawks’ coaching staff.
Murray, who came to Shorter in 2008 to join Warner, also assumes duties as recruiting coordinator for the Hawks, who are coming off their first 20-win season since 1997-98.
The relationship between Murray and Warner extends far past Murray’s arrival on the Hill four years ago – Warner served as an assistant coach at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Va., during Murray’s junior season in 2006-07 and the pair helped lead the Tigers to a record 10th Old Dominion Athletic Conference title that season.
“Tyler has grown so much in his short time at Shorter,” said Warner. “He is a great basketball coach who really takes a great burden from my load. He is an even better person. His growth and maturity as a leader and a man of faith are what I appreciate about him the most.
“I am lucky to have such a good friend on staff.”
Since coming to Shorter, Murray has played a major role in Shorter’s rise to the upper echelon of the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Since 2008-09, the Hawks are 55-37, including a 23-8 campaign in 2010-11, which stands as the highest win total for the men’s basketball program in 45 years.
Murray was instrumental in the recruitment of Hawks’ senior point guard Eric Nix, who led the SSAC and ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in assists at 6.5 per game last season. He also serves as head coach of Shorter’s junior varsity program, which first took shape in 2010-11.
“Tyler continues to do a great job with the JV,” Warner said. “It truly is an invaluable part of our program and one that I am pleased to see him leading in such a good direction.”
In addition to Murray’s promotion, Warner also announced the hiring of Rich McCray as assistant coach and the addition of former Hawk Tyler Watkins as graduate assistant.
McCray comes to Shorter after an impressive playing and coaching career within the SSAC. A former All-Conference performer at Faulkner University, who led the Eagles to two NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship appearances and ended his career as the program’s all-time leader in steals, spent the last three seasons coaching at Southern Polytechnic State University.
With Poly, McCray helped the Hornets to 29 wins in 2008-09, an NAIA Final Four appearance in 2009-10 and a return trip to the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship last season.
“Rich brings so much to the table as a coach, recruiter, and leader, but the thing that I appreciate most about him is his burning desire to compete,” Warner said. “He has been a winner everywhere he has ever been. He loves to work and compete and we value those things as cornerstones of our success.
“I am really enjoying the friendship and relationship that we have begun.”
Watkins joins the Hawks’ staff after playing for Warner over the previous two seasons.
The native of Dalton, Ga., began his collegiate career at Trevecca Nazarene University before transferring to Shorter prior to the 2009-10 season. In 48 career games with the Hawks, Watkins averaged two points, one rebound and one assist, but was known for his toughness and defensive prowess in addition to his leadership ability, something Warner expects to translate onto the sidelines.
“To put in plainly, I just thought Tyler Watkins was too valuable to this program to let him go,” said Warner. “He will do a great job for us and I look forward to seeing him grow as a coach. We are very fortunate to be able to keep him here.”
The Hawks are scheduled to open the 2011-12 season on Nov. 1 when they play host to Point University at 7 pm in the Winthrop-King Centre.
