Westminster Names New Football and Volleyball Head Coaches

Athletics

General

3/30/2023

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Westminster Schools of Augusta is pleased to name Chris Murphey its varsity football coach. Murphey succeeds Glenn Bell in the role, who made the prayerful decision to devote his time and talents to the Westminster community as a History department chair and teacher. The school is also pleased to name Penny Kornreich as its first head varsity volleyball coach, prompted by the growth of the junior varsity program.

Coach Murphey was named the interim varsity coach in January, following Coach Bell's resignation. After a national search that brought Westminster over 40 applicants, Murphey rose to the top. He has been a member of the Westminster community for six years as a parent and a coach. Murphey led the Westminster Middle School football team to the championship game in 2020, and served as an assistant varsity coach for the 2022-23 season. Murphey's desire to see young men impacted for Christ through the sport of football was a large reason for Westminster to stay close to home with this hire.

Murphey is looking forward to continuing to build the Westminster football program into an attractive option for families looking for a great Christian education paired with a successful athletic program. Murphey says, "I am humbled and honored that God has provided me this opportunity to build men of strong, Godly character through the game of football and to continue our program's tradition of excellence."

"I remain grateful for Coach Murphey's commitment to Christian education, his desire to view and pursue athletics as an opportunity to grow and disciple young men in a way that will shape their character and have a resounding impact on their future trajectory and positive Christian influence wherever God may be leading them," said Head of School, Dr. Shawn Brower. "While this search process has been robust, and the candidate pool strong, I am completely confident that we found the right man to lead our young men to train, compete and live in a way that bring honor to Jesus!"

Murphey holds a Bachelor's of Science from Clemson University in Management and is the owner of Murphey Brothers Construction. He has served as a youth football coach in the Augusta area since 2010. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children at Westminster, and are members of Kiokee Baptist Church in Appling, Ga.

Westminster Schools of Augusta is pleased to name Penny Kornreich its first head varsity volleyball coach. "We are grateful for the incredible number of female athletes that were part of our first year volleyball program this past year and are excited about advancing this program from junior varsity to the varsity level," said Dr. Brower.

Coach Kornreich has a storied volleyball career that saw her play growing up in California and led her to Columbia, S.C. to play for the University of South Carolina. She has coached at recreational and club levels, and traveled internationally with Athletes in Action, playing volleyball in Bolivia and Peru.

Kornreich is excited to bring her encouraging style of coaching to the sidelines at Westminster while focusing on the discipleship of young women. She has a heart for using volleyball to see lives changed and impacted for Christ.

Kornreich holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of South Carolina, and a Masters in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. She has served as a volleyball coach in recreational leagues for a number of years. She and her husband, Drew, have six children, one of whom attends Westminster, and attend I M Chuch - Micro Church in Aiken, S.C.

“I am thrilled and excited beyond words to be stepping into the position as the head varsity girls volleyball coach at Westminster! Serving this role is an enormous honor and privilege,” said Kornreich. “I look forward to developing and building a robust and successful volleyball program which equips Christian women athletes with the skills necessary to excel in volleyball, grow in their personal relationship with Jesus, and live victoriously throughout their lives.”

Of Kornreich, Dr. Brower said, “As we continue to grow our women’s athletic program and specifically the volleyball program, we are so grateful the Lord brought a coach who has the years of experience and expertise that will be required to navigate a new program while seeking to build towards a championship level caliber program. Above all that though, we are most grateful for Coach Kornreich’s desire to disciple and shepherd the hearts of her student-athletes through athletics.”