Loughborough Sport
With a clear focus on student experience and performance excellence the team supports sport at every level through worldleading coaching, developing outstanding student experiences, state of the art facilities and superb events. All this work is towards one clear goal, to create a sporting experience so positive it is life shaping.
Senior Leadership Team
Richard Wheater, Director of Sport
The former England netball player and acclaimed leader will bring with her 30 years of sports industry experience.
During her time at The FA Louise has helped to double participation in women’s and girls’ grassroots football, was instrumental in working with key commercial partners, including Sport England and UEFA, to grow the women’s game, and launched an award-winning disability football programme. She also played a key role in the transformational legacy of the Lionesses’ historic EURO 2022 win across grassroots football and in curricular and extra-curricular school participation.
Liv Murphy, Deputy Director of Sport (Performance Director)
Olivia Murphy is a Loughborough graduate having completed her Economics with Accountancy degree in 1998. Following a stint as a trainee accountant Olivia returned to Loughborough as the inaugural Director of Netball in 2006.
Following that, Olivia worked for England Netball as a Regional Manager before returning to her performance roots in the roles of Performance Pathway Manager and managing the Intensive Training Centres.
Olivia is a former England Netball Athlete and Captain. Olivia played from U18 age group through to the Senior team, gaining 95 Caps and representing England at 3 Commonwealth Games and 2 World Championships-6 Years as Captain.
Olivia has been an England Netball Technical Coach for the since 2014 coaching all age groups from U17 to most recently the Senior Roses team. She has coached Loughborough Lightning since its inception where she is currently the Netball Superleague side’s Assistant Coach.
In addition, at Loughborough University, Olivia has held the roles of Senior Performance programme Manager and Head of Performance Support.
Jo Emmett, Head of Performance Programmes
Jo Emmett came back to study Sports Management at Loughborough University in her mid 20s and has been involved in the University ever since. She then worked for the Youth Sport Trust on the Gifted & Talent Programme which aimed to help school aged children to balance their study and sport priorities. Jo joined Loughborough Sport in 2008 as the Education & Development Manager, continuing to aid University students to balance their sport & their studies, and gain life skills.
Jo moved into a strategic manager role in 2010, which has taken many paths but now forms her current role as Head of Performance Programmes. Jo oversees the ‘off pitch’ aspects of the University performance programmes and the Athletic Union.
Prior to Loughborough Jo did an Economics and German degree at the University of East Anglia and worked at the Bank of England as a banking analyst covering South America.
Rich Ellis, Deputy Directory of Sport - Head of Commercial Partnerships and Sports Facilities
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