Former Northwood standout Cole Murray back coaching Timberwolves’ volleyball

Northwood Coach Cole Murray talks to his team during a timeout.

Cole Murray made his mark as an outstanding volleyball and basketball player at Northwood High School.

Now, the Timberwolves’ new girls volleyball coach is trying to help his new team win.

“I was the assistant coach last year,” Murray said after a match earlier this season. “It’s my alma mater, so it’s nice having the opportunity to come back full circle. I played here, graduated in 2013 and went off to go play.

“I was blessed and humbled to have this opportunity to come back and coach these young women to develop them into players who play at the next level.”

Murray went to college at Loyola University Chicago where he played Division 1 volleyball.

“They ended up winning in 2013 and 2014, the national championship,” he said.

“I also played basketball at Northwood and I had a great career with Coach (Tim) O’Brien there.

“In basketball, we kind of finished on a great note. We were the first team to go undefeated in league for Northwood. I think that’s a pretty good accomplishment we had. In volleyball, I thought we made it to CIF (playoffs) in my senior year, which we hadn’t in a very long time. I think that was a great step forward for men’s volleyball.”

Now, Murray is focused on coaching, which he enjoys.

“I decided to pick coaching because I just fell in love with the sport,” he said. “I think that as a coach I’m given the opportunity to develop girls and young men into young adults who are ready to take that next step going into college and they’re ready to have those characteristics instilled in them to be successful wherever they go.”

Murray hopes to also help out the Northwood boys team in the spring if his schedule allows.

“I’m currently the graduate assistant at Concordia University for the boys team,” he said. “It’s very busy days, but it’s nice seeing different teams.”