Gainesville, FL

 

Katie Murphree, now Katie Mullins, made a lasting mark with Santa Fe College Softball as a dominant presence in the circle and a leader for the Saints. During her time at Santa Fe, Murphree set the program record for wins with 36, and posted the lowest ERA in school history at 0.88! She earned Mid-Florida Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, was named All-Tournament Team and Tournament MVP, served as team captain, and helped lead the Saints to their first NJCAA/FCCAA Region VIII State Tournament appearance. Her standout play also earned her recognition as one of the top 16 softball players in the nation during her time at Santa Fe.

 

Her success at Santa Fe opened the door for Division I softball. She took her talents to Marshall University, where she continued to excel on and off the field. Murphree started 63 games across two seasons and compiled a 29–26 career record with 295 strikeouts. She was named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year during her junior season, selected to the CUSA All-Academic Team, and served as team captain. In her senior season, she led the team in every pitching category, earned ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, and received the Dot Hicks Female Student-Athlete Award in 2010.

 

Murphree's accomplishments also extend well beyond athletics into the classroom. She earned her Associate's degree from Santa Fe College in 2008, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Marshall University in 2011, a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Marshall in 2013, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida State University in 2016. Her academic path reflects the same discipline and commitment that defined her playing career.

 

Today, Murphree continues to give back to the game through coaching. She is entering her second season with the Women's Softball program at Tallahassee State College and her first season as a full-time assistant coach. She previously served there as a volunteer assistant, working primarily with pitchers on mechanics, mental performance, and pitch development. She also spent time as a pitching coach for Powermill Johnson 18U, where she oversaw pitching mechanics and called all game pitches. She is pictured above with former Men' Basketball Coach Chris Mowry, Former Athletic Director Jim Keites, current Athletic Diector Chanda Stebbins, and current Men's Basketball Coach John Ritzdorf before Santa Fe hosted Tallahassee State in Softball earlier this year.