LOWELL, Mass. – First-year UMass Lowell Women's Basketball Head Coach Tom Garrick has announced the hiring of his assistants, adding Denise King, Stefanie Murphy and Taryn Johnson to round out the staff.
 
"I am excited to welcome Denise, Stefanie and Taryn into the River Hawk family," commented Garrick. "Having three dynamic role models and mentors to work side by side with me is a major plus for the program. They provide a vast level of experience, energy and a fresh perspective."
 
The trio has spent time playing and coaching in Division I, combining for a total of 30 years at the highest level of collegiate women's basketball.
 
"Having all played at the Division I level gives them a blueprint for the young ladies they will be teaching," continued Garrick. "UMass Lowell is fortunate to have these ambassadors on how to be successful both on and off the court. The future of River Hawks women's basketball is brighter with these women aboard."
 
King comes to Lowell after a five-year stint as the recruiting coordinator at Hofsta, in which her players collected numerous All-Colonial Athletic Association honors, including the 2015 Rookie of the Year. During King's tenure, the Pride recorded back-to-back, 20-win seasons and two berths to the WNIT, including a trip to the Elite 8 in 2015-16.
 
"I am extremely excited to be a part of the UMass Lowell family and to be back working beside Tom Garrick," remarked King. "As a former player and coworker, I know Coach Garrick is about creating a family atmosphere, being competitive and developing the student-athlete on and off the court; things that are very important to me as I continue to mature in this business.  UMass Lowell's high academics, paired with being in a competitive league like the America East, makes me eager to get to work. It will be an exciting time here at UMass Lowell and I cannot wait to be a part of the rebuilding process. The future is bright with the River Hawks."
 
Prior to her time in Hempstead, King spent four years in the same position at Mount St. Mary's after another four-year period at her alma mater, Rhode Island, from 2005-2009.
 
The two-year captain ranks 17th all-time in Rams' history with 1,023 career points and fourth with 339 assists. King graduated cum laude from Rhode Island with a bachelor of science degree in business management in 2004.
 
Murphy stays in the America East after spending the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach at Vermont, working directly with the Catamounts' post players.
 
"To be a part of the rising UMass Lowell women's basketball program and a part of Coach Garrick's staff is a great opportunity," said Murphy. "Having worked alongside Coach Garrick in the past, I come to learn that his passion for the game and determination to be the best he can be everyday will only mature this program around and aid these young student-athletes growth on and off the court. I am extremely excited to be closer to home and in an area that the staff and I can really make an impact. I'm eager to see what this year has in store for us and to see this program grow."
 
After a four-year professional career from 2011-15, including stops with the Connecticut Sun and in Europe, Murphy received her masters of science degree in sports management from her alma mater, Boston College, while serving as a graduate assistant from 2015-17. As an undergrad, she received her bachelor of arts in communications in 2011.
 
The 2015 Romania League MVP was the Eagles' first ACC Rookie of the Year in 2007 and helped Boston College to three consecutive WNIT appearances. Murphy ranks fourth all-time in program history with 1,722 points after averaging at least 10.8 points per game each season.
Johnson makes the jump to the Mill City after spending two seasons as the Director of Operations on Fairfield's staff.
 
"I am thankful for the opportunity Head Coach Tom Garrick has given me to work with him and our staff and to be back home in Massachusetts at UMass Lowell," noted Johnson. "Along with the stellar education the University offers, the rising city of Lowell is rich in tradition and in support of its student athletes. I grew up watching River Hawk women's basketball and I'm excited to be on staff and apart of the rebirth of its program."
 
The Stags' 20th all-time scorer with 1,185 points, she was named to the All-MAAC First Team twice in her career and helped lead Fairfield to a WNIT appearance in her senior season.
 
Following graduation in 2012 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, Johnson played professionally overseas in for Liepajas Papirs in Latvia.
 
Johnson spent 2013-14 as an assistant at Newbury College, before taking the helm at Masssoit Community College from 2014-16.
 
Garrick was hired as the eighth head coach in program history on April 10, following stops at Boston College, Virginia and Vanderbilt. He played four years in the NBA after being selected in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.