COACH JOHN MURRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Give It A Tri Board of Directors, 2020-2022
Swim course director - Santa Rosa Island Triathlon
Swim course director - Santa Rosa Island Triathlon
The Coach John Murray Memorial Scholarship at the University of West Florida (UWF) will enable qualifying student athletes to be awarded financial scholarship to assist with the costs of education. Give It A Tri, Inc. will be funding the scholarship. Personal donations can be made to increase the scholarships given yearly. 100% of the monies donated will go towards the scholarship.
In Memory of John Murray
“His Legacy will never be Forgotten”
June 17, 1958 - July 8, 2022
John encouraged ALL to participate and became especially excited to see a first-time finisher come across the line. He leaves a legacy in all of us and all those who he touched through swimming, cycling, and triathlon. The community is stronger due in no small part to a foundation he set in place. A foundation which reminds us all that the “back to basics” approach portends success in execution be it on the race course, in surviving that daunting workout, or in organization and planning for a safe, welcoming, and fun event for all comers.
In addition to his own performances, awards, finishes at basically every distance of triathlon or endurance event, here is just a sample of John's numerous accomplishments and the many ways he impacted the local multisport community.
Whether you came to know John as an athlete, coach, mentor, fellow competitor, race director, wingman, or volunteer…. the common denominator was he was a FRIEND providing wisdom, heartfelt advice, insight, or just raw tough love (sometimes with a smirk and a dash of sarcasm) in any and all those capacities.
That tough love - many realized that as Murray-isms… simple yet profound utterances:
“Get your mind right”
“Get comfortable being uncomfortable”
“The swim is a non-event, finish the swim like you are warmed up for the rest of the event”
We will miss you “Coach” – but you will never be forgotten and we will continue to share you, your coaching expertise and your friendship with triathletes of the future.
“His Legacy will never be Forgotten”
June 17, 1958 - July 8, 2022
John encouraged ALL to participate and became especially excited to see a first-time finisher come across the line. He leaves a legacy in all of us and all those who he touched through swimming, cycling, and triathlon. The community is stronger due in no small part to a foundation he set in place. A foundation which reminds us all that the “back to basics” approach portends success in execution be it on the race course, in surviving that daunting workout, or in organization and planning for a safe, welcoming, and fun event for all comers.
In addition to his own performances, awards, finishes at basically every distance of triathlon or endurance event, here is just a sample of John's numerous accomplishments and the many ways he impacted the local multisport community.
Whether you came to know John as an athlete, coach, mentor, fellow competitor, race director, wingman, or volunteer…. the common denominator was he was a FRIEND providing wisdom, heartfelt advice, insight, or just raw tough love (sometimes with a smirk and a dash of sarcasm) in any and all those capacities.
That tough love - many realized that as Murray-isms… simple yet profound utterances:
“Get your mind right”
“Get comfortable being uncomfortable”
“The swim is a non-event, finish the swim like you are warmed up for the rest of the event”
We will miss you “Coach” – but you will never be forgotten and we will continue to share you, your coaching expertise and your friendship with triathletes of the future.
COACH'S SERVICE TO THOSE WITH ATHLETIC GOALS & DREAMS
2010 - President TriGulf Coast Triathlon Club
Team MPI Coaching - co-founder with Coach Mark Sortino
2010 - Youth events founder with Team MPI of what would later become the TGC Youth Multisport Series (Sea Turtle Triathlon, Martime Duathlon) which continues today
Supersprint triathlon series on Pensacola Beach at Portino Island Resort 2011 – 2017
Team Semper Fi and Challenged Athletes Foundation - camp host, coach, and mentor for hundreds of military veterans and paratriathletes
Established and directed the TGC Weekly Swim at Mommy Beach with Mark Sortino - "I Hate Open Water Swimming"
Iron Cowboy - June 26th, 2015 - site ambassador and coordinator for day #21 of 50 in a world record setting string of 50 iron-distance events, in 50 days, one in every state
Pensacola Sports Board of Directors, 2017-2018
Tom Henderson Mentor of the Year Award Recipient, 2017
Swim support crew of Ironman Florida multiple years
Give It A Tri Board of Directors, 2020-2022
Swim course director Santa Rosa Island Triathlon multiple years
Team MPI Coaching - co-founder with Coach Mark Sortino
2010 - Youth events founder with Team MPI of what would later become the TGC Youth Multisport Series (Sea Turtle Triathlon, Martime Duathlon) which continues today
Supersprint triathlon series on Pensacola Beach at Portino Island Resort 2011 – 2017
Team Semper Fi and Challenged Athletes Foundation - camp host, coach, and mentor for hundreds of military veterans and paratriathletes
Established and directed the TGC Weekly Swim at Mommy Beach with Mark Sortino - "I Hate Open Water Swimming"
Iron Cowboy - June 26th, 2015 - site ambassador and coordinator for day #21 of 50 in a world record setting string of 50 iron-distance events, in 50 days, one in every state
Pensacola Sports Board of Directors, 2017-2018
Tom Henderson Mentor of the Year Award Recipient, 2017
Swim support crew of Ironman Florida multiple years
Give It A Tri Board of Directors, 2020-2022
Swim course director Santa Rosa Island Triathlon multiple years