Two new varsity coaches – familiar faces in Enumclaw High sporting circles – have been appointed to lead Hornet athletes.

Veteran coach Tod Witzel will lead the girls’ cross country program and Steve Murphy has taken over as girls’ golf coach.

Former track coach

to head girls XC

Witzel is a lifelong runner, often seen chugging along the many roads connecting Plateau towns.

He began his running career at a young age, competing in numerous events at the national level prior to becoming a decorated runner at Lindbergh High School. He became a Washington state champion sprinter and then took his talents to Oregon State. As a scholarship athlete he competed for the Beavers at both the Pac 10 and national level. Following college he continued to compete on the international stage, until deciding to begin his journey as a teacher and coach.

He began his coaching career as an assistant track coach at Philomath High School in Oregon. He returned to Washington and took over the head coaching position at Sumner High School for three years. During this time he was hired as a teacher at Enumclaw High School and became an assistant coach for the Hornets. After three seasons, he took over the EHS track program and was the head coach until 1999.

At that time he stepped away from coaching to focus on his family. His wife Jean is a social studies teacher at Enumclaw High and their daughter Bryn will be entering the ninth grade this fall at EHS.

Jeff Jacobson has overseen both the boys and girls cross country teams and will now focus solely on the boys program.

Assistant golf coach gets promotion

Murphy certainly isn’t new to Hornet golf, having been actively involved for the past seven years. As a volunteer he has brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the program.

He played competitive golf in high school and began his career as an assistant professional at Inglewood Country Club in 1993.  After a couple of years in the golf industry he decided to complete his education degree and become a teacher and coach.

He began teaching in the Federal Way School District at Kilo Junior High, then shifted to Decatur High.

His coaching career is rich in experience. He has been a head baseball coach at Spanaway Lake and Decatur high schools and was an assistant for basketball, football and baseball at various schools. In August 2006 he decided to move his family to Enumclaw where he has been an assistant with both the baseball and boys and girls golf programs.