Patrick Murphy’s math teacher is still attending Alabama softball games 40 years later: ‘Coolest thing ever’
Cheryl Gade briefly taught Patrick Murphy high school math. More than four decades later, she is once again attending the Women's College World Series to support the Alabama softball coach.
Olivia Bennett 
Depending on who you ask, Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy either lasted three weeks or a few days in Cheryl Gade’s Algebra 2 class. Regardless of the exact timeline, the high school math student from Fayette, Iowa, quickly realized the curriculum wasn't for him, telling 205focus.com, "I was not a math guy."
A Long-Distance Bond
Despite that brief classroom stint over 40 years ago, a deep, lasting friendship formed. Now, 44 years later, Gade is once again in the stands at the Women’s College World Series to cheer on the Crimson Tide. Gade, who has attended about a dozen WCWS tournaments, remains a steadfast supporter of her former student, even noting, "I’m so thankful I can call him my friend."
Their connection dates back to the early 1980s when Murphy’s family welcomed the young teacher into their home for dinner. Gade, who coached various sports and managed parks and rec programs, eventually hired a teenage Murphy to lead a local little league softball team. "I just knew that he was good and he was interested and he would care about it," Gade recalled. "And he was very invested."
From First Boss to Hall of Fame
Murphy credits Gade as his first-ever boss, noting she taught him how to handle the highs and lows of coaching. When Murphy hit a low point after a tough high school baseball loss, Gade offered the perspective that helped shape his career: "You had a great year. But that’s why you play the game. You never know what can happen."
That advice helped launch a legendary coaching career. Since taking over at Alabama in 1999, Murphy has secured six SEC Coach of the Year honors, gained entry into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and captured a national championship in 2012.
Gade’s loyalty remains unmatched. Whether she is driving home at 4 a.m. after a Sunday night game to make it to school on time, or screaming "Roll Tide!" from her living room in Iowa, she never misses a beat. For Murphy, seeing his former math teacher in the crowd year after year is "just one of the coolest things ever."
