35 years and counting:

Karen C. Tully Arizona Daily Wildcat Wildcat cross country head coach Dave Murray has been named the Pacific 10 Conference cross country coach of the year five times, most recently in 1994. Murray has been either an athlete or coach at Arizona since 1962.

Cross country head coach Dave Murray has seen a lot. He is starting his 31st year at Arizona, longer than any other current UA coach.

"I've actually been a part of Arizona athletics since 1962," Murray said. "So that's what, 35 years?"

Murray first came to the UA to run cross country and track and field, recruited by the school's first cross country coach, Carl Cooper. Murray's first season was the first year for Arizona as a member of the fledgling Western Athletic Conference.

"When I first came here as a student, I just wanted to get my degree and move on," Murray said. "I had no intention of staying in Tucson."

Things did not work out that way. After graduating in 1965, Murray spent two years coaching track and field at Bella Vista High School in Sacramento, Calif. before being called back to Arizona.

Coach Cooper offered Murray the job of assistant coach, while Murray could continue to pursue his Masters degree in physical education at the same time.

Murray accepted, and has never left since.

After the 1967-68 school year, Coach Cooper left to become director of the US Track and Field Association, while Murray stayed on as interim head coach for both cross country and track. Murray became the permanent head coach for cross country in 1969.

Over the years, Murray has seen things from the bizarre, to the frightening and "too many good moments to count."

"I can't pick one moment that stands out," he said. "One of the most exciting things to see as a coach is whenever someone goes out and breaks their personal mark. That's great, knowing that you've helped them get better."

Murray did admit that junior runner Amy Skieresz's four national titles last season was one of the high marks, as were many of the other individual national championships over the years.

All together, Murray has coached 11 NCAA track and field champions and three cross country champions.

In addition to the good moments, there were some odd ones. The strangest thing Murray claims to have seen came during an Arizona-Arizona State track meet back in the 1980's.

"One of our athletes was running the 400-meters when a dog ran out on the track," he explained. "The dog ran between his legs, and our runner tripped and fell, but as he did so, he broke the dog's back. It wasn't a funny thing, but it was certainly the weirdest."

Murray considers the most frightening moment to have come very early into his term at Arizona.

"Back in 1968 during practice one of our runners was practicing the 800-meters when he got hit in the head by a discus. It was an emotional thing to be involved with. I was only 24 at the time, and he was about 20 or 21, so it was more like we were two friends than the type of relationship that I have now with my runners."

Murray also said that the suicide of track and field coach Willie Williams, back in 1983, was one of the "darkest moments" of his time in Tucson.

Over the years, Murray has seen Arizona become one of the "premier programs" in the nation.

"When I came here we ran on the worst track in the world," he said. "Now we have a state of the art facility."

Murray credits his lengthy stay at the UA to simply "enjoying what I do. Back in the early years I had many opportunities to move on. But there's no sense in doing that when you're enjoying your job as much as I have."

After spending 30 years coaching a sport that does not receive the attention and press that football and basketball do, one might think that Murray is bitter about it all. One would be surprised.

"It's a big complaint among all non-revenue sports," Murray said in reference to the lack of media attention. "Generally, track and field in this country is not a real high market sport. It's not bad for us (coaches), but for the kids running out there.

"But if it wasn't for basketball and football, who would pay the bills? They help us by getting more people in the stands and by bringing in attention to the school that helps us with recruiting."

Senior cross country runner Tone Bratteng thinks that Murray doesn't really want any special recognition.

"He's pretty humble," she said. "Any publicity the team gets is good enough for him."

"He deserves a lot (of recognition). He's one of the longest-lasting coaches in Arizona history," Skieresz said, disagreeing with Bratteng. "He's an honest, and good, and decent guy. He always follows the rules and he's always in control. When we go on trips and he's not there, everything falls apart."

Assistant coach Fred Harvey believes that even without the press, Murray is among the all-time greats in Arizona coaching.

"I think he's definitely in the upper echelon of coaches at this institution," Harvey said. "What he has produced in terms of national champions and Olympic athletes puts him up there with Lute Olson."

Murray has received a few accolades here and there over the years.

He was the NCAA cross country coach of the year in 1984, when the UA men's team finished second at the NCAA championships.

He has been the Pacific 10 Conference cross country coach of the year five times, most recently in 1994.

The Arizona program under Murray produced 36 All-Americans in cross country and 66 in track and field.

"He's a great coach. Do what he says and you can go places," junior Jeff McLarty said in regards to Murray's experience and accomplishments. "He knows his stuff. A knowledgeable man."

In six years Murray would surpass former UA basketball coach Fred Enke (1925-61) as the longest standing head coach in Arizona history, if he remains at UA for that long. Murray said that he has "no plans to retire anytime soon," so the record could be broken.

When all is said and done, Murray said that he would like to be remembered "for doing a good job."

"I don't think people remember how many championships you won, but in the long run how a good a job you did and how good a person you were," he said.

History is said to judge people by their accomplishments and their impact on the people whose lives they have touched. If that is the case, Dave Murray will be remembered for much longer than the 30 years he has spent at Arizona.