Murphy looks for security, wins in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Randy Murphy has been around the rink long enough to know that the coaching profession is at best unpredictable and at worst unstable. He also knows a good opportunity when he sees it.
Last Wednesday afternoon, less than a month after he resigned his position with the failing New Mexico Scorpions, Murphy was introduced as the new Head Coach of the Huntsville Havoc. For the sports psychology major from Elmira College, it is a chance to reestablish some solid footing under his family as well as building a title contender in the suddenly more competitive SPHL.
“It was a forgone conclusion that things weren’t going to happen in a positive way in New Mexico. I wanted to get to a place where I was a needed and b wanted,” Murphy said following his introduction to the Huntsville fans and media. “It felt real good in Huntsville. I felt well received.”
Murphy’s arrival in Huntsville turned out to be a convergence of events in both Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Huntsville. In his first year as head coach in 2007-2008, Murphy led New Mexico to a 34-24-0-6 mark and a post-season berth . For much of last season, the Scorpions were the subject of rumors about their financial health. On the ice, the team suffered through a 27-33-0-4 campaign. As the talk grew louder, as much as he didn’t want to, Murphy realized he had a decision to make.
“There were a lot of positive things that were happening there but then it would just turn around and be negative again. It‘s a situation where you feel for all parties involved. Obviously the owners there wanted it to work but really they couldn‘t control the fact that at the end of the day they didn‘t have the other finances to keep it going,” he said. “I enjoyed my time in New Mexico and still have a house there. Again, it becomes a situation where when you understand and you get bad feelings about a situation going in the opposite direction that it makes you look for other things.”
While that was going on, the Havoc were in a quandary of their own. After releasing coach John Gibson following the 2007-2008 season, owner Keith Jeffries hired Eric Soltys, who had been an assistant coach for Murphy in New Mexico, as his bench boss. Soltys remade the lineup and the changes paid immediate dividends as Huntsville threatened to run away from the rest of the SPHL at the start of last season. It all came crashing down in the second half as the Havoc struggled to make the playoffs and lost to eventual champion Knoxville in the first round.
The failure to bring a title home to Huntsville cost Soltys his job, sending the Havoc on a search for another coach. Murphy heard about the opening and sent his resume. From there, things moved fast.
“It was a situation where I knew the job was available and simply contacted the ownership group and Keith Jeffries and one thing lead to another,” he said. “He invited me in on a visit and we hit it off right away. The decision was made fairly quickly.”
Murphy admitted that with the speed with which his deal with Huntsville happened, he didn’t even think about the fact that he was now replacing his former protégé.
“I haven’t really thought about that. I haven’t really looked at it like that,” he said. “It was more of what opportunity was going to be right for myself in terms of employment. This happened to be it and it wouldn’t have mattered who was here before.”
If anyone around the league thinks that Murphy comes into the Huntsville job as an SPHL novice, they should think again. During his two years in New Mexico, Murphy took full advantage of the developmental aspect of his new league, creating a healthy pipeline of players moving between his squad and the SPHL and in particular the Havoc.
“When I was in New Mexico, I was working with quite a few SPHL teams in terms of player movement. It started with John Gibson when he was here (in Huntsville),“ Murphy said. “I knew Gibby from playing against him and we sort of hit it off as far as being able to exchange guys my first year in New Mexico and that pretty much parlayed through last year. That happened to be one team; Columbus was another. Knoxville was another.”
Like most coaches, Murphy wants his team to be able to excel in all facets of the game. An offensive-minded thinker when he played, over time Murphy has come to understand that there’s more to the game than just scoring.
“I was more of an offensive guy when I played but at the same time I understand the importance of having all sorts of elements on your team,” he said. “One of them has to be the skill set guy. Another has to be the good goaltender and the tougher individual so it’s a little bit of everything I think. If we can kind of combine all that together, it will make for an exciting team.”
When asked about whether he would completely remake the roster, Murphy indicated that he is leaning toward a blending of old and new.
“They already had a pretty good core (of players) in place here so I want to keep a good majority of the guys who were here last year,” he said. “At the same time, I want to have my own stamp on it. I’ve got some guys in mind that I think can really add a new dimension to the team here. That’s sort of the direction I’m looking at – meshing the two together – and hopefully something good comes of that.”
Being the third coach in three years in Huntsville, observers might believe that there will be an immense pressure on Murphy to deliver a championship right away. For his part, the new coach sees it more as a normal expectation that all teams have as a new season beckons.
“Every team, every coach, every owner has the same goal when they come into the year. Our goal was no different in New Mexico or any place I’ve ever been. That’s to win and be successful from a business standpoint as well,” he said. “My philosophy hasn’t changed there and I’m confident in my ability to help the team achieve that goal. I’m excited more than I’m pressured in that situation.”
And if he can turn the confidence into victories and titles, Murphy may just regain the security he’s been looking for.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com