Billy Murphy is entering his 24th year as the head coach of the Newman Men’s and Women’s Bowling programs in 2026-27.
The 2025-26 season marked a historic year for Murphy and the Newman bowling program.
The women's team captured the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship on March 22 at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville, Illinois, defeating Maryville, 2-1, to secure the program's first conference title and first-ever GLVC women's bowling championship. The Jets finished the season 73-30 and posted a perfect 4-0 record at the conference tournament, defeating the two-time defending champions and becoming the first associate member in league history to win an outright GLVC Championship.
The conference title earned Newman an automatic berth into the NCAA Women's Collegiate Bowling Championship, marking the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. At the NCAA Regional in Arlington, Texas, the Jets finished one match shy of the regional championship match. The team also qualified for the Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) Nationals in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where they finished tied for fifth. Kaylin Wahlmeier also qualified individually for the Intercollegiate Singles Championships (ISC) Nationals.
Murphy's leadership was recognized with both the Division II Coach of the Year and GLVC Coach of the Year honors. Freshman Claire Jacobson earned an impressive list of accolades, including First Team All-GLVC, GLVC Freshman of the Year, NTCA First Team All-Rookie (All Divisions), NTCA Honorable Mention All-American (All Divisions), NCBCA All-Rookie Team, NCBCA Rookie of the Year, and NCBCA Honorable Mention All-American. Paighton Crumley and Ashley Soto were both named All-GLVC Honorable Mention.
On the men's side, the Jets claimed three tournament championships at the SWIBC Championship, Leatherneck Classic, and SWIBC 2. Newman also recorded seven runner-up finishes throughout the season, including a second-place finish at ITC Sectionals to qualify for ITC Nationals. Daryus Alo qualified individually for the ISC Nationals, while the team concluded its season with a tie for 13th place at the ITC Nationals.
Individually, Alo earned NCBCA All-Rookie Team and Honorable Mention All-American recognition, while Noah Akiona was named an NCBCA Second Team All-American.
During Murphy’s coaching career, the Jets have made 22 consecutive postseason appearances and 24 trips to the ITC National Championships—7 with the men’s team and 17 with the women’s team. Under his leadership, the men’s bowling team has captured 23 tournament titles, while the women’s team has earned 28 titles, including two Sectional Championships. Over the past 22 years, the men’s team has maintained a winning percentage of 80.2%, and the women’s team has posted a 75.6% winning percentage.
Murphy was appointed Interim Athletic Director in January 2025.
In the 2024-25 season, the women’s bowling team placed third at the GLVC Championship. Four Jets earned All-GLVC honors with Alexis Shea earning First Team All-GLVC. The men’s and women’s team both qualified for the ITC National Tournament this season. The women placed 7th overall with Ashley Soto earning a spot on the NCBCA All-Rookie Team. The men finished 13th place with Liam Hardman earning a spot on the NCBCA All-Rookie Team and earned All-American Honorable Mention. Murphy was awarded the Gordon Tiegen Service Award at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Murphy started his position as the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Advancement and Business Operations in 2024 while continuing his position as Director of Bowling.
In 23-24, Murphy led the Men's Bowling team to an SWIBC conference title, and finished 5th at Sectional Championships. Under Murphy, Noah Akiona earned NCBCA All-American Award. The Women's Bowling team climbed the polls up to 16, defeating and finished 2nd a the GLVC Championships. Alexis Shea was named NTCAA Division II Rookie of the Year Award.
The 2022-2023 season was a historical season for the Women's Bowling program as they competed in the NCAA for the first time ever. The Jets won 71 games, finishing as GLVC runner up and just barely missing the NCAA tournament. The Women's team took home two championships while the men took home one championship in 2022-2023.
Since Murphy began the programs in 2002-03, the two teams have combined to produce 29 top-20 and 14 top-10 finishes in the coaches’ poll, three individual national champions, and 20 appearances in the Intercollegiate Team Championship. In addition, Murphy has twice been named the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year, earning the women’s honor in 2017-18 and the men’s in 2009-10.
Murphy has led the Jets to 19 straight post seasons since taking over as head coach.
The Jets have also competed at the highest level individually under Murphy’s watch, with Cory Simmons capturing the 2004 men’s Intercollegiate Singles Championship, and Bianca Montagnino earning the women’s title in 2005 before Georgia Wiggins accomplished the same feat in 2012. Simmons was also the first Jet to earn NCBCA All-America honors, in 2006, while Derek Hartnell was named All-America in 2009 and 2010. Hartnell also claimed the NCBCA Player of the Year in 2010.
Murphy’s coaching experience began in 1999 at Wichita Heights High School. As head coach, Murphy led the Falcons to a City League Championship in 2004. That stretch came in the middle of an impressive playing career. After a competitive youth career, Murphy attended Wichita State University, where he was a three-time All-American and a member of the Shocker team that finished three straight seasons as the College Bowling USA national runner-up.
The following years saw Murphy travel the country competing against the nation’s top amateurs, including competing in the Brunswick World Team Challenge as a member of the Ebonite Nitro/r team. In 1994 and 1996 Murphy and his teammates won two world titles at the tournament. He became a member of the Professional Bowler’s Association in 2001, was inducted to the Great Plans USBC Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Kansas State Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2013. He was also inducted into the Newman University Hall of Fame in 2017. In his career, Murphy has shot 29 perfect games and 14 800-plus series, including a high of 826.
In 1997, Murphy and his brother, Chad, opened up Wichita Bowling Supply, a pro shop that operates two locations throughout Wichita.
The Hutchinson, Kansas native has two children, Taylor and Halee.
