Rob Murphy was officially introduced as the new Head Coach of Eastern Michigan University on Thursday, the very state he spent six years coaching in the Detroit Public School League, leading Detroit Crockett Technical High School to the Class B State Championship in 2000-01.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," says Murphy, "but I'm extremely excited about this opportunity. I mean it's been a long time coming, I've have a very long journey, through each and every step I've prepared myself to become a head coach. Jim Boeheim did everything in his power to put me in the position daily to perform all the duties and activities from coaching practice to the scouting reports, from the recruiting aspect, and I'm well rounded and I'm ready and I'm just so happy I have this opportunity."
And while Murphy admits to be his own guy with his own ideas, he says he's definitely been influenced by Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim in the form of life lessons and game planning.
"I'm more of a man to man guy, but the 2-3 zone the way Syracuse plays it is something I'll definitely have in the Eastern program. But he's always taught me to always stand by what you believe in, always do right by people, and we were one big family. I learned a great deal of my coaching experience at Syracuse, and I'm just glad I had the opportunity to coach under (Boeheim) and his staff. I love Syracuse, and I bleed Orange, I love that place and I'm gonna miss it. I look forward to building a program, and I'll be Orange forever."
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