JOURNAL SPORTS 

GRAMBLING – After seven years highlighted by a Southwestern Athletic Conference co-championship and a WNIT victory at Ole Miss, Freddie Murray was terminated Monday as Grambling State’s women’s basketball coach. 

Murray was 93-115 overall, including 10-20 this season. Grambling was 9-9 in the SWAC, eighth in the 12-team league. 

He took over as interim coach in 2016-17 and led the Lady Tigers to a pair of 19-win seasons, following the SWAC championship year with a SWAC Tournament title in 2018 and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. 

But after going 39-15 in the conference in his first three seasons, Grambling’s overall and SWAC records dipped. The Lady Tigers were 31-37 in SWAC play in the last four seasons, and 39-71 overall, although challenging non-conference schedules contributed to that overall under .500 performance. 

“THANK YOU GRAMFAN!” Murray wrote on Twitter. “(Eight) years of success, milestones and achievements have unfortunately come to an end at Exit 81 (on Interstate 20). My time at Grambling State University has garnered a lifetime of friendships, memories and relationships I will forever cherish.” 

Murray came to Grambling in 2015 as assistant coach and was promoted to interim head coach early in the next season, and then permanent head coach following the 14-4 SWAC championship run that produced the league’s first postseason tournament win in women’s basketball. 

“I’d like to thank coach Murray for his service to the women’s basketball program and his commitment to the department and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott, who indicated a national search was underway for a replacement.

Since taking over as AD July 1, 2021, Scott has fired and hired head coaches in football and volleyball and hired new coaches in soccer, track and field and baseball.