Senior officials at North Carolina State University were aware of allegations regarding sports medicine director Robert M. Murphy Jr. for several years before the school's Title IX office was formally notified, according to confidential documents reviewed by ESPN. The records indicate that athletic department staff raised concerns about Murphy's interactions with male athletes as early as 2014 or 2015. Despite these warnings, the university did not alert Title IX coordinators until 2022.
Michelle Lee, the former deputy Title IX coordinator, expressed frustration to investigators in 2022 after learning of a 2019 memo that detailed these concerns. Lee described the discovery as a moment of shock, noting that the document had been stored in a folder for three years while Murphy remained employed. She stated that it was upsetting to realize the university had possessed such information without taking action.
The 2019 memo was authored by Raymond Harrison, Murphy's manager, and addressed to outgoing athletic director Debbie Yow. Harrison cited specific behaviors, including questionable massage techniques and Murphy inviting athletes to his home for haircuts. He also noted that Murphy was observed in a position that appeared to involve straddling a student athlete, a detail Harrison later downplayed by citing similar techniques used by other trainers. Harrison described a comment by Murphy regarding seeing an athlete naked in the locker room as inappropriate for common practice.
Allegations against Murphy include inappropriate touching of male athletes' genitals during medical treatments, observing athletes in locker rooms and showers, and maintaining boundary-crossing relationships. In September 2022, a grand jury indicted Murphy on 32 counts, including nine felonies for sexual contact under the pretext of medical treatment and 23 misdemeanors for sexual battery. The indictment involved 14 former athletes. Murphy, through his legal team, has denied the charges and stated he believes the truth will clear his name.
The Title IX investigation concluded that Murphy's conduct was unwelcome, sexual in nature, pervasive, and sufficiently severe. Murphy joined NC State in 2012 and resigned in the spring of 2022, shortly before the investigation concluded. The university stated that it took prompt action once the allegations were reported to police and the Title IX office in 2022, confirming that Murphy is no longer employed at the institution.
Earlier warnings included a report from Michael Lipitz, the deputy athletic director, who learned of a concern regarding a men's soccer player in 2014 or 2015. Lipitz told investigators he felt there was little substance to the complaint at the time and trusted Murphy's professional judgment. He described Murphy as a detail-oriented professional who was good at his job. Lipitz later told ESPN that he remains committed to the well-being of young athletes.
When asked about the 2019 memo, Yow said she did not recall receiving it but did remember being told of questionable behavior. She deferred to Lipitz for details on follow-up actions, citing a leadership transition during her retirement. An organization chart obtained by ESPN shows that Harrison reported directly to Yow, not Lipitz, which complicates the chain of command described by Lipitz.
The investigation was triggered in January 2022 after Benjamin Locke, a former soccer player, filed a complaint. Locke alleged that Murphy touched his genitals hundreds of times over two years during treatments. Other former athletes described similar experiences, including intrusive observations during urine samples and massages that often targeted the groin area. One former coach, Kelly Findley, described Murphy's behavior as grooming, noting that the trainer was overly attached to specific players and lacked a personal life outside the team.
Harrison told investigators that staff members frequently brought him unsolicited information about Murphy until he reached a tipping point that prompted the 2019 memo. He admitted that in hindsight, the department might have considered reporting to the Title IX office earlier. Lee noted that if she had seen the memo sooner, she would have had many questions about why no action was taken. The civil lawsuit filed by 31 former athletes was dismissed on procedural grounds, but the men have appealed the decision.
