Track and Field
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Distance
- Email:
- jonathan.murray@ttu.edu
- Phone:
- (806) 834-2021
At Texas Tech...
2 National Championships (2019 outdoor, 2024 indoor)
4Â NCAA Champions
15Â First Team All-Americans
9 Big 12 Champions
3 Big 12 Cross Country Championships
Jon Murray is entering his 20th season with Texas Tech at the start of the 2024-25 season. A three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, the distance running program at Texas Tech has reached a pinnacle among the Big 12 while consistently contending on the national level.Â
During the 2023 cross country season, Murray's three newcomers in Juliet Cherubet, Anastasia Chepkorir and Gideon Kiplimo, all found success, making it to the NCAA Championships as Cherubet finished as an All-American (top-40). The 2024 indoor/outdoor season saw freshman Ernest Cheruiyot win the Big 12 10k indoor title as he would go on to finish fourth outdoors. Cherubet would place her names all over the Tech record book in the 1500m and 5k, as she would finish as an All-American (fifth) by season's end in the 5k. She was the Big 12 outdoor 1500m champion, while placing second in the 5k.Â
The 2021 cross country season saw the development of Halena Rahmaan reach new heights as the Texas transfer registered a personal best time in each of the regular season meeting leading up to the conference meet.Â
During 2017, Murray coached three-time Big 12 Champion Benard Keter. Keter picked up his first championship crown at the conference cross country championship at Tech’s home course in Lubbock. He then went on to grasp two more titles in outdoor competition, one of which in back-to-back years. The 3,000-meter steeplechase was secured by Keter for the second consecutive year just after earning the 5,000m title less than 48 hours earlier. These accomplishments ultimately brought Keter to earn the title of Big 12 Outstanding Performer of the Year. The senior also went on to compete in Eugene, Oregon, where he wrangled First Team All-America honors in the steeplechase, taking a No. 6 finish overall.  Â
Murray has coached two athletes to individual NCAA Championships during his tenure in Lubbock while guiding the Lady Raider program to three consecutive Big 12 Championships from 2008-10.
Most recently, Kennedy Kithuka became the first Red Raider in school history to capture an individual Big 12 Championship before winning the NCAA Championship in the midst of a perfect season. Kithuka was named the NCAA Male Athlete of the year after winning seven consecutive meets during the 2012 season. Kithuka went on to win Big 12 Championships in the 3,000-meter run and 5,000-meter run before becoming the first Red Raider to win a national championship in the 5,000-meter run at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Murray also guided Lady Raider Sally Kipyego to three NCAA Cross Country Championships and six NCAA Track and Field Championships during her unprecedented career in which she became the most decorated Texas Tech athlete in school history.
The 2009 season for Murray was one of his best at Texas Tech. Sally Kipyego won her ninth NCAA title in the indoor 5000M becoming only the second female in NCAA history to win nine individual titles. The success was shared at the Big 12 Indoor Championships as the distance medley relay and Lillian Badaru brought home titles. Kipyego became the most decorated athlete in the Big 12 as she won her 14th Big 12 title. The cross country squad continued a banner year for Murray as it successfully defended its Big 12 title and finished its best ever at the national meet. The fourth place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships marks the first time the program has brought back a trophy.
During the 2008 season new heights were reached by Murray's cross country and track runners. The 2008 women's cross country squad won the program's first Big 12 and Mountain Regional Championship. He coached Sally Kipyego to her third-straight NCAA, Mountain Regional and Big 12 Champion. She also was honored for the third-straight time as the Honda Award winner for cross country. Lillian Badaru earned her first All-American honor during the season for cross country as well.
In the 2008 track season, he coached Kipyego to the 5,000m NCAA Indoor championship, 5,000M NCAA Outdoor championship and All-American honors in the 1500M. He guided Irene Kimayio to a Big 12 Championship in the 3K steeplechase and All-American honors as well. Gilbert Limo was a national qualifier in the 3K steeplechase as was Gladys Kipsang in the 800M.
Murray came to Tech after spending 14 years as head coach of the Abilene Christian cross country program, five years as the head track & field coach and nine years as the assistant track and field coach. Track and field coach, Wes Kittley was responsible for hiring Murray for the ACU staff during his tenure as head coach. In his five years as head coach for men's and women's track and field at ACU, (2000 and 2002-05 seasons), Murray coached the Wildcats to 11 NCAA Division II national championships and eight Lone Star Conference championships. His Wildcat men's squad was undefeated in 10 NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor national meets, and his women's team won the indoor title in 2000. In cross country, Murray's Wildcats were undefeated in LSC men's cross country with 14 straight titles, and the women's team won the league crown in 10 of the 14 seasons (giving him a total of 32 league titles as a head coach). Both men's and women's teams finished as high as second in the nation in NCAA Division II cross country.
While he was serving as head cross country coach at ACU, Murray was also assistant coach for the track and field in 1992-99 and 2001 seasons. During that time, the Wildcats won 21 NCAA Division II national titles (seven women's indoor, five women's outdoor, six men's indoor and three men's outdoor on Kittley's staff). He has been Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year in men's and women's cross country and men's track and field and president of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association.
As a head coach, four of his Wildcat track and field student-athletes won prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarships. In 2005, he was honored as NCAA Division II Coach of the Year for men in both indoor and outdoor track and field after his Wildcats extended their winning streak in championship meets to eight. Under Murray, the Wildcats won both indoor and outdoor titles in 2002-03-04-05 - a streak matched only once previously in NCAA Division II history.
Murray's cross country teams won 24 Lone Star Conference championships (men from 1991-04 and women in 1991, 1993-97 and 2001-04). He also has been named LSC cross country Coach of the Year 24 times. His 1993, 1996 and 1998-2004 men's cross country teams finished in the NCAA Division II top 10. The 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 squads both won NCAA South Central region championships and then went on to finish second at the national championship meet. The women's best-ever finish came in 1995 when they finished second at the NCAA Division II national cross country meet.
He and his wife, Samantha, were married in the summer of 2000 and have five children: Jonah, Gracie, Nathan, Jacob and Jonathan.
NCAA Champions (11)Kennedy Kithuka - 5,000M (indoor, 2013)
Kennedy Kithuka - Cross Country (2012)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (indoor, 2009)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2008)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (indoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (outdoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2007)
Sally Kipyego - 10,000 (outdoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - 3,000M (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2006)
All-Americans (23)
Benard Keter - 3k Steeplechase (2017)
Kennedy Kithuka - 5000M (indoor, 2013) Kennedy Kithuka - Cross Country (2012) Lillian Badaru - Cross Country (2009)
Purity Biwott - Cross Country (2009)
Sally Kipyego - Mile (indoor, 2009)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (indoor, 2009)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2008)
Lillian Badaru - Cross Country (2008)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (outdoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - 1500M (outdoor, 2008)
Irene Kimayio - 3K Steeplechase (outdoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (indoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2007)
Sally Kipyego - 10,000m (outdoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (outdoor, 2007)
Irene Kimaiyo - 5,000M (outdoor)
Sally Kipyego - 3,000M (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (indoor, 2007)
Kevin Chelimo - 5,000M (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2006)
Irene Kimaiyo - Cross Country (2006)
Kevin Chelimo - Cross Country (2006)
Big 12 Champions (25)
Benard Keter - Cross Country (2016)
Lillian Badaru - 5000M (indoor, 2009)
Jonisha Boleware - DMR (indoor, 2009)
Gladys Kipsang - DMR (indoor, 2009)
Asia Diaz - DMR (indoor, 2009)
Sally Kipyego - DMR (indoor, 2009)
Sally Kipyego - 3000M (indoor, 2009)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2008)
Irene Kimayio - 3K Steeplechase (outdoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - 1500M (outdoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (outdoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - Mile (indoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - 3,000M (indoor, 2008)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2007)
Sally Kipyego - 1500M (outdoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - 5,000M (outdoor, 2007)
Kevin Chelimo - 10,000M (outdoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - Mile (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - 3,000M (indoor, 2007)
Irene Kimayio - 5,000M (indoor, 2007)
Asia Diaz - DMR (indoor, 2007)
Gladys Kipsang - DMR (indoor, 2007)
Lousie Cox - DMR (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - DMR (indoor, 2007)
Sally Kipyego - Cross Country (2006)
