Lawrence High selected Mike Murphy as its new boys soccer coach Thursday, athletic director Ron Commons announced.

Murphy, 40, lives in Lawrence with his wife and three children and works at DeSoto High.

Murphy was an assistant soccer coach at De Soto for three years and a head coach for five years, through 2004.

It’s not lost on Murphy that LHS has had difficultly establishing a winning tradition in soccer.

“The kids just need somebody who gives them a new set of expectations and confidence,” Murphy said. “And confidence comes with hard work, knowing you’ve worked hard enough to belong with those teams in the Sunflower League that have won state championships. I think the talent is there. It’s just a matter of getting the most out of it.”