Arizona State’s Pat Murphy resigns post
By Kendall Rogers, Yahoo! Sports Nov 20, 3:53 pm EST
Arizona State coach Pat Murphy surprised everyone in the college baseball community Friday when he announced his resignation.
Murphy spent 15 seasons as coach of the Sun Devils and had one of the nation’s most consistent programs during that time. He guided the Devils to three consecutive Pac-10 titles, a feat that never had been done by any Pac-10 school.
Murphy compiled a 629-284-1 record at ASU. He also has compiled an overall coaching record of 1,000-457-4, with previous stops at Maryville (Tenn.), Claremont-Mudd Scripps and Notre Dame.
“Coach Murphy has an outstanding record of success on the playing field,” said Lisa Love, Arizona State vice president for athletics. “I thank him for 16 years of hard work and service to the university and the sport.”
With Murphy’s resignation, the Sun Devils now must look for a new coach in perhaps the worst time of the year.
In the meantime, former Washington coach Ken Knutson, who was serving as the volunteer assistant for the Sun Devils, is expected to assume the role as interim coach.
Knutson is no stranger to coaching in the Pac-10. He previously spent 17 season at Washington, where he earned the title of winningest coach in school history and compiled a 584-299-2 record.
The Sun Devils still are expected to go through with an extensive national search for a new head coach.