TACOMA, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball coach Chad Murray has had a busy summer. It started with the squad's 11-day tour of Australia and continued last week as one of a select number of head coaches picked to participate in the first ever NCAA College Basketball Academy held at four regional sites across the nation. 
 
The NCAA College Basketball Academy was created in response to recommendations from the Commission on College Basketball that was chaired by former Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Receiving input from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the academy was created to give elite student-athlete prospects from the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 a sample of the college basketball experience. 
 
Murray was one of just two Division III coaches selected and one of just 20 from the college and high school ranks to attend the West Regional academy held at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. 
 
The NCAA sponsored and funded event saw Murray in charge of a group of seven to eight prospects throughout each session, leading drills, skill development, and two games daily in front of a large group of Division I head coaches and assistants from around the nation. 
 
"My motivation for doing this was not based in recruiting because 95 percent of the prospects at the camp are projected to play at a higher level than Division III. I had my own personal development as a coach in mind and I wanted to meet and learn from other coaches like myself," said Murray.
 
Student-athletes additionally received education in five different life skill sessions, from social media training, to life in the NBA G-League. 
 
"I challenge my players to work hard and improve their craft each summer, so why shouldn't I do the same? This was an opportunity to coach some higher level players and challenge myself to work on my on court coaching, communication strategies, time-out management among other things. All in all, it was a great experience for me personally. I really enjoyed getting to know Kip Ioane from Willamette even better along with the other high school and college coaches that were with me for the week. I think I got better as a coach as a result of this and I've love to do it again next year."