Heath Curtis Adds Head Basketball Coach to his Resume

By Brandon Stephens

(Murphy) – – Murphy High School is focused on basketball season for a moment even though the humid summer days have not ended and fall sports have not started.  Heath Curtis is the new head coach for the Murphy Bulldogs varsity basketball team.  The 33-year-old veteran coach is taking the position as his first varsity head coaching assignment after recently being selected for the post.

Curtis is a fixture at Murphy High School as a teacher and coach.  For several years Coach Curtis has been the head Junior Varsity basketball coach (2019 through 2021) and assistant varsity coach for Erik Laney (2017 through 2021).  Heath is a 2009 Murphy High graduate.  During that time he played Two or Shooting Guard for the Bulldogs from 2006 through 2009.

Excitement and readiness to be the next head basketball coach is evident with Coach Curtis.  The excitement extends beyond his selection to lead the varsity basketball team, whom he met with Monday to discuss his coaching and team vision and philosophy.  Curtis welcomes coaches Michael Kernea and Cody Allen to the team as assistant coaches.  Kernea and Allen are veteran athletes and seasoned coaches.  Coach Curtis describes his feelings for being appointed as the new head coach.

The Murphy Bulldogs are third in the Smoky Mountain Conference for basketball finishing the season 18-and-10 and 9-and-5 in the league. Coming out of the COVID pandemic era the Murphy Bulldogs basketball team has made strides to improve and build to be a consistent second or third place finish in the Smoky Mountain Conference.  During the 2021-2022 season the Bulldogs suffered an 11-and-14 finish and 4-and-6 conference record (6^th Place). 2022-2023 was a sharp contrast to previous seasons with a 17-and-10 finish and 7-an-4 conference record (2^nd Place).  Murphy High Athletic Director Joseph Watson is confident with selecting Heath Curtis as the next head coach for basketball.

The Murphy basketball schedule is expected to begin December 3^rd with a road trip to Franklin.  Stay connected to Team FYN Sports for more details and coverage of Smoky Mountain Conference basketball for the 2024-2025 season.