Athletic Report
April 23, 2002

MARK MURDOCK NAMED ASSISTANT COACH AT ENMU
PORTALES, NM – Mark Murdock, head men’s basketball coach at Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas, has been named assistant men’s basketball coach at Eastern New Mexico University, Dr. Steve Gamble, president of ENMU, announced today. He replaces Doug Davalos, who resigned earlier this spring to become the head men’s basketball coach at Sul Ross State University. Murdock will begin his new duties immediately.

“I’m pleased that Head Coach Shawn Scanlan was able to locate such an experienced young man to become our new men’s basketball assistant coach,” Dr. Gamble said. “I know this is an important time for identifying and signing student-athletes, and that Coach Murdock will be a great help in completing the recruiting process. His previous experience also indicates that he will be an effective assistant coach during practices and games.”

Murdock, 34, was the head coach at Eastfield from 1998-99 through 2001-02. During his four years, he coached six First Team All-Conference selections, four All-Region picks and one All-American. He is overall record at Eastfield was 56-61. He was 41-18 the past two seasons, including 21-9 in 2000-01, when the Harvesters won the Metro Athletic Conference title. EC was 20-9 in 2001-02.

“From a recruiting standpoint, he gives us a real knowledge of the Metroplex (Dallas metro area). He has recruited extensively in Texas,” Scanlan said. “Texas has been a recruiting base for us because of our location. He gives us a way to work that state, both at the junior college and high school level.”

Prior to becoming a head coach, Murdock was the assistant men’s basketball coach at Eastfield for four seasons. He helped coach the Harvesters to the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 1997 and to three Metro Athletic Conference championships. He worked with five players who were named All-American. Overall, he has coached six of the eight All-Americans in the history of the Eastfield College men’s basketball program. In addition to his coaching duties, he was the public relations and media relations representative for the team.

“I’m excited,” Murdock said. “It’s a move up for us (he and his wife). I was at a junior college for eight years. I really enjoyed being there.” Although he was happy at Eastfield, Murdock looks forward to coaching as an assistant at the NCAA Division II level. He also is familiar with the Lone Star Conference.

“I enjoy my relationship with the kids more as an assistant. I enjoy recruiting and developing players, and that’s what an assistant does. “We (Eastfield College) sent players all over the Lone Star Conference. Over the last eight years, a lot of our kids have gone Lone Star.”

Murdock and his wife, Edie, have two children. Will is 7 years old and Aidan will be 4 years on May 15. Murdock will be on his own in Portales until Will completes first grade, then the rest of the family will join him in New Mexico.