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Albuquerque coaches shuffle
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In the Albuquerque sports world this week one coach has resigned from a team and one coach joins another team. The following are press releases from the New Mexico Scorpions and UNM Athletics.
Murphy Resigns As Scorpions Head Coach
New Mexico Scorpions Head Coach Randy Murphy has resigned. Murphy has decided to accept the head coaching position for the Huntsville Havoc of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
Following his retirement from the ice, Murphy joined the coaching staff as an assistant in the 2006-07 season. The past two seasons the Scorps’ Hall of Famer has run the on ice operations to the tune of a 61-57-10 record.
“It is with mixed emotions, that I made this decision,” said Murphy. “I want to thanks first and foremost the fans for continued support throughout the years, and the ownership for the opportunity to start my coaching career here.”
Fans in New Mexico first saw Murphy take to the ice when he skated with the team from 1999-2001 and again for the 2004-05 season. The Mississauga, Ontario native played in 199 games scoring 250 points, second most in the organization’s history.
“Randy was very loyal to the Scorpions organization and we wish him the best on this next step,” said Dave Ellett, Scorpions Owner/President. “Under the current circumstances it was the right move for him and his family.”
The Scorpions ownership continues to work towards solutions to make the Scorpions viable for the 2009-2010 season. Visit www.scorpionshockey.com for all the latest news on the situation.
Wyking Jones Named Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach
Wyking (WHY-king) Jones begins his first season as men’s assistant basketball coach at the University of New Mexico. Jones replaces Chris Walker, who last month accepted a similar position at Villanova, his alma mater.
Jones, 36, spent the past two years as a travel team manager with Nike.
Prior to Nike, Jones worked five seasons (2002-06) at Pepperdine as an assistant to head coach Paul Westphal.
“We’re very excited about Wyking joining the staff,” said Lobos head coach Steve Alford. “He’s been with the Nike Grassroots program the past couple of years, so his experience of being around a lot of student-athletes and making those ties should help us a lot in recruiting. Wyking gives us a good transition with Coach Walker because he played for Coach Walker at Loyola Marymount. Wyking has really good West Coast ties because he played high school and college basketball in California.”
Before Pepperdine, Jones played professional basketball in Italy, France, Japan, Lebanon and South Korea.
“I’m extremely excited and honored to be a part of Steve Alford’s staff and the Lobo basketball family,” said Jones. “I have been very impressed – really blown away - with the fan support of New Mexico men’s basketball for many years.”
Jones was a four-year letterwinner for head coach John Olive at Loyola Marymount from 1992-95, totaling 1,076 points and 493 rebounds in his career. He earned all-West Coast Conference honors as a junior in 1993-94, averaging 19.7 points and 8 rebounds a game.
Jones was also tabbed LMU’s Student-Athlete of the Year following his junior season.
Jones’ junior season was highlighted by a 39-point, 16-rebound, five-block effort against San Francisco. He tallied 20 or more points 12 times with eight double-doubles, including a career-high 17 rebounds against Oral Roberts. Jones was honorable mention all-WCC as a senior when he averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount in 1995. He served as a Lions’ assistant coach during the 1996-97 season.
Jones also has acting experience. He had movie parts in “The Wood,” “Brown Sugar” and “The Benchwarmers,” and has done some television commercials.
Jones, and his wife, Estrella, have a son, Jameel, and a daughter, Zoe.
For more information about New Mexico sports, click the links below:
New Mexico Sports Examiner Articles
New Mexico Scorpions
UNM Lobo Basketball
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