Patrice Murray enters her 37th season as the head coach of the Monmouth women's tennis program in 2022-23. Murray prides her program on not only the athletic competition, but academic success. Her program has earned NCAA recognition in nine-straight season for its multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) and placed to the Division I Academic Performance Program (APP). Murray’s Hawks were one of 146 teams across the country to claim the honor every season over the past nine years and one of 16 women’s tennis squads to be lauded.
In the 2021-22 season, Murray led the Hawks to five overall wins and a pair of MAAC victories as Monmouth just fell short of the making the conference tournament. Sophomore Lenien Jamir was tabbed Second Team All-MAAC at No. 4 singles.
Murray helped guide the Hawks to two MAAC wins in 2020-21, nearly missing the conference tournament. Jamir was named to the All-MAAC First Team at No. 5 singles, while sophomore Zoe Klapman earned All-MAAC Second Team honors at No. 3 singles.
Murray helped usher the Hawks into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference era, improving MU’s win total in league play in the second year.
Murray led her crew to their second straight NEC Championships Consolation Bracket title in 2009. Murray oversaw the development of several promising underclassmen including Jessica Slinger, whose 12 singles wins paced the MU singles players that year.
From 1999-2002, Murray led the Hawks to unprecedented heights, garnering a 44-22-1 record during that span.
Murray's Monmouth roots run deep as she graduated in 1982 from the University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Murray also earned her master's degree in educational administration from Monmouth in 1989. Murray is, without question, one of the most versatile athletes that the school has ever produced. She came to Monmouth on a basketball scholarship and ultimately played four years of tennis, basketball and softball. While playing first singles, she posted a 34-12 dual match record and was a three-time team captain and MVP. For her athletic excellence, Murray earned the "Best All-Around Athlete" Award for each of her four years.
Coach Murray coached high school basketball for nine years while returning to her alma mater in 1985 to coach tennis. For the last 33 years she has also worked at Oak Hill Academy, a private elementary school in Lincroft, where she is the Director of Personnel/Administration. In her free time she teaches private tennis lessons and plays the flute.
Murray is a resident of Red Bank, N.J.
