Ryan Murray

Murray has always been an avid fan of sports radio, notable WEEI on 93.7 or 103.7 FM, a station that provides up-to-date coverage on all things Boston sports. When asked why he decided to pursue this field, Murray says he was just listening as he usually does one day, and decided that it was something he wanted to be a part of.

One of Murray’s possible destinations is the sports team for the Boston Globe. While initially wanting to write for the paper, he’s now directed towards more online work. But he’s not limiting himself to the pursuit of a single publicaiton. He’s listed Chicago, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles as places of interest. All of these cities have a sports-crazed population with a multitude of teams with rabid fan bases. Opportunities will be bountiful.

by Scott Robertson

KINGSTON - The typical American high schooler pursuing further education goes to college after graduation. Some may stay at home for a few years, working to earn some more money before going to school. Some may go to a community college first to meet general education requirements. It goes without saying that the majority of adults who come back to school much later stand out from the usual college student. No, Ryan Murray is not the typical college kid, and his journey here isn’t too typical either. The 33-year-old from Warwick, RI, has come to the University of Rhode Island after being away from school for over ten years, and he’s pursuing a career in sports journalism, whether it be on the radio or in the newspaper. URI’s impressive collection of sports teams was a primary factor in Murray’s decision to attend this school, and with New England being such a sports-fanatical region, with cities like New York and Boston overflowing with opportunities for sports journalism, the future looks bright for Murray.

After graduating from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School in 1999, Murray spent the next fifteen or so years working various jobs around Rhode Island. After high school, he spent seven years working at the local Stop N’ Shop. After that, he spent another seven years at Haxton’s Liquor in Warwick, and is still working there today. He spent the summer of 2008 in Nantucket doing computer repairs for the business of a close friend. Murray has always been interested in computers, and was initially leaning toward a field in computer science. But the overwhelming amount of math involved made him look in a different direction. This change of heart regarding his goals and aspirations was a big reason for Murray to take some time off from school. I asked Murray if the amount of time he spent away from school make (made) his return more challenging. Murray agreed that it would be difficult, but said of the amount of time not chasing his dream: “it just made me more hungry.”