Liam Murphy: Balancing Big Ten Basketball and Academic Excellence at Purdue
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – purdue University’s newest Boilermaker, Liam Murphy, is demonstrating that success on teh basketball court and in the classroom are not mutually exclusive. The west Brighton, Staten Island native is pursuing a Master of Business Governance while competing in the highly competitive Big Ten conference, showcasing a commitment to both athletics and academics.
From Staten island to the Boilermakers
Murphy’s journey to Purdue is marked by academic achievement and athletic prowess. A former Jaques Award winner, he recently returned to Staten Island after summer workouts with the Boilermakers. Despite the demands of Division I basketball, Murphy remains steadfast in his dedication to his studies.
“The academic part of this experience is definately somthing that’s crucial to me,” Murphy stated. “I’ve taken on a new viewpoint as I started going to graduate school.”
A Foundation Built on Broad Education
Murphy’s academic background began at Columbia University,where he was required to complete a core curriculum encompassing history,literature,science,and mathematics.He noted that while these subjects weren’t necessarily his primary interests,they provided a well-rounded educational foundation.
“Now that I’m in graduate school, putting it a little superficially, I learn about money all day,” Murphy explained. “It was kind of something that spoke to me a little bit more when we’re learning about a big deal, in marketing, as a notable example.”
He finds real-world submission in his coursework, citing the “Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi” rivalry as a relatable example. “I feel like that I’m a consumer and I’m (walking into a store) and picking one over the other. I just feel like it’s something that I can use someday, maybe if I have my own restaurant and I’m trying to think about how to make money.”
Did You Know? A core curriculum, like the one Murphy experienced at Columbia, is designed to foster critical thinking and a broad understanding of various disciplines, skills highly valued by employers [[1]].
Degrees and Future Aspirations
murphy’s academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Columbia University, a Master of Science in Management (MSM) from the University of North florida, earned after completing 36 credits, and he is now pursuing an MBA at Purdue. Initially,he believed only nine credits from North Florida would transfer,but his advisor confirmed 17 credits were accepted,easing his academic workload.
He described the coursework at both North Florida and Purdue as similar, focusing on foundational business principles. “I’m fortunate because Purdue has an MBA program with a lot of the same kinds of (prerequisite) courses from the first year,” he said. “I took a lot of those courses,like introduction marketing,accounting,wealth management and finance.”
Fall Coursework
Murphy’s fall course schedule includes project management, accounting, technology-driven business development, global developing business strategy, storytelling with data, and managing behavior and organizations. While unsure of his long-term career path, he believes these courses will provide a solid foundation for future success.
“Even though I am not really positive what area of business I want to get into, I think (those courses) give me a good foundational background,” Murphy stated. “When everything is said and done at Purdue, I’ll have my MBA.”
Pro Tip: Earning an MBA can significantly enhance career prospects and earning potential, opening doors to leadership roles across various industries.
Balancing Athletics and Academics
Murphy emphasizes the importance of time management, a skill honed during his time at Columbia. He plans to leverage these skills to navigate the demands of both basketball and his coursework. He also acknowledges the professional environment fostered by the purdue coaching staff.
“I’m going to just try to keep distractions out and keep the priorities, priorities. If your priorities get out of whack, it’s real easy to find yourself out of the situation you’re in,” Murphy said.
He describes the Purdue program as “the most professional setting” he’s experienced, comparing it to an NBA training camp. “Everyone knows what they have to do.”
| Degree | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | Columbia University | N/A |
| Master of Science in Management | University of North Florida | Recent |
| Master of Business Administration (in progress) | Purdue University | 2025-2026 (estimated) |
What motivates Murphy to excel in both arenas? And how does he envision applying his MBA to a future career, potentially beyond basketball
