Position: Associate Athletics Dir. for Public Relations

Rich Murray is in his 26th year as a member of the University of Virginia athletics department staff. For more than 22 years he oversaw the daily operation of the UVa athletics media relations office before being named associate director of athletics for public relations in 2005.

Murray has worked with the men's basketball program during his entire time at Virginia. He continues to work with head coach Tony Bennett's program, but also serves as a public relations liaison for the department. He works with the department's senior staff on public relations initiatives and provides additional support in that area for Athletics Director Craig Littlepage.

He previously served as the primary athletics media relations contact for football from 1983-1998. He hosted the Virginia basketball coach's television show for four seasons, from 1990-91 to 1993-94.

Murray came to UVa in 1983. Before that, he was the sports information director at James Madison University since 1972 and the school's public information director since 1975. He also spent two years as host of the football and basketball coaches' television shows at JMU.

Murray is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America and the Virginia chapter (VaSID) of that group. He served as president of VaSID from 1983 to 1984. Murray received the 1996 Bus Male Service Award, recognizing untiring and devoted service to University of Virginia athletics.

A native of Valatie, N.Y., Murray received his bachelor's degree in journalism from Washington & Lee University in 1971. Following graduation, he served as news director for WAYB-Radio in Waynesboro, Va., where he handled the news operation and did basketball and baseball play-by-play.

Murray is married to the former Sara Tourgee of Harrisonburg, Va. The couple has two sons: Patrick and Colin.