During a Coppell girls basketball team meeting on Monday, coach Ryan Murphy announced his decision to take on the role of the Coppell boys basketball coach. 

“I needed the perfect opportunity,” Murphy said. “With the culture that we have built in the girls program, it needed to be the perfect situation for me to take on a new role.” 

Being the boys assistant for three seasons from 2016-19, then the girls head coach for four seasons from 2019-2024, leaving the Cowgirls was not an easy choice. 

For Murphy, it is not a better opportunity, but a chance to rebuild the boys program just like he rebuilt the girls. 

“It is really bittersweet,” Murphy said. “All of those girls have had such an impact on me and the parents, they’ve been incredible. It’s really hard to walk away from them, but I just felt like the boys program was in a position where the things that I felt like they needed and what they could be, I could help provide.”

Replacing Clint Schnell as head coach, Murphy takes over the boys after its 16-17 season which did not produce a playoff berth. After six years leading the boys program, Schnell resigned to seek a new opportunity. 

His first meeting with the boys was short, but had a strong impact. 

“I introduced myself to the team and I could tell that these guys are winners,” Murphy said. “I told them that we can win now and we need to start instilling fear into the other teams.”

With the season to come, Murphy looks forward to winning and changing the team for the better. 

“I believe we have what it takes to win now,” Murphy said. “However, everyone is getting the same opportunity to earn a spot on the team and they will have a better mentality.”

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