Long-time UNBC Basketball Coach and Northern BC Resident Named UNBC Athletic Director

May 29, 2013

A long-time Prince George resident and employee of the University of Northern British Columbia has been named UNBC’s new Director of Athletics and Recreation. Loralyn Murdoch, who has coached the UNBC women’s basketball team since its inception, replaces former Director Jason Kerswill who left UNBC in March to join Canada Basketball.

Long-time UNBC Basketball Coach and Northern BC Resident Named UNBC Athletic Director
Media Download: Loralyn Murdoch, who has coached the women's basketball team at UNBC for more than 15 years, is the University's new Director of Athletics and Recreation.

Murdoch led the women’s basketball team to BCCAA Provincial Championships in 2008 and 2012 and last year introduced the team to the CanadaWest Conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the highest level of amateur basketball in the country.  

“I’m very excited about this new opportunity at UNBC,” says Murdoch, who grew up in Prince George and attended Blackburn Elementary and Prince George Senior Secondary. “I understand how special it is to have a chance to combine academics and athletics, and provide recreational opportunities for the students and staff at UNBC. I look forward to working with the current staff, alumni, and student athletes to create the best experiences possible.”

Long-time UNBC Basketball Coach and Northern BC Resident Named UNBC Athletic Director
Media Download: Loralyn Murdoch

Murdoch started at UNBC as an intramural assistant in 1996 before helping found UNBC’s women’s basketball team in 1997. She attended Grande Prairie Regional College, and the University of Alberta, playing ball for the U. of A. Pandas. Murdoch also obtained a Master of Education degree from the University of Victoria.  

“Loralyn will draw upon her strong university and community connections to provide the leadership UNBC seeks for our Athletics Program. She built and sustained UNBC’s first successful sports team, and supported the development of student-athletes on and off the court,” says UNBC Dean of Student Success Bill Owen, chair of the selection committee. “Under her leadership, the women’s basketball team contended for provincial and national titles at the BCCAA level, and just finished a very successful entrance into CIS.”

Murdoch will assume the role of Athletics Director on June 3rd.