Coaching Staff

Joseph Murphy - Varsity Coach

Coach Murphy is in his 12th season as the Shen Varsity Basketball Coach. He has led the Plainsmen to six league titles, five sectional titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020), two regional titles (2016, 2017) and appearances in the state title game (2016) and state semi-finals (2017). Coach Murphy started at Shenendehowa as an assistant in the girls’ basketball program in 2004. As a member of Coach Strube’s staff, he  helped the program win seven Suburban Council championships, two Section 2 championships (2008 and 2010) and a become a New York State Finalist (2010).  For four years, Coach Murphy also held the position of freshman coach. His teams amassed an overall record of 68-3 which included three undefeated seasons. 

Outside of Shen, Coach Murphy was an assistant coach with the Empire State Games Women’s Open Division Team and helped lead them to Bronze, Silver and Gold in consecutive years (2006, 2007, and 2008). He is the founder and director of the Shenendehowa/Clifton Park Girls’ Basketball Camp. He has also coached numerous girls AAU teams (Albany Capitals and Saratoga Sparks) that have competed at the local, state, and national level.

Coach Murphy has been a teacher in the Shenendehowa High School business department for the past 21 years.  He resides in Broadalbin with his wife Daniella, son Vincent, and daughter Mila.  


Julia Ryan - Varsity Asst Coach


Coach Ryan is in her first year as an assistant coach at the Varsity Level. She graduated from Shenedehowa in 2018 and was a member of Shen’s 2017 Regional Championship team. Coach Ryan continued on to attend McDaniel College, receiving her M.A. in Elementary Education and B.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with Summa Cum Laude and Departmental Honors. She was also a member of the McDaniel Women’s Basketball Team during her collegiate stint. She currently works at Orenda Elementary School as a Kindergarten Teacher. 

 

Coach Ryan also coaches at the Clifton Park Travel and Elevate AAU levels, and outside of basketball, loves to spend time with her family.


Dennis Guiry - Varsity Asst Coach

Coach Guiry is in fourth year as an assistant coach at the varsity levels., but he has been involved in Shen and Clifton Park Basketball for over a decade. He coached at the Capital District Travel Level and created the Shen Pride AAU program.  Currently, Coach Guiry is also coaching in the Elevate AAU program.  


Steve Decker - Junior Varsity Coach

Coach Decker is in his 9th year with the girl's basketball program serving as the head Freshman coach for the 2015-2016 season and now working as the JV Head Coach.  He graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 1997 before continuing his education at Sage College of Albany graduating magna cum-laude with a B.S. (Physical Education) in 2007.  He received his M.S. in Sports Coaching from the United States Sports Academy in 2014 with highest honors.  He currently teaches Physical Education at Karigon Elementary and has been an employee of Shenendehowa since 2009. He also serves as the Varsity Softball Assistant in the Spring sports season.

When he is not coaching Coach Decker enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in sports himself.  He resides in Round Lake with his wife Michele and two children, Jocelyn and Stephen.

Freshman Coach - Melissa Dunham


Coach Dunham is in her 3nd year with the girls basketball program serving as the head coach of Mod9. Coach Dunham graduated from Corning West High School in 1996. She was a key member of the Lady Vikings basketball team that captured the NYS Class B Championship in 1995, her junior season. While at West, her teams won the Section IV championship all three years of her high school career. During those three years, Coach Dunham scored 604 points, grabbed 483 rebounds and recorded an amazing 200 blocked shots.

She served as captain of the team during her senior season when she was named to the All-Section IV team, the All-Twin Tiers team and the All-Leader team. Aside from her numbers, it was her leadership and hard work that stood out on one of the best basketball teams ever at West High School. She earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Albany where she was a standout for four years before graduating in 2000. Coach Dunham was inducted to the Corning Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

When she is not coaching Coach Dunham enjoys watching her daughter’s play travel basketball and softball. She resides in Ballston Lake with her husband Eric and two children, Callie and Camdyn.


Modified 7/8 Coach - Carlin DeMarinis

Coach DeMarinis is in her third season as a coach here at Shen with this being her first as the Modified 7/8 Coach.  She is a 2005 graduate of Saratoga High School.  She played basketball at Sage College and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Physical Education.  She later received her masters in Sports Administration from Canisius College.

Prior to Shen, Coach DeMarinis coached as an assistant at Hamilton College (2012-2013), varsity head coach at Scotia HS (2013-2014) and then at Cobleskill Richmond HS as their varsity head coach (2014-2020).  

Coach DeMarinis is in her third year at Shen as a physical education teacher in the high school.  She also has 2 Golden Doodles (Gunner and Ace).