McMurray retires as Kodiak women’s basketball coach

By Lethbridge Herald on March 18, 2026.

Nathan Reiter 

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women’s basketball program will have a new head coach next season.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Kodiaks announced that Ken McMurray has retired from his duties as head coach.

McMurray initially got involved with the Kodiaks program as an assistant coach under Deanna Simpson and took over the head coaching role ahead of the 2021-22 season.

During his tenure, McMurray led the Kodiaks to 43 wins and earned ACAC South Coach of the Year honours in his first season. 

McMurray has had a lengthy coaching career lasting more than four decades at the junior high, high school and collegiate levels.

In an interview with the Herald, McMurray says he’s hoping to spend more time with his family.

“I retired almost three years ago. I was in the program before that, as I was a principal. All good things come to an end. I recently became a trustee on the West Wind school board, so my plate started getting a little fuller. Not that I don’t love coaching, it’s the hardest thing to give up. It’s just the right time. I’m wanting to go visit family and have a couple of my daughters that are in the States.”

The Kodiaks had six players named to the All-Conference teams during McMurray’s tenure including four first team and two second team. McMurray did an excellent job with young players as the Kodiaks had a Rookie of the Year winner in each season of his tenure except one.

When asked what he will miss most about coaching, McMurray says he liked seeing his players develop both on and off the court.

“Probably the relationships you build with your athletes. That’s the thing I’m going to miss the most. You spend so much time with them and you develop these close relationships and you watch them grow and not only as athletes, which is very rewarding and satisfying, but more importantly as human beings. That’s the thing I’m probably going to miss the most is just the relationships I’ve built over the years with so many young athletes.”

Deanna Simpson will take over head coaching duties for the Kodiaks. She served as an assistant under McMurray last season and has previous experience with Lethbridge being named the ACAC Women’s South Division coach of the year in the 2019-20 campaign.

McMurray says the Kodiaks will be in good hands with Simpson taking over the reins of the program.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Deanna. She’s been an excellent assistant coach for me and I feel like the program’s in good hands. The one thing I was certainly worried about was stepping away and the program having to start from scratch again. With Deanna staying on, I just feel like there’s a continuity of the things that we’ve built together that can continue on. I’m excited about her being the coach and she’ll do a great job, I’m sure. She’s got a great way of connecting with young women. She does a great job and understands the x’s and o’s of basketball very well.”