North Carolina State University's former director of sports medicine made his first appearance in a Wake County court Friday and was ordered held on a $2.25 million bond. Robert Murphy Jr. is accused of 32 counts of sexually abusing 14 male athletes he treated while at NC State.
Murphy appeared by video, where the judge ordered the former sports medicine director to surrender his passport. His next court date is Nov. 2.
He is charged with nine felony counts of sexual contact under the pretext of medical care, an offense North Carolina made a felony in 2019, and 23 misdemeanor counts of sexual battery.
Authorities arrested him at his home in Ocala, Florida, on Sept. 23 and extradited him to North Carolina on Thursday.
Lawyers for Murphy previously told ESPN that they "believe that when people hear the actual facts of what occurred, Mr. Murphy will be cleared, and the truth will be paramount."
NC State officials previously told ESPN that it was "aware of the charges filed" and that the university would "cooperate with law enforcement in this matter."
Murphy served as NC State's sports medicine director from 2012 to 2022. He resigned from that role after allegations of misconduct arose.