LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – After 33 years serving the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – including the last 29 years as Commissioner – Steve Murray has announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2026.
 
“Steve Murray’s years of service to the PSAC have been defined by steady leadership, thoughtful growth, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Shippensburg University President Dr. Charles E. Patterson, Chair of the PSAC Board of Directors. “Under Steve’s guidance, the conference successfully expanded its membership while continuing to uphold the conference's longstanding tradition of competitive success and academic achievement. His impact will be felt for years to come, and we are grateful for the leadership and integrity he brought to the conference throughout his distinguished tenure.”
 
Murray began his tenure with the conference in August of 1993 when he was named the PSAC’s first full-time sports information director. After holding that position for three years, he was promoted to assistant commissioner for media relations in 1996 and served as the conference’s acting commissioner for a year until he was appointed as PSAC Commissioner on July 1, 1998.
 
“Steve’s leadership has shaped the PSAC for more than three decades, and the extraordinary success of this conference is a direct reflection of his unwavering commitment to student-athletes,” said Roberta Page, Director of Athletics at Slippery Rock University. “He has been a mentor, a trusted colleague, and a true friend – someone whose integrity, compassion, and instinct for doing what is right have guided us all. His impact will continue to define this conference, and each of us who have had the privilege of working alongside him, long into the future.” 
 
“It has been a privilege of a lifetime to serve the PSAC as its Commissioner,” explains Murray. “The mission of education at our members and the place athletics fits in on the campuses is exactly what intercollegiate athletics should be. It’s now time to step aside from my role and enjoy the next phase of my life. I believe the Conference is positioned to be successful and continue its mission of providing educational and athletic opportunities to our student-athletes.”
 
While athletic success at the PSAC’s institutions has been visible throughout the years, Murray also prioritized academic achievement for the conference’s student-athletes. Under Murray’s leadership, The PSAC implemented the Top 10 Awards in 1997, Champion Scholar and Top Team GPA Awards in 2011-12, and Academic All-Conference Teams in 2025-26.  The conference is also annually among the leaders in Division II in Academic Success Rate, Federal Graduation Rate, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans.
 
Murray also oversaw multiple instances of conference expansion. Gannon and Mercyhurst were accepted as full-time members prior to the 2008-09 academic year, while Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown joined in 2013. In 2018, the league added Shepherd, the first full member institution outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Announced in the summer of 2025, an invitation was extended to Lackawanna College to join the conference as its 18th member, contingent on Lackawanna completing the application process to Division II.
 
His guidance has also paved the way for additional championship opportunities for PSAC institutions. In addition to expanded postseason brackets in several team sports, the league added championships for men's and women's indoor track and field in 2002 and hosted its first-ever women's golf championship in 2008. Furthermore, the re-establishment of a football championship game raised the PSAC's championship total to 23, among the most in Division II.
 
Other examples of growth under Murray's leadership include the introduction of the F. Eugene Dixon Trophy All-Sports Trophy in 1996 and the creation of the PSAC’s Sportsmanship Policy in 2003. He has also been at the forefront of adding several student-athlete well-being policies, including a Concussion Policy in 2014 and the PSAC’s Mental Health Checklist in 2018. The PSAC also features its own video streaming platform, the PSAC Sports Digital Network, which has always remained free-to-access for viewers. Murray also focused on initiatives in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and formed the PSAC’s Social Justice Alliance in 2021.

Beyond his duties as commissioner, Murray was the president of the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) and served on the Division II Management Council. He also held a spot on the NCAA Division II Football Committee, including the position of chair during his final two years. He later served a stint on the NCAA's Playing Rules and Oversight Panel, as well as the Committee on Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport. Additionally, Murray chaired the regional selection and served as voting coordinator for the Disney National Scholar-Athlete of the Year awarded by the Division II CCA from its inception in 2000 until 2007.
 
A native of Emporium, Pennsylvania, Murray graduated from Gannon University in 1985 with a degree in business administration. He also played baseball for the Golden Knights for two years. Following graduation, Murray earned a master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, Alabama.
 
Murray came to the PSAC after a six-year stint at Centenary College in Louisiana, where he served the institution in several different capacities. Originally, he was athletic trainer and assistant baseball coach at Centenary. He later became compliance coordinator and eventually served as sports information director for three years.
 
The PSAC Board of Directors will soon determine the process for filling the position of Commissioner and make announcements as appropriate.