Local legend joins Pirates

 

PHOENIX – One of the most successful basketball coaches in Oregon history, Dennis Murphy, has been hired to coach the Phoenix High boys basketball team for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Murphy, who retired with the highest winning percentage in Oregon history (76.8%) in 2016 before short coaching stints at Kids Unlimited and Southern Oregon University, was introduced to Phoenix High players Monday morning in the PHS library. The seven-time Southern Oregon Conference Coach of the Year, who guided the South Medford boys basketball team to the 2007 state championship, gave the Pirates a brief overview of his philosophy and shared a positive outlook on what to expect in the months ahead.

“If you play hard, you play smart and you’re coachable, I’ll guarantee you that’ll give us a chance,” he told the team, “and that’s all we can ever ask for.”

Murphy coached the St. Mary’s boys basketball team to three conference titles and the 1982 state championship before joining South Medford, then led the Panthers to 18 conference titles, one state title and two runner-up finishes.

Murphy’s longtime assistant coaches Kirk Daley and Mike Vanderhoff will also join him at Phoenix.

The pursuit of the local coaching legend came after a recent chance meeting between Murphy and Phoenix-Talent School District superintendent Brent Barry at a memorial service, during which Barry updated Murphy on the coaching search. At the time, the position had just been filled and Barry expressed excitement about the move. Everything changed shortly thereafter, however, opening the door for the surprise move.

“(Barry) kind of explained that briefly and then he just said, ‘Can you help?’ Murphy said of the exchange. “I laughed and called him back and said, ‘You’re kidding, aren’t you?’”

He wasn’t, so the two met to talk specifics in the PTS district office. After checking to make sure Daley and Vanderhoff could hop on board, too, Murphy committed.

Following Murphy’s introduction Monday, Barry, who played on Murphy’s first South Medford team, thanked the players for their patience during the coaching search.

“I know it’s been a search that hasn’t been super smooth at times, but we got our guy,” he said. “I loved playing for this guy. I’m getting chills (thinking of) him being courtside this year.”