Pat Murphy (baseball manager)

Pat Murphy
Murphy with the Tucson Padres in 2013
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 21
Manager
Born: (1958-11-28) November 28, 1958 (age 66) Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Career statistics
Managerial record	135-123
Winning %	.523
Teams
As coach Milwaukee Brewers (2016–2023) As manager San Diego Padres (2015) Milwaukee Brewers (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards
NL Manager of the Year (2024)
Coaching career Coaching career (HC unless noted) 1988–1994 Notre Dame 1995–2009 Arizona State Head coaching record Overall 947–400–2 Accomplishments and honors Awards NL Manager of the Year (2024)

Patrick Thomas Murphy (born November 28, 1958) is an American baseball coach and manager who is the manager for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously served as the interim manager of the San Diego Padres and head coach for college baseball teams including Arizona State University and the University of Notre Dame.

Murphy attended Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and played college baseball for the Florida Atlantic Owls as a catcher and infielder. He also pitched on occasion.^[1] He was honored on FAU's 20th Anniversary Team as a pitcher and utility player and in 2008 was inducted into the school's Baseball Hall of Fame.

Murphy signed a professional baseball contract with the San Francisco Giants in 1982 and played four years in the minor leagues for the Giants, San Diego Padres, and two independent teams.^[1]

Murphy served as the head baseball coach and assistant football coach for the Maryville College Fighting Scots in 1983. In 1985, he was hired as head baseball coach and assistant football coach for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags.^[2] He was hired by the University of Notre Dame as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team on July 11, 1987.^[3] Murphy guided the Fighting Irish to a 318–116–1 (.732) record in South Bend, including consecutive trips to NCAA regional finals in 1992, 1993, and 1994.

Murphy was hired by Arizona State University (ASU) as the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team in 1995. The Sun Devils won the Pac-10 Conference championship in 2000 and consecutive Pac-10 championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Twice in that same decade, Murphy had teams finish in the top 3 in the country; a feat matched by only ten other schools. Murphy's ASU teams were consistently present in the national top 25, including a streak of 100 consecutive weeks in the polls that lasted from 2000 until the middle of 2005. Murphy led the Sun Devils to the postseason for nine straight seasons and 11 of 12. His teams set an NCAA record of not being shut out in 506 consecutive games between 1995 and 2004, shattering the previous streak of 349.^[4]

Murphy became the youngest collegiate coach to reach 500 career victories in 1998.^[5] In 1998, he won Baseball America's Coach of the Year award and was Pac-10 Coach of the Year four times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2009). He led ASU to the College World Series four times (1998, 2005, 2007, 2009).

On November 20, 2009, Murphy resigned in the middle of an investigation of Arizona State's baseball program. It was initially reported that the resignation was his own decision. However, in December 2009, The Arizona Republic reported that on the day of his resignation, Murphy had been given an ultimatum: resign or be fired.^[6] The NCAA's investigation found Murphy innocent of violations regarding student-athlete employment and recruiting, reprimanding him solely for treating investigators with a "cavalier attitude". The Arizona State athletic department was faulted for lack of institutional control, however, resulting in the baseball program being sanctioned and banned from postseason play in the 2012 season, as ASU was a repeat offender.^[7] Murphy's career record at ASU was 629–284–1.

In February 2010, Murphy was hired by the San Diego Padres as Special Assistant to Baseball Operations.^[8] Murphy skippered the Padres' Northwest League affiliate, the Eugene Emeralds, as their manager for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, as the Emeralds had consecutive league-best overall season records.^[9] While in Eugene, Coach Murphy compiled a 93–47 record (.664 pct).

Murphy managed the Tucson Padres of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 2013 and the El Paso Chihuahuas of the PCL in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, the Milwaukee Brewers wanted to hire Murphy as a major league coach on Craig Counsell's coaching staff; Murphy coached Counsell at Notre Dame. The Padres refused to allow him to join the Brewers, even though it would constitute a promotion.^[10]

On June 16, 2015, Murphy was appointed interim manager of the San Diego Padres after then-manager Bud Black was fired.^[11] Immediately after the 2015 season, the Padres announced that Murphy would not be retained as manager.^[12]

After the 2015 season, the Milwaukee Brewers hired Murphy as bench coach for Craig Counsell's coaching staff; Murphy was Counsell's coach during his playing career at Notre Dame.^[13] On June 11, 2023, Murphy filled in as manager for an absent Craig Counsell, who missed the game due to his son's graduation. The Brewers won the game 8–6.^[14]

Following the 2023 season, Counsell accepted the managerial position for the Chicago Cubs. On November 16, 2023, the Brewers promoted Murphy to serve as their new manager.^[15][16][17]

Before the 2024 season, most analysts and reporters predicted the Brewers would finish low in the NL Central due to Craig Counsell’s departure, the loss of key players including star pitcher Corbin Burnes, and Murphy’s limited experience as an MLB manager. Under Murphy, however, the Brewers dramatically exceeded expectations. On September 18, the Brewers became the first team to clinch a postseason spot and won the NL Central. They finished the regular season with a record of 93-69, tied for the fourth-best record in all of baseball, and played the New York Mets in a Wild Card series. Milwaukee lost to the Mets in 3 games.

For the unexpected success of the Brewers in 2024 despite significant injury troubles and starting pitching woes, Murphy was awarded the 2024 NL Manager of the Year Award, making Murphy the first Brewers manager to earn this distinction.

As of October 3, 2024

Murphy has a daughter, Keli, from a relationship early in his life.^[19] Keli married Pedro Álvarez in 2011.^[20]

Murphy had a son, Kai, born to his second wife in the year 2000. As of October 2024 Kai plays as an outfielder in the Padres' organization.^[19]

Murphy had two marriages which ended in divorce, the first divorce in the 1990s and the second in 2000.^[19]

Murphy also has sons born circa 2015 and circa 2019, and has shared custody of both.^[19]

Murphy had a heart attack at a team workout in July 2020. He was hospitalized and implanted with a stent before being discharged.^[21] He returned to the team in September.^[22]

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Murph42.com - The Official Site of Coach Pat Murphy at the Wayback Machine (archived October 10, 2016)