Brett McMurray was hired as Sul Ross' defensive coordinator in February of 2020.
McMurray previously served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at College of the Redwoods During his time at Redwoods, he coached all-state safety Calvin Williams, all-conference defensive lineman Jordan Randal and all-conference defensive end Dakota Moore. He also helped improve the defense in every statistical category from the previous season, a 12 point difference in points per game from 38.2 in 2018 to 26.3 in 2019. The defense was top 15 in the state in sacks, takeaways, and tackles for loss, and broke school records for sacks in a game (11) and rushing yards given up in a game (-35).
McMurray also spent time at Humboldt State as linebackers coach and special team’s coordinator. He assisted in all game plan and coaching phases for the defense and special teams and also supported in all aspects of running a football program. He served as the special team’s coordinator, actively recruited California, Oregon, Washington and California junior colleges. Coach McMurray also coached three of the four team captains, as well as three linebackers and two special team’s players to All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) accolades. This included Moses Finau who was named newcomer of the year in the conference as a true freshmen.
Before McMurray’s time at HSU, he was the linebackers coach at Southwest Minnesota State University during the 2017 season. During that time he assisted in all game planning for the defense and special teams and helped in all phases of running a football program. Coach McMurray coached one All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) linebacker, Alex Ney, who was top 10 in the nation at the Division II level in both tackles and forced fumbles on the season.
Prior to working at SMSU, coach McMurray was the tight ends and fullbacks coach at Bemidji State University during the 2016 season where he coached one All-NSIC, H-Back Black Petrich. Bemidji State also broke 23 school records during the 2016 season and were ranked top 5 in the nation in four offensive categories.
In 2015, he was the linebackers coach at College of the Redwoods where he coached All-PAC7 linebacker, Javier Perez. Coach McMurray has mentored at least one all-conference player in each of his first four years as a collegiate coach and has mentored eight.
McMurray was a two-year varsity letter winner at Butte Community College and played outside linebacker. He contributed as a rotational linebacker and played all phases of special teams as a true freshman and he helped his team win a national championship in 2008. In 2012, he transferred to HSU where he played two years for the Green and Gold, making appearances at middle linebacker, outside linebacker, tight end, and fullback.
McMurray has an associate’s degree in general education from Butte Community College, a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a business administration minor from Humboldt State, and a master’s degree in physical education from Southwest Minnesota State.
