Bio

Growing up the son of a basketball coach, Kent Murphree learned the value of hard work at an early age. Through an unrelenting determination, Murphree became one of the top scorers in the history of the Cowley College basketball program. His success as a member of the Tigers has led to his being selected for induction into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame.

Murphree’s earliest memories are of being at his father’s basketball practices when Ron was the head coach at Plainview High School in Oklahoma.

“My father always asked me if I wanted to go to the gym and he didn’t have to ask twice,” Murphree said. “I idolized him and the players he coached. He gave me total unfettered access to the gym, an unrelenting desire to be the best, and a clear understanding that with hard work even a small guy with marginal athleticism could succeed in an athletic game, not to mention a hereditary disdain for losing.”

Kent moved to Arkansas City the summer before his freshman year of high school as his father was hired as the head men’s basketball coach at Cowley College. As a player at Ark City High School, Murphree was a First-Team All-Conference selection and a Coaches All-State Team (Top 20 in State) performer. He was also named First-Team 5A All-State as selected by various media outlets in Kansas and led Class 5A in scoring as a senior, while playing for new head coach Kent Wire.

“Kent Wire changed my perspective of the game,” Murphree said. “He brought a wide open/attack approach to the game my senior year at Ark City. He gave me the complete green light to shoot it whenever and wherever I wanted to. To have a new coach put that kind of faith in someone he really did not know said a lot to me. I was very lucky to have played for him albeit for only a year.”

Despite his success, he was not heavily recruited out of high school, but dreamed as a small kid as far back as he could remember of playing NCAA Division 1 basketball. Seeking an avenue to play at the NCAA Division I level, Murphree chose to begin his collegiate career at Cowley.

“I saw Cowley as an opportunity to prove that I could play at a high level, as the Jayhawk Conference was full of division one players every year,” Murphree said. “Playing for my father was tough for everyone that played for him. He demanded that every player strive for excellence on and off of the floor. His expectations were very high for all of us, and his son was certainly no exception. That said, it was a pleasure to play for him because he definitely pulled the best out of me as a player by demanding a strong work ethic while I was growing up, and then continuing that when I played for him.”

After a solid freshman season in which he averaged 14.7 points and helped lead the Tigers to a record of 20-9, Murphree exploded for a dominant sophomore campaign. Murphree would average 23.4 points per game and finished with what were then the most points scored in a single season in the history of the Tiger basketball program. His 726 points scored during the 1989-1990 season still ranks second to only Corey Williams’ 848 points scored during the 1992-1993 season. He and teammate Tony Windless (1,146 career points) helped the Tigers to a record of 22-9 as sophomores. Murphree was named a First-Team All-Conference selection and finished his Cowley career as the fifth leading scorer (1,153 points) in the history of the program.

“I had great coaches, great teammates and a lifetime of preparation to play college basketball prior to coming to Cowley,” Murphree said. “Although Tony Windless and I were putting up a lot of shots, never once did anyone show any concern about getting shots or doing more. We were a true team and I am forever grateful to all of those guys.”

His play at Cowley led him to fulfilling his childhood dream of playing Division I basketball as he signed to play at the University of Toledo. Tiger teammate Fernando Righetto joined Murphree at the University of Toledo. During Murphree’s first season at Toledo, the Rockets took top-ranked Syracuse University to the wire before losing in his first game at the school. In his second game, also played at the Maui Classic in Hawaii, Murphree hit a Maui Classic record nine three-pointers against host Chaminade. The record stood until only a few years ago and is still a University of Toledo school-record.

As a senior, Murphree was named captain of the team and was twice named Academic All-Mid America Conference. Following graduation from the University of Toledo with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science, Murphree attended law school at the University of Toledo College of Law from which he graduated in 1995.

“My father talked me out of coaching and I wanted to pursue something that was competitive and where I could help people who needed help,” Murphree said. “Law seemed like a good fit.”

Murphree is a resident of the City of Rossford, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Susan and three sons Jackson (13), Reed (10), and Garette (7).

He is proud to be selected for induction into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame. “It is somewhat of a validation of all of the hours in the gym and in the weight room - - it makes all of that worthwhile,” Murphree said. “It also means that I was incredibly blessed and very lucky. What I mean by that is that I was blessed to have a father who convinced me that I could do things that other people said I could never do.”

Ron Murphree ranks fifth on the Tigers’ all-time wins list as he compiled a record of 161-107 during his nine seasons at the school.

“My father was the reason for my success both on and off of the floor,” Murphree said. “Without his persistent encouragement and the exposure to all of the practices and games that he allowed me to experience as a child and then as a young man, I would not have developed the love for the game that ultimately shaped my future. I owe where I am today to my father.”

Murphree is looking forward to returning to Arkansas City with family and friends. “I have already had some old high school teammates contact me about getting some of my old teammates together and I cannot wait to see those guys,” Murphree said. “I would give anything to lace them up with them all again.”