Joplin, Mo. — Missouri Southern Director of Track and Field Bryan Schiding has named Taelour Murphy as a new assistant coach for the Lions’ track and field teams. 
“We are very excited to have Taelour join our coaching staff,” Schiding said. “She understands the rigors of being a successful student athlete and coach at our level. Her background and success in the sprinting events is very impressive, but, what stood out to us the most is her personality. She fits our vision for the programs future, and I feel we share a common view on sprints training and conditioning.
“With combining the men’s and women’s programs it is very important that we have the right fit for the teams. Taelour showed that she had the right combination of professionalism and candor to meet what we felt necessary. Her references were outstanding, and we have zero doubt that she will do an outstanding job for the Lions.”
Murphy joins the Lions after serving as the Director of Operations with the UMASS-Lowell Track & Field programs. Along with coaching responsibilities, she was the athletic academic supervisor at UML.
Her primary responsibilities with MSSU will be the women’s recruiting coordinator and coaching the sprint/hurdle group, while also helping with multi-event athletes.
At UMASS-Lowell, she played an integral role with the department’s transition to Division I as part of its Institutional Performance Program Committee. She served as a liaison for the student-athletes’ questions and concerns as a student-athlete. Then as an alum, she continued to serve on the committee and aid in final preparations for NCAA transition report.
Murphy was a stand-out student-athlete for the River Hawks, competing in the sprints. Currently, Murphy owns records in the 100m, 200m (indoor and outdoor), 400m (outdoor) as well as being a member of both 4×400 relay teams.
A two-time All-American, she was also a nominee for NCAA DI Woman of the Year award, as well as the American East Woman of the Year. She was the America East Championship in the 200m, setting the meet record in the process. She graduated as a two-time winner of the Lester H. Cushing Award as the top female student-athlete at UML. She was a SAAC representative from 2013-15.
Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in english and philosophy from UML in 2015 and earned a master’s degree in education, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2016. She is a member of the history honors society Phi Alpha Theta.
“While I will be far away from home, I am excited to call Missouri Southern State University my new home,” Murphy said. “I cannot wait to work with and learn from the coaching staff and student-athletes.”