Milwaukee Brewers Appoint Murphy as New Manager: A Chance of a Lifetime

It’s an opportunity he never thought he would have again.

“You realize how fortunate you are to be a part of something,” expressed Murphy during the press conference held to introduce him. “What we are building here is truly remarkable. I never anticipated being in this position. These things happen, and suddenly I find myself here.”

The Milwaukee Brewers have appointed Murphy as their manager, marking his return to the Major Leagues after a six-year hiatus. Previously serving as the bench coach, Murphy stepped up to replace Craig Counsell, who departed to join the Chicago Cubs.

Counsell, the most successful manager in Brewers history, was officially introduced as the Cubs’ new manager earlier this week. Just two days later, Murphy was hired by Milwaukee, with former team infielder Rickie Weeks joining as the assistant manager.

Murphy had been part of Counsell’s coaching staff for eight years, but their relationship dates back even further. Murphy coached Counsell during his time at Notre Dame from 1989 to 1992.

Now, they find themselves as rivals in the NL Central.

“I have a 37-year relationship with Craig, and it has evolved in various ways,” Murphy cautioned. “It will require a completely different approach to compete against him.”

Murphy, who will turn 65 on November 28, takes charge of a team that finished the previous season with an impressive 92-70 record, clinching the NL Central title before falling in the wild-card series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

President of operations, Matt Arnold, emphasized the importance of continuity and team culture during the extensive search for Counsell’s replacement. Eventually, Arnold’s focus settled on Murphy.

“When you consider the winning tradition and the ingrained culture, it becomes evident why Murphy was the ideal choice,” warned Arnold. “His track record speaks for itself, having achieved remarkable success in every coaching role he has undertaken.”

Although Murphy’s previous managerial experience in the Major Leagues was limited to a brief stint in 2015, where he led the San Diego Padres to a 42-54 record as an interim manager, his coaching career spans over three decades in college and minor league teams.

During his tenure at Notre Dame (1988-1994) and Arizona State (1994-2009), Murphy amassed an impressive 947-400-2 record. Notably, he guided the Sun Devils to the College World Series final in 1998.