Sports

Liam Murphy Inks Pro Contract With Nike

Dylan Johnson, Co-Sports Editor

July 25, 2025

Liam Murphy, the college 1,500-meter record holder, is signing with Nike.

Former Villanova middle distance runner Liam Murphy has signed a professional contract to run with Nike. He will join Swoosh TC in Flagstaff, Arizona, coached by Mike Smith.

Murphy announced his contract on social media on July 25.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to compete professionally with Nike and Coach Smith,” Murphy told Citius Mag. “I owe a huge thank you to my two coaches at Villanova and every teammate who’s helped me get to this point. I’m excited for the journey ahead and can’t wait to get started.”

Over five years at Villanova, Murphy set numerous program records in the middle distance and in relays. In March 2025, he set the new 1,500-meter college record of 3:33.02 at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina. He also holds school records in both the 5,000-meter (13:10.42) and the 3,000-meter (7:35.47).

Swoosh TC is a new network created by Nike that is made up of elite distance runners and coaches. Currently, Swoosh TC has three clubs set up across the United States in Provo, UT, Eugene, OR and Flagstaff, AZ.

Utah’s club is coached by Diljeet Taylor. Oregon’s club is led by Jerry Schumacher, in partnership with Shalane Flanagan.

With Murphy joining Swoosh TC in Flagstaff, he is now the third distance runner to join Nike this summer. North Carolina University’s Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe signed professional contracts with Nike last month.

The Flagstaff club began on July 1 with Smith as head coach. Previously, Smith was in charge of the Northern Arizona University track and field program from 2015 to 2025, which is highly successful in the distance events. Smith is coaching in partnership with his wife, Rachel Smith, who is former Big East Champion and represented Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 5,000-meter.

Murphy is set to begin his professional career in track and field starting with the 1500-meter at U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the end of July. The top three finishers of each event will earn a trip to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September.

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About the Contributor

Dylan Johnson, Co-Sports Editor

Dylan Johnson is currently serving his first year as one of the two Villanovan Co-Sports Editors. He is currently pursuing a major in Communications with a specialization in journalism. Dylan is a sophomore from Philadelphia, PA. Dylan’s passion for journalism is driven by storytelling. At The Villanovan, he wants to discover and tell the stories that might otherwise go untold. Dylan is a hard worker who is always looking for the next article to write. He is a diehard Philadelphia sports fan and will never miss an Eagles game. He can always be found at a Villanova game, whether it be in a press box, on the sidelines, or in the stands. When he is not spending hours in the Finn’s media room, Dylan can be found enjoying runs around campus.