Who We Are

Born from a lifetime of volleyball and a passion for athlete development, SWELL was founded by brothers Mike Murphy and Riley Murphy. Raised in Coastal Orange County and backed by more than 30 years of combined coaching experience, they built SWELL to create an environment where athletes can challenge themselves, embrace the process of growth, and rise to their highest potential.

At SWELL Volleyball Club, we believe every athlete has the potential to rise to the next level. Our purpose is to help players step into the current of each moment—where talent meets relentless effort, and growth is driven by the hope in front of us and the passion behind us. We embrace the flow of learning, knowing that progress isn’t always linear, it’s never stagnant; but every rep, every rally, and every moment in the pursuit moves us forward. Sports can be unpredictable and change is inevitable, but we remain steadfast, firm on our foundation, keeping the main thing the main thing, with our eyes fixed on the prize.

We create a culture where joy fuels performance, where athletes feel the energy of belonging to something bigger like the pull of the tide, and where hard work builds the strength to navigate the emotional ups and downs of competition. Together, we ride the highs, learn from the lows, and trust that joy is found in the journey.

At Swell, it’s not just about reaching the peak—it’s about becoming part of a team, finding your flow, and rising with the SWELL.

From the introductory, to the experienced, to the elite level athletes, we have a path for everyone on their journey.

Owner | Director | Coach

Mike Murphy is an owner, director, and coach at SWELL Volleyball Club. Coach Murphy has over 19 years of high school and club coaching experience in South Orange County. He’s been the head girls volleyball coach at JSerra Catholic High School since 2013. In 2023 he was named CIF Coach of the Year after his team won the CIFSS D2 Championship. Murphy’s club teams have earned gold, silver and bronze medals in the Open Division of Junior Nationals, as well as several medals at USAV National Qualifiers and AAU events. He also sits on the San Onofre Surfing Club Board as an officer and is the chair of the volleyball events. 

As a player, Murphy was a three-year Varsity setter at Dana Hills High School. He went on to play at Orange Coast College where his team finished 3rd in State, then received a scholarship to Hope International University and competed in the NAIA conference. His achievements include Junior Olympic recognition as well as several All-League and All-Conference selections throughout his high school and collegiate careers. Murphy earned his BA from Hope International University, a contract major at Cal State Fullerton, and attended graduate school at National University to pursue a teaching credential. 

Mike lives in San Clemente with his wife Leslie and 4 kids. He is blessed and thankful to be doing what he loves. Aside from coaching, Mike enjoys surfing, playing music (check him out on Spotify) and raising his family at the beach.

Riley Murphy

Owner | Director | Coach

Riley Murphy is an owner, director, and coach at SWELL Volleyball Club, bringing more than 12 years of coaching experience at both the club and high school levels. Throughout his coaching career, Riley has consistently developed competitive teams while fostering a love for the game and a strong foundation of athletic excellence.

His teams have achieved success on some of the sport’s biggest stages, including a 5th-place finish in the National Division and a 3rd-place finish in the Liberty Division at Junior Nationals. In 2026, Riley led his 16s team to a 2nd-place finish in the USA Division at the Red Rock Rave and a 4th-place finish at the SCSN Championships. In addition to his success with older age groups, Riley has built and coached numerous 12U teams competing at the Division 1 level in Southern California. He takes pride in developing young athletes, instilling strong fundamentals, competitive confidence, and a lifelong passion for volleyball.

As a player, Riley helped his club team earn a Junior Olympic gold medal. He attended Dana Hills High School, where he won two league championships and earned League MVP and All-CIF honors. Riley went on to play collegiate golf. He attended Vanguard University, where he earned a degree in Business.

Riley lives in San Clemente with his wife, Savanna, and their two daughters, Scottie and Cal. When he is not coaching or leading SWELL, he enjoys golfing, surfing, and exploring new adventures with his family.