University of Mount Olive

Mike Murphy was named head men's lacrosse coach at the University of Mount Olive in September 2012. Mount Olive added men's lacrosse beginning with the 2012-13 academic year.

Before the 2020 season was canceled due to Covid-19, the Trojans were ranked 13th nationally and had an overall record of 4-3. Despite the short season, Murphy led his players to various accomplishments which included two Trojans, Jacob Williams and Brady Elbin, being named 2020 Maverik Division II Media All-Americans. Elbin additionally was named the 2020 Conference Carolinas Spring Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-American. 

The 2019 season for the Trojans found success as Murphy led them to another Conference Carolinas semifinal appearance. The men's lacrosse team finished the season ranked 12th nationally and had the second-highest number of student-athletes recognized in program history on the Nike/USILA All-Americans list including defender Jacob Williams, defensive midfielder Brady Elbin, goalie Andrew Avarello, and attackmen Thatcher Clark. 

The 2018 season proved to be productive for the Trojans who earned the programs first-ever regular season championship title after going 5-1 against Conference Carolinas opponents. Coach Murphy was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year after leading his team to the semifinals of the conference tournament and having two athletes pick up individual honors in Will Urban, the conference defensive player of the year, and Jacob Ball, the Co-Offensive player of the year. In addition, Urban earned the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Award as the best goalkeeper of all Division II men's lacrosse athletes.

Murphy led the Trojans to a Conference Carolinas Tournament semifinal appearance in 2017. UMO went 11-5 overall and 5-2 in conference contests.

In 2015, Murphy guided Mount Olive to the Championship Game of the Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse Tournament for the second year in a row. The Trojans were within a goal at the end of one quarter before falling to eventual national champion Limestone. Ross "Rocky" Bowman became the Trojans' first-ever men's lacrosse All-America.

Mount Olive was ranked as high as No. 9 during the 2015 season and finished the season ranked No. 12. The Trojans concluded the 2014 season with their first-ever national ranking, placing No. 15 in the year-end USILA Division II Men's Lacrosse Top 15 Poll. The Trojans also won an NCAA Statistical Championship in 2014, leading the nation in man-up offense with a .529 percentage.

Under Murphy, Mount Olive has finished at .500 or above in each of the first three years of the men's lacrosse program. The Trojans have posted double-digit win totals in each of the last two years.

In his first year as head coach and Mount Olive's first year of varsity men's lacrosse, Murphy was named 2013 Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year. The Trojans posted a 7-7 overall record and came within an overtime goal in the season finale of clinching a winning season and earning a berth in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.

Murphy came to Mount Olive from Catawba College, where he spent the previous three years as assistant men's lacrosse coach. Murphy helped Catawba earn its first-ever national ranking during the 2011 season and the Indians were ranked as high as No. 8 in 2012. Catawba's 14-3 record in Murphy's final season marked the most wins in school history.

Murphy earned his undergraduate degree in communications arts from Catawba College. He was an All-Deep South Conference First Team selection and also earned Deep South Conference All-Academic honors.

During his time as head coach of the Trojans, Murphy has earned two Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year awards (2013 & 2018), coached nine USILA All-Americans including five last season, and has three USILA Academic All-Americans. Thirty-nine Trojans have earned All-Conference honors including the 2018 Co-Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. UMO had the No. 1 scoring defense of all teams in NCAA Division II during the 2018 season. Coach Murphy's teams have recorded 66 wins in six years resulting in a 68.75% win percentage and have five consecutive seasons with double-digit wins.

Murphy serves on the USILA National Rankings Committee and the USILA All America Committees.

Mike and his wife Sue got married in the fall of 2015. They have a son, Finnegan, and a daughter, Shannon.

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