Brendan Murphy is in his ninth season as the D'Youville men's soccer head coach, taking over the program in January 2013.
Having brought a long resume of prior coaching and playing experience at various levels of the sport, Murphy is the fifth men's soccer coach at D'Youville since the program's inception in 1999.
Murphy and the Saints got a taste of life at the NCAA Division II level and against East Coast Conference opposition in a shortened spring season in 2021. In three games, the Saints fell to Roberts Wesleyan and Daemen but picked up a convincing 9-0 victory over former AMCC rival, Hilbert.
In 2018, Murphy led the team to its second consecutive AMCC playoff appearance, and third playoff appearance overall under Murphy. Murphy's squad finished the season as the fifth seed with a 4-4-1 conference record, and had selections to both the First Team and Second Team All-AMCC.
2017 saw the program register its second playoff appearance during Murphy's tenure, as the squad reached the AMCC playoffs as the sixth seed. D'Youville finished the 2017 campaign strong as the team was undefeated in the final four games of the regular season, including three consecutive wins.
Murphy's 2014 team led the men's soccer program to the AMCC playoffs for the first time in school history. Turning the team around from an 0-18 season in his first year, Murphy guided the team to a 4-11-2 record, including a four-game unbeaten streak which helped push D'Youville into the six seed for the AMCC playoffs. His success during his second season at the helm earned him AMCC Coach of the Year and Upper 90 Magazine WNY Coach of the Year.
In addition to his responsibilities at D'Youville, Murphy was the goalkeeper coach for the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League in 2017. As part of his position, Murphy worked on a highly-regarded staff with head coach Bob Lilley and assistant coach Mark Pulisic. Lilley had spent 20-plus years coaching in the USL, making the league playoffs in every season. Pulisic spent three years working with Borrusia Dortmund of the Bundesliga, the highest level of professional soccer in Germany. Murphy has also served as head coach of FC Buffalo, the highest level of men's soccer in Buffalo, compiling a 23-17-1 record from 2013 to 2016. During his first NPSL campaign, Murphy coached the team to a 8-4 record which allowed them to qualify for the postseason.
A native of Williamsville, N.Y., Murphy’s collegiate coaching resume prior to D’Youville includes three previous stops in Western New York, two of them at the Division I level. From 2010 to 2012, Murphy was an assistant/goalkeeper coach for the University at Buffalo. During his time with that program, the Bulls were twice semifinalists in the Mid-American Conference Tournament (2010, 2011).
From 2008 to 2010, Murphy was the assistant/goalkeeper coach at Niagara University. The 2009 season saw the Purple Eagles reach the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship match for the first time in their program’s history. Niagara goalkeeper John Fiutowski was the NCAA's national saves leader in 2008 and attended three MLS training camps following Murphy’s tutelage
Before moving to the Division I ranks, Murphy worked with the Buffalo State program, first as the assistant/goalkeeper coach from 2004-2006, then as interim head coach in 2007. Murphy guided the Bengals to a 5-2 record during his brief stint at the helm in 2007, earning a berth into the SUNYAC Tournament. After developing under Murphy, Bengals goalkeeper Shawn McDonnell was offered a contract from the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL First Division and played for Queen City FC of the National Premier Soccer League.
Murphy has also maintained a presence in the grassroots level of the sport. Since July 2017, Murphy has served as the Director of Coaching for the Delaware Soccer Club. His duties for the club include overseeing the entire organization, the development of players, advising coaches and team development. Additionally, since 2007, Murphy has worked as a coach with the New York West Olympic Development Program, most recently as the Director of Goalkeeping for all teams in the region. From 2009 to 2012, Murphy was the Amherst Soccer Association Director of Coaching, managing and organizing approximately 40 travel teams and 1,500 recreational players, 85 travel coaches, and 150 recreational coaches. From 2006 to 2009, Murphy was the Orchard Park Soccer Club Director of Coaching and Camp Director, where he developed and executed a comprehensive coaching curriculum and policies for boy’s and girl’s travel and house league teams.
Murphy is a 2002 graduate of St. Lawrence University. As a student-athlete, Murphy was the starting goalkeeper for the 1999 NCAA National Championship team and a First-Team All-Conference selection in 2001. His four-year career as the Saints goalkeeper included an astounding 41-1 career record with 25 shutouts. Murphy is still etched in the St. Lawrence men’s soccer record book, holding the program records for career winning percentage (.977) and career goals against average (0.53).
After college, Murphy played for the Kalamazoo Kingdom of the Premier Development League and the Cincinnati Riverhawks of the USL First Division. He also trained with Brentford FC and Millwall FC of the First Division Pro League in London, England.
A longtime staple of the WNY soccer scene, Murphy holds a United States Soccer Federation 'A' license.
Murphy resides in Williamsville, N.Y., with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Lincoln and Nora.
