University of Mount Olive Men's Lacrosse

Murphy was named head men's lacrosse coach at the University of Mount Olive in September 2012. Mount Olive added men's lacrosse beginning with the 2012-13 academic year. In 2015, Murphy guided Mount Olive to the Championship Game of the Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse Tournament for the second year in a row. The Trojans were within a goal at the end of one quarter before falling to eventual national champion Limestone. Ross "Rocky" Bowman became the Trojans' first-ever men's lacrosse All-America. Mount Olive was ranked as high as No. 9 during the 2015 season and finished the season ranked No. 12. The Trojans concluded the 2014 season with their first-ever national ranking, placing No. 15 in the year-end USILA Division II Men's Lacrosse Top 15 Poll. The Trojans also won an NCAA Statistical Championship in 2014, leading the nation in man-up offense with a .529 percentage. Under Murphy, Mount Olive has finished at .500 or above in each of the first three years of the men's lacrosse program. The Trojans have posted double-digit win totals in each of the last two years. In his first year as head coach and Mount Olive's first year of varsity men's lacrosse, Murphy was named 2013 Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year. The Trojans posted a 7-7 overall record and came within an overtime goal in the season finale of clinching a winning season and earning a berth in the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Murphy came to Mount Olive from Catawba College, where he spent the previous three years as assistant men's lacrosse coach. Murphy helped Catawba earn its first-ever national ranking during the 2011 season and the Indians were ranked as high as No. 8 in 2012. Catawba's 14-3 record in Murphy's final season marked the most wins in school history. Murphy earned his undergraduate degree in communications arts (concentration in sociology) from Catawba College. He was an All-Deep South Conference First Team selection and also earned Deep South Conference All-Academic honors. Murphy serves on the USILA National Poll Committee. On campus, Murphy is a member of the University of Mount Olive Common Reading Selection Committee, which designates a book to be assigned to students in the ADV 100 class, a semester-long course required for all incoming UMO freshman. Mike and his fiance Sue will be married this fall. They have a son, Finnegan, who was born March 30, 2015. Year-By-Year Record Updated June 14, 2015

A former associate head coach with the program, Dylan Price enters his eighth year at UMO and first season as the head coach in 2022. Price returns to Mount Olive after serving one year as the head men's lacrosse coach at William Peace University, a Division III program. He spent three years as the Associate Head Coach at UMO under former head coach Mike Murphy after a four-year stint as an assistant coach with the program. In 2019, Price was named the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) "Stan Kowalski" Division II Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year. Price led William Peace to immediate success in his first year at the helm achieving a 7-8 overall record, which set a program record for wins in a single-season. The Pacers also featured three all-conference players, including first-team selections Devin Noonan and Patrick Calhoun. Price also guided William Peace to their best winning percentage, goal scored and goals against marks in program history in 2022. At Mount Olive, Price assisted the program to a 73-30 overall record during his tenure. He helped UMO to at least 11 victories six times, as the team made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2016 and 2021. Price coached 18 USILA All-Americans, including six-straight goalkeepers for the Trojans. He also mentor eight Scholar All-Americans with three earning Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors from the Conference Carolinas. The Trojans steadily remained in the USILA top 15 national rankings with Price on staff and featured three-straight Defensive Player of the Year honorees.   Price guided the UMO defense to consistent top ten statistical rankings in his seven years with the team. In 2021, the Trojans ranked in the top ten in clearing percentage and goals-against average behind National Co-Short Stick Defensive Player of the Year Brady Elbin. UMO would secure their second trip the NCAA Tournament with five All-Americans and Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Averello during this season.   In 2018, the Trojans ranked first in the country in scoring defense (6.50), while being second in man-down defense (.825) and goals-against average (6.60). UMO goalie Will Urban would go onto earn All-American First-Team status and the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Award, which is given to the most outstanding goalkeeper in each NCAA division. Price was named a three-time All-American at goalkeeper at Mars Hill University and participated in the Division I/II North-South All-Star Game. He tallied over 500 career saves in 48 games with the Lions and led the nation in save percentage as a junior. After graduation, Price would serve as an assistant coach for Mars Hill for one season.   Price completed his bachelor's degree in physical education from Mars Hill University in 2012.