Women’s Basketball Coaching | Lex Murphy Interview | SFA Assistant Coach on Faith, Recruiting & Her Journey

Some coaches chase titles. Others chase impact. For Stephen F. Austin assistant coach Lex Murphy, the journey has always been about people, purpose, faith, and finding a way to leave every program better than she found it. In this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, we finally sit down with Coach Murphy after a three-year recruiting process of our own—and the conversation was worth the wait.A San Diego native with nine years in the coaching profession, Lex has earned every step of her journey. She’s worked as a graduate assistant, director of basketball operations, recruiting coordinator, and Division I assistant coach, with stops that include UTEP and Texas A&M-Commerce before landing at Stephen F. Austin. Along the way, she’s been part of winning programs, postseason runs, and the development of countless student-athletes.But coaching wasn’t always the plan.Growing up in a basketball family as a coach’s daughter, Lex has been around the game for as long as she can remember. Still, her original dream was to become an elementary school teacher. She even earned her master’s degree and teaching certification. Eventually, she realized that her gift for teaching hadn’t disappeared—it simply found a different classroom. Today, the basketball court is where she teaches, develops, challenges, and pours into young women.Lex takes us inside her coaching philosophy and explains why one of the most important lessons basketball has taught her is to “know your personnel.” Every athlete learns differently, responds differently to coaching, and requires a different type of relationship. That understanding has helped Lex become the connector, recruiter, and teacher she is today.She also opens up about her role alongside SFA head coach Leonard Bishop and why their relationship works. From studying offensive schemes and identifying in-game adjustments to having a voice during critical moments, Lex discusses how Coach Bishop has challenged her to sharpen her basketball IQ and continue growing as a coach.Then the conversation goes deeper.Faith isn't simply something Lex talks about—it influences how she approaches coaching, recruiting, relationships, and life. She shares why she prays before recruiting calls, why spreading love matters more than collecting recognition, and how trusting God's direction has helped her navigate the uncertainty of the coaching profession.One incredible recruiting story involving Ashlyn Traylor-Walker and an unexpected frog shows exactly why Lex believes some moments are bigger than basketball.We also have plenty of fun getting to know Lex away from the sidelines. She reveals her gospel-heavy Top 5 music artists, why Captain America is her superhero of choice, the CeCe Winans song that represents her life, and even gives SportsLifeTalk an impromptu singing performance. We also discover her love for spicy food—including an Inferno Burger loaded with ghost pepper cheese and garlic reaper aioli that KT wants absolutely no part of.Looking toward the future, Lex isn't consumed with chasing the next title or position. Whether her path eventually leads to becoming a head coach or continuing to build alongside Coach Bishop, she's focused on staying where her feet are and trusting where the journey takes her.This episode is for coaches climbing the profession, athletes wondering what comes after playing, parents navigating recruiting, and anyone who believes leadership is ultimately about serving others.At SportsLifeTalk Media, our mission is to amplify the voices shaping girls' and women's basketball. Through You Got Next, we're proud to share the stories behind the coaches, athletes, and leaders moving the game forward.Subscribe to You Got Next on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who loves women's basketball. It took us three years to finally get Lex Murphy on SportsLifeTalk—and after this conversation, you'll understand why we refused to give up.