Mitch Murphy begins his ninth year on the Triton cheer staff and his 15th season at Iowa Central. Murphy is highly involved with recruiting, campus tours, clinics, strength and conditioning, academic advising, study tables, disciplinary action, The Triton Challenge, game-day, helping our kids transfer to the next level and works with both national squads on a daily basis.

Murphy began his cheer duties for the Tritons in 2013 as a recruiting coordinator. In 2014, Murphy became an assistant cheer coach to go along with his recruiting coordinator duties. Since Murphy became an assistant coach in 2014, the Tritons have become one of the top NCA cheer programs in the country. In 2021, the Tritons won the NCA Intermediate Large Coed Open National Championship. In 2018, Iowa Central won its first ever NCA National Championship with their Large Coed winning the Intermediate Junior College Division. The Tritons are still the only college cheer program in the state of Iowa ever to win an NCA National Championship. Since 2016, the Triton Large Coed squads have been first or second in the nation for five consecutive seasons respectively. Since 2014, the Tritons have had 11 Top-4 finishes at NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida in four different divisions with three fourth place finishes, a third place team finish, five NCA national runners-up finishes, and two NCA national championships respectively.

From 2014-2015 and 2018-2019, Murphy has assisted the Tritons at Cheer Ltd. Nationals at CANAM in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In four seasons competing in this event as an assistant coach, the Tritons have won an impressive six national championships and a national runner-up. In 2018 and 2019, the Triton Large Coed and All Girl squads won back to back national championships. In 2015, the Tritons won the schools only small coed national championship and Large Coed finished national runners up respectively. In 2014, the Tritons won the school’s first ever national championship winning the large coed division.

Under Murphy’s guidance, the Tritons have been very successful at regional competitions. The Tritons won the Jamfest Cheer Super Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2016 winning the Large Coed Division. In 2017, the Tritons returned to Jamfest Cheer Super Nationals and won with both its Large Coed and All Girl squads. Murphy was also a part of three consecutive COA Mid America national championships from 2014, 2015, and 2016.

In 2016, Murphy made his debut in the all-star world as an assistant coach for the United All Stars “Eclipse”. In only the team’s first year of existence, the IOC5 “Eclipse” made history by receiving a bid to The Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, Florida. “Eclipse” not only received a bid but finished ninth out of 26 teams in the US Worlds Trials earning a trip the Worlds Semifinals where “Eclipse” officially finished eighth in the United States and 18^th  in the world in our division. Eclipse was the first and only Iowa All-Star Large Coed team ever to make it to The Cheerleading Worlds Semifinals.

Murphy was involved in the Triton football program either as a player, student assistant, and assistant coach for 11 seasons. Murphy has been associated as a coach in eight bowl games (03, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14), six bowl game championship teams (07, 08, 10, 11, 13, 14), 10 winning seasons as a player and coach (01, 02, 03, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14), two Region XI Conference Championship teams (03, 07) and the 2007 Midwest Football Conference Championship. In 2003, Murphy was a part of a coaching staff as a student assistant that saw the Tritons go undefeated during the regular season and become one of only two teams in school history to win 10 regular season games. Murphy helped send a lot of players to the next level as an assistant. As a player from 2001-02, Murphy was a two-time most inspirational player award winner, best team player award winner, academic all-region second team and was a member of the 2002 Region XI Conference Championship team that participated in the Graphic Edge Bowl. Murphy continued his football playing career at Luther College (2004-05) where he was a part of back-to-back winning seasons for the Norse. Murphy was also a member of the Luther College track and field program as well.

Murphy’s previous coaching outside of Iowa Central includes assistant track and field and football coach at Southeast Valley High School. In 2020, Murphy coached an undefeated JVR and JV Jaguar squad as well as assisted the varsity to an undefeated regular season, district title, and a Class 1A state quarterfinals appearance. In 2018, Murphy coached an undefeated JVR football squad and assisted the varsity to a Class 2A district title and a Class 2A state quarterfinals appearance. In track, Murphy helped guide the Jaguars to 15 school records, 22 state qualifying events and six individual state place winning events. Murphy was also an assistant track and field coach from 2007-2013 at Saint Edmond Catholic High School. Murphy was a part of the Gaels track and field dynasty. The Gaels won the Iowa High School Class 2A State Track and Field Championship in 2009 and 2011, had five consecutive Top-4 team finishes at the Class 2A State Track and Field Meet (08, 09, 10, 11, 12), six consecutive district team championships (07-12), 10 state champion relay teams, five individual state champions, 19 relay state place winning teams, 23 individual state place winners, 66 state qualifying events, set 11 school records, placed five NCAA Division I track athletes and one Drake Relays champion. Murphy also coached freshman football at Saint Edmond Catholic High School in 2006 while assisting the varsity to a Class 1A state playoffs appearance.

Murphy works in the Admissions Department as a Student Development Assistant. Murphy graduated from Luther College in 2006 with a degree in physical education with an emphasis in Exercise Science. Murphy also holds A.A. and A.A.S. degrees from Iowa Central. He lives in Callender with his wife and head cheer coach, Amanda Murphy, and their son, Memphis.