LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bellarmine University Wrestling Coach Ned Shuck has announced that Brendan Murphy has joined his staff as Head Assistant Wrestling Coach.
 
Murphy was previously the assistant wrestling coach at McKendree University in the Great Lakes Valley Conference from 2016 through the spring of 2021. 
                                                                          
"We are incredibly excited to have Brendan Murphy on our staff," Shuck said. "Brendan brings high energy with an unmatched work ethic backed by a remarkable wrestling and coaching career!  I've been impressed with him every step of the way and he comes highly recommended by the coaches across the country that I respect most.  Additionally, he is one heck of a wrestler and will be a fantastic training partner for multiple weight classes. We hit the jackpot with this hire!  I can't wait to see what we will do together!"

Before his stint as the head assistant with the Bearcats, Murphy earned his bachelor's degree in business education at McKendree.  The Bearcats won a pair of Division II team regional championships while producing three individual national champions with Murphy on staff.  As a competitor with McKendree, he was a Division II All-American, earning fifth place at nationals.  Murphy also assisted with the McKendree women's wrestling team, which won a national championship in 2020 at the dual and individual tournament.  Murphy guided multiple All-Americans and national champions within the women's program while also coaching at the U.S. Open.

Murphy previously attended Southern Illinois Edwardsville where he wrestled for the Cougars.  With SIUE, Murphy was a two-time NCWA national champion.  Most recently, Murphy received his PhD in business from Trident University.

"I first want to thank Coach Shuck for believing in me, and I'm looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity," Murphy said. "I also want to thank Scott Wiegandt, Pam Stackhouse, and everyone in athletics supporting me and the Bellarmine Wrestling program.  From the moment I stepped on campus, I fell in love with Bellarmine and am excited to call it my home.  I can't wait to work with Coach Shuck and staff to help Bellarmine Wrestling achieve greatness at every level." 

Murphy will assist with all facets of the program as the primary assistant coach.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights), Facebook (BUKnights) and the BUKnights mobile app available for iPhone and Android.