June 3, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Jack Murphy, an advance scout for the NBA's Denver Nuggets the past three years, has been hired as an assistant coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball program, head coach Josh Pastner announced Wednesday. Murphy begins work in the Bluff City later this week.

"Jack will bring a lot of energy to the Memphis program," said Pastner. "He's done a great job during his time in Denver, and the Nuggets' players talk highly of the intense workouts he puts them through and how well those workouts prepare them for games. I also worked with Jack while we were at Arizona, and that familiarity will help as the program moves forward."

Murphy comes to Memphis after serving the past three years as an advance scout and video coordinator for the Denver Nuggets. This past season, Murphy was a part of an historic year in the Nuggets' organization. Denver won a franchise-record 54 games (54-28 record), claimed a share of the NBA Northwest Division title and earned the Western Conference No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1985. Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony were named to the 2009 All-NBA third team, and Billups played in the NBA All-Star Game.

In 2007-08, Murphy helped the Nuggets to a 50-32 overall record and a second-place finish in the Northwest Division. Denver was the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and lost in the first round. The previous year (2006-07), Denver finished the year with a 45-37 record and placed second in the Northwest Division. The Nuggets were the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and lost in the first round to the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

Prior to his time in the NBA, Murphy spent eight years as a team manager, recruiting coordinator, administrative assistant and video coordinator at the University of Arizona from 1998-2006.

Murphy earned his bachelor's degree in English from Arizona in 2002, and followed with a master's degree in Educational Psychology in 2005.