As the Oxford High School Swim Team enters the 2023-2024 season, a new coach has been hired in the absence of former coach Robert Gonzalez. Former assistant coach Hayley Murphy has now stepped in to lead the team in a more prominent way. The process for her getting the head coaching spot was very straightforward, as she was a no-brainer for the position.

“It was definitely something that I had the opportunity to fill if I wanted to,” Murphy said. I’ve been coaching these kids as their assistant coach for seven years but also prior to that when they swam with me as 7th and 8th graders. A lot of it was just me wanting to step in as head coach to finish out our seniors’ last year with me as a coach. I grew up swimming for Oxford, so this is something really close to my heart. So when I made the decision to do it, there was a conversation and it was pretty much mine.”

While Murphy coached with Oxford before, her new role is very different. She recognizes that there will be a difference in her responsibilities, but she is ready to tackle a new challenge.

“As an assistant coach, I coached a lot of our middle school and new swimmers,” Murphy said. I had a hand in making decisions for our more advanced swimmers. But when I stepped in as head coach, there were obviously some nerves, because I’m now coaching these kids at a higher level. I was going from coaching kids who needed more work, now I’m pushing them to become even better swimmers.”

Murphy believes that her coaching style is different from Gonzalez’s. She believes that her assistant coaching and the bonds she has formed with her swimmers for years will help her lead the team in the right direction.

“I feel like I can push these kids in the water regardless of how hard I am on them,” Murphy said. Ultimately it’s their responsibility and goal to be a better swimmer, and I can support them with that on a personal level as opposed to just pushing them in the water. A big part is connecting with the kids. It’s helpful that I know everyone’s name, I’m not just someone who stepped in knowing nobody. These relationships I have with these kids I’ve had for a while and I really think that’s what will be beneficial. I know everyone’s goals, and I can push each and every one of them in a different way.”

It isn’t just Murphy that believes this, the players agree with her coaching style and the way the team should be managed. OHS senior Gates Allen speaks on the current team’s standards and coaching style.

“I would say the biggest difference I see is just the coaching style,” Allen said. Our old coach was very loud and just a commanding presence on the pool deck whereas, with a new coach, the expectations are still high, but the standard is the standard and she doesn’t feel the need to be super loud and micromanage the team. Having Hayley around for all 6 years I’ve been on the team really helps continuity and just continues the bond we have as a team and makes the transition pretty seamless.”

As for what the team expects performance-wise, both coaches and students are optimistic about what’s to come for the year. Allen points out that the team works long and hard to reach their peak performance.

“People don’t usually realize just how much work swimmers put in,” Allen said. It’s not going to tear your body up in the way getting hit on the football field does, but we work out 12-16 hours a week and I pretty much live sore to an extent. Some sports get five to 10-minute breaks, whereas we are happy with five to 10-second breaks. It’s a grind but I love it and I’m excited for the hard work to pay off during the season.”

This hard work is something that Murphy recognizes and knows can lead to big victories for the team this season.

“We have a very good chance for our boys team to win state if all our pieces come together, I’m very excited about that,” Murphy said. “For the girls team, we’re very young, there’s not many of us, and it’s probably our smallest team in a while. But we’re very talented and I would be completely and totally thrilled if the girls could hold third. Overall, I’m excited about this season.”