Penn State head coach Tim Murphy is currently on an unspecified leave of absence away from the Nittany Lions’ swimming and diving program, a university spokesperson told SwimSwam on Thursday.
Penn State declined to comment further on the reason for Murphy’s leave, when his absence began, or when he might return. The former Harvard head coach has been at the helm of the Nittany Lions’ combined program since 2013.
During Murphy’s leave, Erin Matyus is serving as interim women’s swimming head coach and Dan Carrington is guiding the men’s team. Matyus came to Penn State last season after 11 years as an assistant and associate head coach at Lehigh. Carrington also arrived in Happy Valley last season as an associate head coach after six seasons as an assistant at Florida State.
The Nittany Lion men placed 7th out of eight teams at the Big Ten Championships last month while the women placed 9th out of 12 teams. Penn State didn’t send any women’s swimmers to the NCAA Championships this week in Athens, Georgia, but three men — Cooper Morley (50 free and 100 back), Victor Baganha (100 fly), and Mariano Lazzerini (100 breast and 200 breast) qualified to represent the Nittany Lions next week at IUPUI along with three relays. However, a few days ago, Baganha scratched out of NCAAs with an undisclosed health issue.
Three female swimmers came forward with accusations of bullying against Murphy back in 2018, prompting a review of the program by the university’s athletics integrity officer. Other swimmers, including Irish Olympian Shane Ryan, spoke out in support of Murphy.
There is a lot more to the story. Hope the truth comes out
The diving coach got whacked as well. Seems rather unusual.
I wonder if this has anything to do with why their most prominent recruit and swimmer transferred to an in-conference rival…and is now swimming great for Ohio State at NCAA’s
The Marlin Family, especially Bert, love Tim Murphy. His posts on Facebook show so much support for PSU!!
Yes. Thank you Bert (paswimming) for your continued support for the PSU program and the coach that meant so much to your daughters.
I would probably say there most prominent swimmers are Marino Lazzerni (B1G Champ), Cooper Morley, and Victor Bagnaha. All Real threats at the NCAA level.
They definitely have some very prominent swimmers who are threats at the NCAA level. Multiple men on the team have the opportunity to Championship Final at NCAAs, as well as a relays with a chance to do well. The even had their first B1G ten champ in a few years this year.
passing judgement before facts and trial?
Coached with him for a year at Harvard. Good man.
as a proud alumni & former PSU swimmer, I am (and have been) very disappointed with coach Murphy and how he has done nothing to involve alumni. When I swam at PSU it was my favorite weekend when former swimmers came to visit on the weekends. Since he’s been a part of the program things have changed significantly and not for the better
Tim, and the rest of the coaching staff have done a phenomenal job this year. More things to come, a team on the rise. Hats off to the amazing season they had, and I’m excited to see what they can do in the future with a great recruiting class coming in
Lots of big words, no results , talks a good game.
PSU women are still going the same times we were going in the 2000s. Sent no female swimmers to NCAAs.
Why would any decent swimmer go to PSU to swim in that horrible pool? Is there any other school in the conference (with a swim program) that does not have an indoor 50m?
While seemingly harsh, this comment has merit. It’s a huge issue. New pool was “in the works” since I was there (captain for three years, graduated 1990). Alum were solicited to give towards it (in my 30s I was approached my fundraising). I’m 56 and still waiting.
As a former swimmer at PSU, I, too, am disappointed in the overall program. Granted Murphy had only been there 11 years, but during Sandy Barbour’s AD time, she had said that there would be a new pool built (never happened)…back in the 90’s they recruited saying an indoor 50 meter pool would be built (never happened). Penn State has an operating budget of $7.7 billion (with a B), yet nobody seems to be willing to spearhead a project to improve the swimming facilities at PSU. Pete Brown tried (but nothing came of it). Dorenkott sat on a donation for years but donor wound up pulling the money because PSU waited so long.
One would think that an institution… Read more »
Tough with all of the coaching turnover with the program, but the coaching staff and especially the athletes have stepped up BIG TIME. 7th place at B1Gs may not sound great but you could see that something exciting is brewing in happy valley- especially the men. That team is young and hungry.
there are 8 teams lol
the women’s team sent diver Daphne Wils