Organizers seeking more kids to join all-star coaching staff in free camp

ASHEBORO — The 2026 edition of the Coach Murphy Football & Cheer Camps is looking for more youth to learn from college coaches and NFL players. 

It’s a chance to hone your football skills while enjoying a good time and good food — all for free.

The camp, which will be held June 12-13 at Eastside Park in Asheboro, honors the late Asheboro High School Coach Russell Murphy. It includes a cheerleading camp and a free adult health fair on June 13.

Ken Browning is being added to the camp this year. He spent a number of years coaching at UNC, twice under Mack Brown and also with Carl Torbush, John Bunting, Butch Davis and Everett Withers. He spent a year as defensive coordinator and also coached the defensive line. He was a high school coach for 26 years prior to joining UNC.

He joins Andy Headen, a regular, who played at Eastern Randolph High School, won a national championship at Clemson University and was a Super Bowl champion while playing alongside Lawrence Taylor with the New York Giants.

Robert Prunty, former head coach at Hampton University, will return for another summer camp. Prunty was a successful coach at Hargrave Military Institute, where a number of his players eventually went to the NFL. Then he joined the staff at Texas Tech, where he helped recruit Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield.

“The biggest thing is I want to teach the fundamentals of the game and in the process teach life lessons,” Punty said. “Football is a game of life with ups and downs. It’s about getting up when you’re knocked down. Tough times don’t last, God’s people do.

“I want to let them know that their faith is first, then family, then me, then football,” he said. “I want to make sure they get their priorities right and keep a balance in life. Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.”

Along with those lessons, Prunty said he wants to emphasize the importance of education.

The schedule for the two-day affair is check-in from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and camps from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is provided both days. On Saturday, in addition to the health fair, there will be horseback riding and an Asheboro Fire Department water bath.

Campers who attend both days will have a chance to win a video game of their choice and their parents could win a dinner for two at a local restaurant. Awards will be given out on Saturday.

For details, contact Willie Gladden at 336-706-0923 or the Rev. Dexter L. Trogdon Sr. at 336-633-1000.