KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island football head coach Jim Fleming announced Pat Murphy has been named as offensive coordinator for the Rams.

Murphy comes to URI from Holy Cross, where he served as the offensive coordinator for the last two seasons. In 2019, Murphy helped Holy Cross reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2009, leading the Crusaders to a 5-1 mark while winning the Patriot League title and earning the league's automatic bid to the postseason.

"I am thrilled to welcome Pat, his wife Lisa and their children to the URI family," Fleming said. "He has presented highly productive offenses at every stop during the course of his career. He was the perfect fit for our program to continue and build upon the highly successful offenses that we have had over the past three seasons."

Under Murphy's direction, Holy Cross running back Domenic Cozier was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year after he rushed for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. It was the second straight year he earned all-conference honors. The Crusaders also passed for 2,729 yards and 17 touchdowns, giving the team strong balance on offense. 

"The opportunity to come to Rhode Island and work with Coach Fleming is one I am grateful for," Murphy said. "CAA Football is the best at the FCS level, and I welcome the challenge of competing in this conference."

In conference play last fall, Murphy's offense was highly successful in all phases. Murphy's unit finished first in the Patriot League in scoring offense (28.3 points/game), total offense (409.0 yards/game), rushing offense (189.0 yards/game), passing efficiency (135.4), third-down conversions (43.9 percent); yards per play (6.3), yards per rush (5.0), rushing touchdowns (12), yards per completion (14.3) and yards per attempt (8.1) during conference play.

In 2018, Murphy's offense ranked second in the Patriot League in scoring (24.4 points/game), total offense (327.3 yards/game), rushing (132.5 yards/game) and pass efficiency (129.1 rating). Murphy also coached quarterback Geoff Wade to second team All-Patriot League honors.

Before Holy Cross, Murphy spent 2016-17 at Tufts, where he served as the run game coordinator in addition to coaching the running backs and slot receivers. In 2016, the Jumbos' offense averaged 31.5 points per game and led the New England Small College Athletic Conference with 239.3 rushing yards per contest and 25 rushing touchdowns.

Murphy has previous experience as a head coach, having led Division II from 2008-2015, where he also served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He earned Northeast-10 Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors in 2014 after leading the Hawks to a school-record six victories and their first winning mark (6-5) since the program was revived in 1999. Murphy's offenses set school single-season records with 2,212 rushing yards in 2008, 3,431 passing yards in 2013 and 326 points scored in 2013.

During his time at St. Anselm, Murphy coached 30 All-Northeast-10 selections, three Northeast-10 Rookies of the Year and two All-Americans. Additionally, Justin Bernard became the all-time NCAA Division II receptions leader and Marc Wilson, another record-setting wide receiver, signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Among the players he coached at St. Anselm was current Rhode Island tight ends coach Mike Flanagan.

Murphy coached the defensive ends at Harvard in 2003. He also spent time as the outside linebackers coach at Bryant and was on the UMass Lowell staff from 1996-2000. He began as the secondary coach for the River Hawks, before being promoted to associate head coach and defensive coordinator.

A 1996 graduate of Northeastern, Murphy played football for the Huskies as a fullback, tight end and linebacker.