Although I work at most of the Baylor women’s basketball games throughout the season, I don’t usually watch the sport for fun (I know I’m a terrible feminist!). However, I recently discovered my new favorite basketball coach when Baylor played Grambling State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Freddie Murray is in his first year as head coach of the Grambling State women’s basketball team and he is just a delight. I became his biggest fan while assisting with his press conference and after he graciously talked with me after their game. I know I was supposed to cheer for Baylor, but I silently rooted for the Tigers instead (I hope I don’t get fired now). Coach Murray found his first graduate assistant coaching job at Jackson State University, his alma mater, from 2001 to 2003. As a grad assistant, the Tigers (not to be confused with his current GSU Tigers), won the 2003 Southwestern Athletic Conference title in the regular season. In 2005, Murray became an assistant women’s basketball coach at McNeese State, where he served until 2007 before coaching the North Carolina A&T State University women’s basketball team who broke the team’s record for most victories in a season with 26 in 2008. In 2009, the Lady Aggies earned the MEAC regular season title with Murray’s assistance. He also helped NCAT earn trips to the NCAA and NIT tournaments. After two stints with North Carolina A&T, Murray became an assistant coach at Florida A&M University from 2010-2015. During his time there, the Lady Rattlers notched their school record 22-8 season in 2010. Murray landed at Grambling State in 2015 as an assistant coach for two years before his promotion to head coach this past season. In 2016, the Tigers earned a bid to the women’s National Invitation Tournament where they became the first SWAC team to ever win a postseason game after defeating Ole Miss in the first round, 78-75. Coach Murray earned SWAC Coach of the Year honors in 2016 after the team’s historic postseason run. The Tigers won a share of the SWAC championship with a 18-14 regular season record. This season, Grambling State made a postseason appearance in the NCAA tournament as they faced Baylor in the first round. Although they lost to the Lady Bears, Coach Murray and the Tigers won a fan in me!
