As a member of the undefeated Team USA, Casey Murphy COM’17 was awarded an Olympic Gold Medal during the 2024 summer Olympic Games held in Paris France.

Asked how it felt to stand on the podium at the Paris Olympics and receive a gold medal, Murphy, who plays for the North Carolina Courage (NWSL), said, “I felt proud, relieved, obviously SO excited, and grateful. So much energy and effort was required to get there, and so while standing up there I just felt pure joy.”

As a Rutgers undergrad, Murphy, who majored in Communication and minored in the Digital Communication, Information, and Media Minor (DCIM), was a superstar on the Rutgers Women’s Soccer team, where she was twice named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Hailing from Bridgewater, New Jersey, Murphy started playing soccer when she was 5, played goalie exclusively by the time she was 10, and then broke almost every goalkeeper record at Rutgers and in the Big Ten conference.

SC&I Distinguished Teaching Professor of Communication and Information Mary Chayko taught Murphy in the Capstone course for the DCIM program. “Casey’s work ethic, leadership, intelligence, and collaborative team spirit were apparent as a Rutgers undergraduate, both in the classroom and on the soccer field,” Chayko said. “I never doubted that she would excel professionally, and was absolutely thrilled to see her with that gold medal around her neck!”

After Rutgers, Murphy signed with Montpellier HSC in the French Division 1 Féminine. According to her website, “in her first season with the team, she played in both the Coupe de France Féminine and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Following that season, she earned the Division 1 Best Keeper Award and was selected by French media as part of the league’s Best XI in all of France. After 2 years abroad, Murphy returned to the U.S. to play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Reign FC in Seattle and the North Carolina Courage. Casey holds the club shutout record in only her 3rd season with the team.”

Murphy is also the founder and CEO of the Casey Murphy Goalkeeping Academy (CMGK). At CMGK, Murphy and her hand-picked team of coaches work with goalkeepers and youth soccer players at clinics they run several times a year at different locations in the US. At the CMGK clinics, aspiring young soccer goalies meet, compete, and learn from Murphy and her staff.

In our Q&A, Casey Murphy explains how she continues to leverage the knowledge and skills she gained as a Rutgers SC&I undergrad as a pro soccer goalie and entrepreneur. She shares her time management advice for busy Rutgers students, provides tips for how she manages stress, and discusses what she’s focusing on now that she’s returned from Paris with an Olympic Gold Medal.

Why did you choose Rutgers and decide to major in Communication and minor in DCIM? 
CM: As an 18-year-old not sure what exactly I wanted or would like to major/minor in I decided on Communication and DCIM because they started off broad and allowed me to explore a lot of different avenues once I got started. From media, to branding, communication skills, writing, advertising, and event planning I saw COM and DCIM as an opportunity to prepare and immerse myself with a lot of different skills and knowledge.

What did you enjoy the most about your major and minor?
CM: I really enjoyed sharing a lot of my time in class with other athletes. Whether they were on the soccer team like me or played other sports at Rutgers, it was reassuring to know there was a bunch of other athletes balancing the demanding schedules of both academics and athletics.

Do you continue to use the skills and knowledge you gained at SC&I in your career? If so, how?

CM: Absolutely, all the time. I’ll list a few. 

1) As a current professional athlete, I have been asked to do public speaking appearances. Taking a class on this allowed me to feel more comfortable being myself, making eye contact, telling stories, and engaging with an audience. 

2) As a founder and CEO of Casey Murphy Goalkeeping Academy I have found it extremely beneficial to use my communication skills to build strong relationships within my business.

3) Creating CMGKs website with our website designer required me to go back and use some of my website design skills I learned while minoring in DCIM. Being able to build my brand and reach more of an audience with my website  https://go.rutgers.edu/97pyx4ru  has allowed me to be a resource and role model for more for young aspiring soccer players. 

4) As an athlete and teammate, I feel like my leadership skills come in handy every single training or game. Whether it’s asking productive questions to my coaches, being transparent with teammates, having good body language or motivating my team there are all skills covered in some of my classes at Rutgers. 

Can you offer any advice to incoming freshmen and other undergraduates about how to best manage their time or succeed while in college? 

CM: I’m big on planning out my week on Sundays. If it’s important I make sure to put it on my schedule. Also, every night before bed I look at my next day and make sure I have exact times and places I need to be all laid out so I’m on time and prioritizing everything I need to get done.

Many professionals become nervous before important events. Do you feel nervous before games and if so, how do you calm your nerves?

CM: I do get a little nervous before every game still. Now it’s something I expect and handle well. Remembering to have courage when I’m nervous is important for me, and also having positive and encouraging inner dialogue helps me before games. 

Now that you are an Olympic gold medalist, what’s next for you? 
CM: Back to work. Back to the grind. I have such a high standard of excellence for myself that now I’ve refocused and reset so I can continue my journey on. I’m looking forward to stretching myself even more in accomplishing my next goal.

Learn more about the Communication major and the Digital Communication, Information, and Media Minor (DCIM) on the SC&I website. 

Photos: Courtesy of Casey Murphy