March 17, 2008

DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University head women's basketball coach Carol Owens announced on Monday, that she has promoted assistant coach Molly Murray to associate head coach.

"I think it's a great honor for Molly. It's a promotion she's earned and it's well deserved," Owens said. "Coming in, she had a lot of experience at both the high school and collegiate levels. She's done a great job for us in terms of the kids we're recruiting."

"It's a great honor to be promoted by somebody I hold in such high regard, like Carol," Murray said.

One of Owens' first hires, Murray is in her third season at NIU and is a vital member of the NIU staff. In addition to coaching the Huskie wings and small forwards, Murray serves as the team's recruiting coordinator and also works on scheduling.

A former pupil of Owens' at the University of Michigan, Murray joined the Northern Illinois staff from Culver Academy in Indiana. While at Culver, Murray and Owens coordinated the University of Notre Dame's highly successful summer camps.

Before going to Culver, Murray spent two seasons on Sue Guevara's Michigan staff. She was director of basketball operations in 2001-02 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season.

Murray began her coaching career at Butler University where she was an assistant under head coach Wendy Gatlin. Murray joined Butler's staff after a very successful playing career at Michigan.

Murray capped her four-year career at Michigan as a co-captain, Big Ten All-Tournament pick, and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection in 1997-98, as well as the recipient of the UM Academic Achievement Award and Nike Scholarship Award.

She left Michigan ranked 15th in career scoring (844 pts.) and also as the Wolverine record-holder for three-point field goals made in a game (six) and career (134). Her career three-point percentage (.422) rates fourth on the school's single-season list. She graduated from Michigan in May 1999 with a bachelor's degree in sports management and communications.