Murphy Opts To Stay At Eastern Michigan

Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/article/20120817/SPORTS08/308170156/Rob-Murphy-to-stay-as-Eastern-Michigan-basketball-coach

Rob Murphy will remain the men’s basketball coach at Eastern Michigan.

After strongly considering leaving for a scouting job with the Orlando Magic, Murphy has decided to stay in Ypsilanti. EMU announced Murphy, hired before last season, was staying in a release Thursday night, two days after multiple reports surfaced that he was leaving for the NBA.

Had Murphy left EMU, he would have been required to pay the university $210, 000 to break his contract. That is equivalent to one year’s salary and would need to be paid in a lump sum or in monthly payments over the remaining term of the five-year contract, which is four more years.

EMU athletic director Derrick Gragg told the Free Press that the money issue never came up in their conversations and that there are no plans to alter Murphy’s contract.

Asked whether he was concerned about how Murphy’s flirtation with leaving would affect recruiting and the stability of the basketball program, Gragg said: “I feel Rob is committed to the program. I know he’s going to be a hot commodity, but we feel like now he’s committed to staying here and continuing to move our program in the right direction.”

Allowing Murphy to stay and moving forward with him as coach was a university process beyond the athletic department because of the profile and salary associated with Murphy’s job. Gragg insisted this will not alter their personal relationship going forward.

Murphy Opts To Stay At Eastern Michigan

Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/article/20120817/SPORTS08/308170156/Rob-Murphy-to-stay-as-Eastern-Michigan-basketball-coach

Rob Murphy will remain the men’s basketball coach at Eastern Michigan.

After strongly considering leaving for a scouting job with the Orlando Magic, Murphy has decided to stay in Ypsilanti. EMU announced Murphy, hired before last season, was staying in a release Thursday night, two days after multiple reports surfaced that he was leaving for the NBA.

Had Murphy left EMU, he would have been required to pay the university $210, 000 to break his contract. That is equivalent to one year’s salary and would need to be paid in a lump sum or in monthly payments over the remaining term of the five-year contract, which is four more years.

EMU athletic director Derrick Gragg told the Free Press that the money issue never came up in their conversations and that there are no plans to alter Murphy’s contract.

Asked whether he was concerned about how Murphy’s flirtation with leaving would affect recruiting and the stability of the basketball program, Gragg said: “I feel Rob is committed to the program. I know he’s going to be a hot commodity, but we feel like now he’s committed to staying here and continuing to move our program in the right direction.”

Allowing Murphy to stay and moving forward with him as coach was a university process beyond the athletic department because of the profile and salary associated with Murphy’s job. Gragg insisted this will not alter their personal relationship going forward.