Meet Coach Murray

The 2007 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year, Keith Murray is entering his sixth season at the helm of The College of Saint Rose men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs.

Last March, Murray became the only coach in school history to produce a national champion as diver Brandon Birchak captured the one and three-meter events at the NCAA Division II Championship Meet.

He also guided the men’s club to its best dual meet record in school history at 9-1. The squad finished second at the NE-10 Championships and tied its best finish ever at the Metropolitan Conference Championships with a fifth-place overall showing. He also led the women’s team to a sixth place overall performance among 20 competing institutions, also the team’s best finish at the event. In the NCAA II portion of the meet, the Saint Rose men’s squad took the team title while the women’s team finished third.

During the 2005-06 season, Murray guided then senior Matt Kavanagh to the NCAA Championship meet for the third straight season, as he earned All-American honors in the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyles. Kavanagh is the only swimmer in the 13-year history of the program to qualify for three straight NCAA meets. In 2004, Kavanagh became the first swimmer ever at Saint Rose to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Furthermore, Murray guided the 2005-06 men’s and women’s squads that set 23 school records at the Metropolitan Conference Championships.

Murray’s impending impact upon the program was foreshadowed in his first season when he led the 2002-03 men’s squad to its best ever mark with a 7-3 dual meet record.

Murray’s knowledge goes well beyond competitive swimming. He has acquired a wealth of aquatics experience through his work with various competitive and recreational entities.

Murray is a member of the USA Swimming Coaches Association and also serves as the Aquatics Coordinator at the College. He has completed numerous professional development courses and holds several certifications related to aquatic and recreational activities.

A 1996 graduate of Hartwick College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Murray served as a part time assistant coach at Saint Rose from 2000-2002 while working full time as the Director of Recreation for the LaSalle School for Boys. Murray has also coached at Union College, Hartwick College and at the Guilderland YMCA.

Murray was a team captain for the men’s swimming team and was also President of the men’s water polo club during his undergraduate days at Hartwick.

Murray and his wife, Andi, reside in Wynantskill with their daughter, Cooper.