St. Joseph's Prep athletic director Jim Murray retiring

Jim Murray, St. Joseph's Prep's athletic director, is retiring from the position after 46 years at the end of this school year. He will remain the school's varsity soccer coach, a position he has held since the team's inception in 1971.

Since arriving at the Prep in 1969, Murray has served in many roles, both in the classroom and in the administration, including as dean of students in the early 1970s and chair of the mathematics department for a decade during which time he served on the academic council.

In 2006, he became just the third soccer coach in Pennsylvania history to hit the 500-win plateau. His team won the Catholic League title in 2010.

The Prep's soccer team has won 25 Southern Division titles and made the playoffs for 40 consecutive years. Murray's overall record is 606-273-91, including four years at Friends' Central.

Murray has achieved many honors, including the Prep's Ignatian Award and the Rev. Charles A. Schnorr, S.J. Service Award and induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the St. Joseph's University Athletic Hall of Fame, the SJU Soccer Hall of Fame and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame.

He has served as the president of the Prep's Alumni Board of Governors for two years and continues to be an active member of the group. In the 1990s, he served as a member of the SJP board of trustees.

"The Prep is a better institution today because of Jim's presence in the classroom and on our fields throughout the years," principal Jason Zazyczny said. "His dedication and committed years of service have resulted in his successful career during which he has helped mold our young men during these extremely formative years. In our Jesuit tradition, Jim has been and will always be a true 'man for and with others.' I am grateful to Jim for all that he has done for the Prep."