Colleen Murphy Announced WeCOACH Coach of the Month
2/1/2022 3:40:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
The Coach of the Month honors a coach who has been successful on or off the field, and exemplifies the characteristics of a strong female role model: resilient, innovative, passionate, authentic, selfless and inspiring.
February 2022 Coach of the Month
Colleen Murphy, Air Force Academy
Head Coach, Swimming
Now in her 5th season as head coach at the Air Force Academy, and recently honored as one of the 100 greatest swimming & diving coaches in the past 100 years, Coach Murphy shares with us her keys to success, advice for up-and-coming women coaches, and the woman who greatly influenced her coaching career.
Get to know Coach Murphy:
Now in your 5th season as head coach and 10th overall, you were recently honored as one of the 100 greatest swimming & diving coaches in the past 100 years. How has that honor impacted you and your program?
It was a great honor to be included with so many amazing coaches. I think the best part was sharing the honor with Casey Converse who was my mentor and boss here at Air Force during my first 5 years at the Academy. To be able to have two coaches from the Air Force Academy on that list was quite an accomplishment for our school. In addition, my mentors from Oakland University were honored on that list as well; I was lucky to be considered along with so many great coaches.
You were the first woman swimming coach to win a National Championship and one of only a few to win a championship as a coach and student-athlete. At Air Force, your teams have experienced a lot of success in the pool, from breaking school records to having the first-ever Division I All-American. Talk to us about some keys to your success as a coach. And what do you consider your greatest accomplishment? Coaching at the Air Force Academy is such a great honor. At Air Force, athletics are an integral part of developing our nation's next officers; it is about the whole person and not just about their sport. Swimming is part of their development into a leader and the qualities of dedication, teamwork, time management, grit, and overcoming adversity are all essential qualities as they graduate and become officers in the Air Force. Thus, the success they have in the pool both as individuals and as a team directly correlates to their Air Force careers and helps them lead airmen right out of college. We are successful in the pool because we see the big picture and know that their four years at the Academy develop them for their futures. I honestly believe my greatest accomplishment is watching every swimmer develop over their four year experience at Air Force and seeing them flourish as leaders in the Air Force.
What's the hardest thing you've had to overcome in your career?
I think I have had two great challenges during my career. The first would be juggling my role as a working mom and a coach. I have been very lucky to have a husband who understands college swimming and supports me in my career goals. My children have grown up around pools and each has found their passion away from the pool, they understand my career and they understand that women have the ability to be good at multiple things. I make every effort to always be present for my children and to attend their events and support them in their individual pursuits. The other challenge I had was taking some time away from coaching in my early 30s and returning to the college ranks; it was very hard to get my foot back in the door and I am so thankful to Casey Converse for giving me that chance to return to the sport I love,
Was there a woman who has greatly shaped or influenced you? How?
I have had a lot of amazing mentors throughout my career. Anne Goodman-James has been such an amazing part of my life throughout my career and has become a mentor and confidant now that we both live in Colorado Springs. She is a working mom and has coached at every level of college swimming. Her advice, counsel, wisdom and friendship have been invaluable in my life. As a fellow female coach, it is so important to have female mentors in our life and Anne has been that mentor to me.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming women coaches?
Always ask questions, never assume you know it all, keep learning, and seek out mentors. Most swimming coaches are excited to share their knowledge with others and are happy to help you. Women can do both, they can have families and coach; learn balance and realize that you are modeling for the next generation. Flexibility, communication, and loyalty are so important in college coaching; college athletes are very good at reading a room and will feed off your enthusiasm and energy.
How do you continue learning and growing?
I am an avid reader and enjoy reading books about teamwork, communication, sports psychology etc. I always ask other coaches what they are doing. I have been part of mentor groups through the CSCAA and as the "older" mentor I have learned so much from the younger coaches and enjoy their excitement and enthusiasm for the sport and their plethora of new ideas. I reach out to my mentors all the time to hear what's working for them or their favorite practices etc. Plain and simple, never stop learning!
What do you enjoy doing outside of coaching?
I love to run for exercise, it gives me great clarity. After every run I walk my dogs and I enjoy slowing down and seeing the beauty of Colorado. My son is a theater kid, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the theater world and watching him on stage. I love going to Broadway shows with my kids and having them enjoy the arts. My daughter has recently decided hockey is her sport, so I am getting a crash course in ice hockey and enjoying that too.
If you could tell yourself anything, what one bit of advice would you give yourself?
As a young coach I lived and breathed everything swimming, my whole life centered around my sport. I would tell myself to slow down and enjoy the journey a little more; it's ok to take the vacation and get some rest. My kids have helped so much in allowing me to learn and grow in other areas of my life.
Is there anything you would go back and do differently?
I am very happy with where I am at now, yes there were always challenges; but I honestly wouldn't change a thing, each and every challenge has helped me grow into a better person and coach.
Anything else you want to share?
WeCOACH is such a great community of coaches. Being able to connect with other female coaches across all sports has honestly been an amazing experience. Every coach should have the opportunity to do a coaches academy and connect with others.
Congratulations, Colleen!
