Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb Athletics
 110 S. Main St. Boiling Spring, NC 28017
Division 1 North Carolina Southeast
Private Small National competitor
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Tina Murphy

In 2023, Murphy enters her first season at Gardner-Webb after two seasons as the head coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken.


In her second season, Murphy led the Pacers to a 7-4-4 overall record and a 4-3-3 mark in conference play, their best finish in the Peach Belt Conference since 2006. The improvements in 2022 included an eight-point increase from Murphy’s first season in Aiken, the biggest one-year jump in program history. Her team also tied a program record with eight combined shutout wins and draws.


The 2022 USC Aiken Pacers featured two all-conference players, the program’s 16-year best, including Megan Gettys, who became first USC Aiken player to earn PBC Freshman of the Year honors.


Last season’s successes propelled USC Aiken to back-to-back PBC Tournament appearances after the program reached postseason play just twice the previous 12 seasons. During her first year at the helm, Murphy guided USC Aiken to the conference tournament for the first time since 2017.


Murphy joined USC Aiken after three seasons as the head coach at Montreat College (2018-2020). After taking over a program ranked 190th nationally out of 195 NAIA teams, Murphy elevated Montreat into the top-40, reaching No. 36 nationally in the fall 2020 season, her final season with the Cavaliers. Her performance garnered Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors.


In the three years prior to Murphy’s arrival, Montreat managed just two total wins in conference play. In Murphy’s third and final season, the Cavaliers produced an 8-2-3 conference record (.731 win pct.).


In three seasons at Montreat, Murphy developed an honorable mention All-American, a conference player of the year, a conference freshman of the year, and two additional all-conference honorees, while one-third of the roster earned all-academic recognition and the team produced a 3.43 cumulative GPA.


Prior to her arrival at Montreat, Murphy worked as the Elite Training Coach for North Carolina FC. Other previous coaching stops include three seasons as an assistant at Liberty University (2011-2013) and three seasons as the head coach of Praia Grande Brazil (2008-2010), a then-first-year team competing in the 1st Division Professional league in Sao Paulo.


Murphy also possesses club coaching experience with the Triangle United Soccer Association, Central Virginia United Soccer Club, and the Olympic Development Program.


A graduate of Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, New York, Murphy was a Parade All-American and named one of the top-five defenders nationally. She played collegiately for the University of North Carolina, winning four national championships and five Atlantic Coast Conference titles during her career. While at North Carolina, Murphy was selected to the U-20 Women’s National Team pool, earned ACC Honor Roll recognition, and made the Dean’s List while playing for Hall of Fame Coach Anson Dorrance.


After earning her bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from North Carolina in 2000, Murphy played semi-professionally for the Charlotte Lady Eagles in the W-League. She was named captain after her first year and remained in the role until retirement seven years later. A two-time All-W-League and three-time all-conference selection, Murphy is the all-time leading goal scorer and points leader for the Eagles under the guidance of Hall of Fame Coach Lee Horton.


Murphy also played professionally overseas for three years with Santos Futebol Clube (Brazil 1st Division), for two years with Bristol Football Club (England 1st Division), and for one year with Ferroviária Futebol Clube (Brazil 1st Division).


She holds a United States Soccer Federation ‘C’ License, United States Soccer Federation ‘D’ License, United Soccer Coaches Level 1 Goalkeeper Diploma, United Soccer Coaches Level 2 Goalkeeper Diploma and United States Soccer Federation ‘E’ License.

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Alecia McNiff

Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

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