Providence, R.I.—Rhode Island College has named Amelia Murphy '23 as its head men's volleyball coach. RIC added men's volleyball as a varsity sport in October and it will begin competition in the spring of 2027 and compete as part of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
"I am ecstatic to take on the men's volleyball head coaching position at Rhode Island College," Murphy said. "After spending the past several years coaching at various levels, I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to build this program from the ground up and continue growing the sport at the collegiate level in our region. I want to thank Athletic Director Don Tencher for this opportunity and I especially want to thank Jenn Cabral for bringing me onto her staff after my graduation and encouraging my growth every step of the way."
She has spent the past three seasons as an assistant women's volleyball coach at Rhode Island College. Murphy has been the head boys' junior varsity volleyball coach and an assistant boys' varsity volleyball coach at East Providence High School in 2023.
The outside hitter closed out her career having played in 347 sets in 100 matches with 1,059 kills, 637 and 143 blocks as an Anchorwoman. The North Attleboro, Massachusetts native was named Second Team All-Little East as a senior in 2022 and was twice selected as the team's MVP (2022, '21).
Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Rhode Island College in 2022. In addition to her coaching duties, Murphy works as a health and physical education teacher in the East Providence (R.I.) school department.
Cabral, who is the head women's volleyball coach at Rhode Island College, will serve as Murphy's assistant with the men's program.
"Having Jenn take on this new role with me feels completely natural, as I truly haven't known RIC volleyball without her," Murphy states. "I've learned so much from her leadership and have seen firsthand the positive impact she has made on the women's program in recent years. She is an incredible asset to our players' development and the program's overall growth. I'm thrilled to have her support and expertise by my side as we begin this new chapter for Anchormen athletics."
Cabral has spent eight years with the Anchorwomen, which includes the past four as the head coach. She was a standout outside hitter at Worcester State University where she ranked in the top 10 all-time in career kills and was third in digs. Cabral was a First Team All-MASCAC selection as a senior in 2015, while earning Second Team honors as a junior in 2014. She also served as a team captain during her tenure as a Lancer.
Cabral earned a bachelor's degree in both communication science and disorders and psychology from Worcester State in 2016. Cabral obtained a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders from Baylor in 2023.
In addition to her coaching duties, she is a speech language pathologist in the Fall River, Mass. school system.
