TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2000

Murray to coach Columbian boys basketball

By Matt Steiner
Sports writer

Let the rumors cease. All speculation is over.

The question of who will replace Matt Hutchinson as the Columbian Tornadoes boys head basketball coach was answered Monday at the Tiffin City School Board meeting.

Tim Murray will be the man. The Bowling Green State University graduate left Elmwood, where he was the athletic director and coached the Royals to a 47-41 record over four years, becoming only the second coach in school history to leave with a winning record. He highlighted his stint at Elmwood with a district championship in 2000.

The 30-year-old, Murray comes to Columbian with the challenge of revitalizing a basketball program at a school that has become known as a football school, although Columbian athletic director Dale Brown said that is just an illusion.

"Schools get labeled that way sometimes," Brown said. "We've had more success in football of late. But, we have been successful in basketball, just not in recent years."

It's a situation that Murray feels comfortable entering.

"My first couple of years at Elmwood, we were the sport in between," Murray said. "Baseball and football got all the attention. We will overcome that. Kids tend to gravitate toward success."

Elmwood had a program that both Murray and Brown referred to as "dead." When Murray arrived at his opening practice at Elmwood, there were less than 20 kids from all four grades interested enough to tryout. It was just a lack of interest in the sport.

"That first day of practice I was wondering what I had gotten myself into," Murray said.

His first season was anything but pretty. The Royals posted a dismal 5-16 record.

So, the bewildered coach targeted youth leagues and implemented several basketball camps during the summer, hoping to spark interest in kids prior to entering high school.

"Players are made in the summer," he added.

The results were sectional championships in 1999 and 2000 and finally his team became district champions in 2000 with a strong 17-7 record.

"The kids bought into what we wanted to do," Murray said. "Also, we had some kids who could put the ball in the hole."

According to Brown, Murray's experience building a program was the asset Columbian was looking for.

"One of the things that attracted us to Tim was that he took over a program that had hit rock bottom," Brown said.

However, Brown points out that the Tornadoes program is not at rock bottom. They finished 11-10 in 2000 before Hutchinson left for Anthony Wayne. Brown says the excitement for the game has simply diminished over the past couple of seasons.

"We kind of need a shot in the arm," he said.

Murray has already showed the enthusiasm which Brown feels will provide that armshot. Even before the announcement at the meeting, the coach had several players in the gym Monday morning, playing some pickup-ball and getting acquainted. The coach has also scheduled basketball camps throughout the month of July.

He said this trend of hard work should continue everyday for the rest of the summer, setting an example for his players to follow.

"I lead by example," Murray said. "I don't think anybody works harder than me. If you work hard you're going to be successful, not just in basketball. But in everything."

He worked hard as a guard/forward in his playing days at Bellevue High School. Then, Murray headed to BGSU with the intention of taking his work ethic into the business world.

However, he started coaching little league baseball in Bellevue during the summer.

"Then it was all over," Murray said.

He changed his career path from business to education and his pursuit of teaching and coaching began.

"I really enjoy working with kids," he added. "I just love seeing them develop and turn into fine young men."

Since graduating with his teaching certificate in comprehensive science, Murray has taught and coached at Margaretta High School, Edon and Elmwood. He will be teaching chemistry, when he's not on the basketball court for Columbian.

Murray has been married since April 1999 to wife Susie, who says her husband really cares about the kids and "gets pretty attached." He is also the father of three stepchildren and the couple has a newborn son.