Even after joining Netball Wanganui Murphy continued playing for her beloved Marist club, winning the local premier competition every year between 2003 and 2008 and many years as captain.
She also played for the Western regional team twice at national level - in 2003 and again in 2005.
However, in latter years she has made her mark as coach of Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School A1 that has won the Wanganui Premiership three out of the past four years.
WHS first won in 2011 and then claimed back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014. In 2012 the Murphy-coached WHS girls finished runners-up.
Murphy was also coach when the Under-17 rep side arguably achieved Wanganui's best result ever at national level when they were fourth last season.
"That was huge and very satisfying, but I'm also very proud of the way the local game has developed right through from my Year 7 and 8 girls to our babies."
However, her own babies, Ashlee and Sammy Murphy (daughters), are perhaps her most proudest achievement.
The towering shooters have been instrumental in the success of WHS.
"Obviously I'm very proud of Ashlee and Sammy's form. Ashlee is no longer in the WHS team after completing her first year at Otago University, but Sammy has another year to go and that's exciting."
Murphy stepped down from Netball Wanganui to become full time sport/coach co-ordinator at Wanganui High School - a job she begins next term at the end of January.
"I will continue to coach the WHS premier side and I've also put my name forward to coach the new Wanganui team that will hopefully compete within the revamped national structure," Murphy said.
"We haven't had a team play in national competition for about 14 years since the Western competition was formed. But the national structure is changing and that opens the door again. If I want to take my coaching to a different level I need to step up and work with senior players at top level. We will select a team from competition between Wanganui metropolitan, south and northern.
"My new job will also be challenging under WHS director of sport Diane Howard. The school offers 29 different sports to about 1600 students and my job will be to help co-ordinate all that working with coaches and teachers involved in sport. I will also co-ordinate all the sporting exchanges WHS has with other schools.
"We have also just started an off-season emerging talent programme that involves eight different winter codes working mainly on strength and conditioning."
While she is excited to begin a new chapter, Murphy said she was sad to be leaving Netball Wanganui.
"I know I will still be heavily involved in the game, but I will miss working alongside executive officer Robyn Walford and current president Amanda Engert." Walford said Murphy has left netball in great heart and ready for her replacement to step right in when named before Christmas.
"Netball is what it is today in Wanganui because of Lisa and the game is in great heart and poised to improve even further," Walford said.
A farewell for Murphy is planned for Tuesday, December 9 at Laird Park Pavilion at 5.30pm.
"All are welcome to come," Walford said.
