The 2022-23 season will be Stephanie Murphy’s fifth season as CCC’s head women’s basketball coach. Towards the end of the 2021-22 season, Murphy was named the MACCC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
The Lady Tigers have gone 36-10 (23-5 MACCC) over the past two seasons. In the 2020-21 season, Coahoma was MACCC Co-State Champions, winners of the MACCC’s North Division, and Region 23 runners-up. CCC recorded a 14-game winning streak that season.
In the 2021-22 season, the Lady Tigers advanced the MACCC championship game and the NJCAA Region 23 semifinals.
In addition to the on-court success, Murphy places a strong emphasis on academics. In the 2021-22 season, the CCC women’s basketball program tallied four student-athletes on the NJCAA All-Academic Second Team with one on the NJCAA All-Academic First Team.
Prior to arriving at Coahoma, Murphy coached for seven years at Brandon High School. Prior to BHS, she spent five years as the head coach at Tupelo High School and two years as the head coach at Meridian High School. She led each school to the state tournament and to Super Ten rankings.
Murphy experienced great success at the high school level, comprising an overall record of 326-124 (.724%). She reached the state tournament five times; finishing as a three-time state runner-up. She has also won six district championships; a South State Championship; and was named Daily Journal’s Coach of The Year in 2007.
Murphy played college basketball at the University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss, she received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science in the year 2000 and her master’s degree in higher education with an emphasis in student personnel in 2002.
During her time at Ole Miss; she was a letter winner; Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership Award recipient; NCAA Leadership Conference participant; and an SEC All-Academic Team member.
Before furthering her education at Ole Miss, Murphy excelled both academically and athletically at West Tallahatchie High School in Webb, Mississippi. She was the Salutatorian of her 1996 graduating class and was selected as the school’s star student.
During her senior year, she was selected a preseason Dandy Dozen; an All-District and First Team All-State member; and was chosen to play in the Mississippi versus Alabama game.
Murphy has established a winning culture and mindset to the women’s basketball program by subscribing to the principles that she feels has allowed her to have success throughout her life: discipline, hard work, trust in God, and faith that He will continue to work all things together for her good.
