Missouri Valley College Athletic Director Mike Machholz announces the hiring of Nicole Murphy as the new head coach for the women’s volleyball program.

Murphy comes to Missouri Valley with experience coaching at the collegiate and high school levels. Most recently, Murphy has spent the past three seasons as the head coach for the Fulton High School girl’s volleyball program. Murphy turned the program around, and finished the 2023 season with the first district and conference championships in eight years. Prior collegiate coaching experience includes assistant coaching roles at both Avila and Iowa Lakes Community College.

As a collegiate athlete at Columbia (Mo.), Murphy was a member of three AMC championship teams, making four NAIA National tournament appearances, two National semifinals appearances and being named to the AMC All-Conference first team her senior season. Other prior coaching stops include leading Calvary Lutheran High School to the program’s first state tournament appearance, and guiding Rock Bridge High School to its first district title. Murphy has extensive club volleyball coaching experience in Kansas City, Mo., for Southwind Volleyball Club, along with CMVBC, 417 Columbia and Alpha Omega Volleyball Club.

“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to join the Viking family and lead the Missouri Valley College women’s volleyball program,” said Murphy. I would like to thank Athletic Director Mike Machholz and the school for their trust in me to keep building this program. I am eager to embark on this new journey coaching these young women to excellence on the court, but also coach them in a way they will excel in all aspects of their lives”

Murphy takes over a women’s volleyball program that finished with a 15-17 overall record, the most wins in a single-season since 2017, and earned a berth into the Heart Postseason Tournament for the first time since 2018.