Every time Marchie Murdock steps onto the basketball court, his father stands in attendance to watch his son. Every steal Murdock makes, his father exalts to. Every shot that Murdock makes, his father claps and cheers for his son.
Every moment before Murdock attempts a free throw; his father hopes and prays that he’ll make it. Every mistake Murdock makes, his father instructs him of what he did wrong. Murdock’s father isn’t just his dad, but also the head varsity basketball coach, Marchie Murdock Sr.
Marchie Murdock Sr. coached the varsity basketball team since Legacy’s first year in 2007. Since Murdock Jr. accomplished making the varsity team, he’s adjusted to life inside and outside of basketball with his father.
“There’s Mr. Murdock and there’s Coach Murdock,” Murdock Jr. said. “He has a completely different personality on the court because he’s so passionate about the game. At home he’s much calmer and likes to do little dances around the house.”
As a sophomore, Murdock Jr.’s athletic talent earned him a spot on the varsity football team and varsity basketball team. People accredit Murdock Jr.’s making the varsity basketball team to his father happening to be the head coach. The criticism doesn’t get to Murdock and he just wants to help the team out and do what’s expected of him.
“It doesn’t really affect me, I know why I’m on the team,” Murdock Jr. said. “The people in basketball know what I’m there for and how I play, so that’s really all I need.”
Murdock Jr. acknowledges his father as a big part of his success. His father encourages him to practice his hardest both in and outside of school. Murdock Jr. contributes his work ethic and zeal for the sport to the way his father raised him. He thinks the adjustment from simple father to coach was a little hard to adapt to. He realized he couldn’t act haughty toward his father when he coached him at school.
“He’s taught me everything I know and gave me the skills to where he I am now,” Murdock said. “Since he’s the coach, he’s not asking me, he’s telling me. It’s different, but I’m starting to get used to it.”
Murdock Jr. says playing under his father as the head basketball coach doesn’t take away from the enjoyment he gets from the game of basketball.
He does have to submit to the same yelling and physical training as all of the other players. Murdock Jr. believes the reason his father doesn’t show him special treatment reminds him of the hard work he must do to reach the top of his game and to stay humble.
“I see him as my dad trying to make me better,” Murdock Jr. said. “He’s my coach but most importantly he’s my dad, and he wants the best for me.”
