The 2006 season will be a season of milestones for Cleveland State head coach Jay Murphy, as this year not only marks his 10th season at the helm of the Vikings but his 25th in collegiate baseball. With 290 wins to his credit in 15 seasons as a head coach, Murphy needs only 10 wins this year to reach 300 career victories.

During his nine years at Cleveland State, the 46-year old Murphy has established a competitive baseball program that has already achieved numerous milestones under his direction. He is the second-winningest head coach in school history with 174, during which time he was named the Horizon League's Co-Coach of the Year in 2004 and guided the Vikings to the Horizon League championship game in 2001 and 2004.

His relationships with other baseball organizations, especially with the Cleveland Indians, have provided numerous unique opportunities to the Viking program and the Horizon League, including the 2002 Horizon League Championship held at Jacobs Field.

Many of Murphy's accomplishments on the field can be directly attributed to his scheduling philosophy, annually pitting the Vikings against strong non-conference opponents - including teams from the Big Ten, SEC, Big East and ACC - to help prepare the players for competition in league play.

Professionally, Murphy is a member of the Horizon League's Ethics Committee, which establishes the standards of conduct that all league coaches and athletes adhere to, and, for the past five years, he has coordinated league scheduling for baseball on behalf of the Horizon League.

In 2005, Murphy was invited to speak at the NCAA Athletic Directors Convention as part of the panel discussion on the topic of sportsmanship and ethics titled Creating a Collegial Environment, a Positive, Competitive Environment for Student Athletes. Murphy provided a coach's perspective on promoting good sportsmanship and fair play to student athletes.

On a national level, Murphy has served on the NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee as well as the USA Today Baseball Coaches poll voting panel.

Murphy's dedication to creating a positive and competitive environment for athletes is evidenced by his commitment to promoting youth sports in the Cleveland area. Murphy has guided the CSU baseball program's involvement in Major League Baseball's Pepsi Pitch, Hit and Run skills program, which will take place for the first time in the cities of Cleveland and Cleveland Heights this spring.

Murphy is also involved with Little League Baseball International, where he has been instrumental in the establishment of a new charter in the city of Cleveland Heights for the 2007 season. He also serves as a college advisor for the Little League Baseball program.

For fifth straight year this spring, the Vikings will hold camps to teach fundamental baseball skills to first, second and third graders from Gesu Catholic School in University Heights.

Murphy's involvement in community activities extends to a long standing friendship and collaboration with the Cleveland Indians. For the past three years, in conjunction with the Indians organization, the Vikings have hosted a free youth clinic that provides instruction in all aspects of baseball for the youth of Cleveland. In addition, Murphy currently serves on the board of directors of the Wahoo Club, the fan club of the Cleveland Indians. In 1997, he was a clinician at the Pinnacle All-Star Fan Fest when the Cleveland Indians hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and has been involved with numerous Indians' Parent-Child camps. He was also honored by the Indians with an invitation to throw batting practice at the All-Star Game.

His work with the Indians has contributed to Cleveland State's annual game at Jacobs Field, which will celebrate its 11th anniversary in May.

Prior to being named head coach at Cleveland State, Murphy spent nine years at George Washington University, serving as assistant coach from 1987-1991 before being named the interim head coach in 1992 and head coach the following season. During the 1992 season, Murphy coached the Colonials to the Atlantic 10 West Division regular season title, the conference tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Regionals. His best record came in 1995, when he guided the team to a 27-25-1 while playing a highly competitive schedule that included such national powers as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Baylor and North Carolina State in addition to the Atlantic-10 slate.

A 1981 graduate of Oswego State University, Murphy was co-coach at Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY from 1992-84. He also served as an assistant at Kent State University from 1985 to 1987 while earning his master's degree in sports administration.

Murphy and his wife, Maria, have two children, Tommy (9) and Danny (6). The family resides in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.