John Murphy To Depart TTA

After nearly five years with TTA, John Murphy has decided to step down as National Head Coach – Able-Bodied. John will take up another role, citing a desire to move closer to his native Ireland as the reason for departing TTA.

Under John’s leadership, Australia’s able-bodied program has gone from strength to strength and the program has arguably never been in better shape. John’s achievements with TTA include, but are not limited to:

• Australia achieving our best ever results at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (3 x able-bodied medals, plus 2 x 4^th places).
• Australia achieving our best ever results and winning our first ever medals at the 2022 World Youth Championships (2 x medals, plus 2 x quarter finals).
• Australia winning a record 28 out of 28 gold medals and 67 total medals at the 2022 ITTF-Oceania Championships.
• Australia has never had more athletes ranked as highly on the ITTF World Rankings (3 x top 50, 5 x top 100; 3 x top 10 junior including 1 x world number 1).
• More than 200 medals at international events have been secured overall.
• TTA has never offered more national squad training through our National Training Centres.
• TTA has never had so many players playing professionally overseas at the same time.
• TTA has never had more players emerging through the National Hopes Program, with more than 200 participants annually.
• TTA has never had more players competing in international competitions (approx. 25 international events per year).
• Had the original idea to develop the TTA Tour to increase national level competition opportunities.

Above all this, John has built up and overseen Australian national teams that the Australian table tennis community can be proud of.

TTA CEO, Scott Houston, paid tribute to Murphy, “John has been an incredible National Head Coach – Able-Bodied and he has lifted the quality and quantity of Australia’s performances to a level we haven’t witnessed previously. John will leave behind an incredible legacy in Australia and will go down as one of the very best coaches in Australian table tennis history.

“Back in 2018 when we were recruiting for the position, we undertook a worldwide search and interviewed extensively; John was the clear standout and has more than delivered on his potential. There is no doubt he was the right person at the right time for the job.

“John achievements with TTA speak for themselves, but his contribution far exceeds this. John possesses rare and intangible qualities that enable him to inspire the players and coaches and create an outstanding culture within the team. John is a 24/7 coach and always went above and beyond to help the players.

“Although John is moving on from TTA, he will always be part of Australian table tennis and the TTA family and he is welcome on Australian shores any time.”

Murphy reflected on his time with TTA, “What an incredible journey over the last five years which gave me the opportunity to work in a program with the most amazing group of athletes, coaches and support staff. It’s been a huge honour to represent Australia and wear the green and gold. There are so many moments I will never forget.

“I would like to thank TTA and the whole Australian table tennis community for all the support they gave me.”

John’s final assignment with TTA will be the 2023 ITTF World Championships in South Africa starting next week and his final day with TTA will be 1 June 2023. TTA will provide further details on the recruitment process for John’s replacement in the near future.

Congratulations John and thank you once again for everything you have done for Australian table tennis.