Billy J. Murphy
Billy Jack "Spook" Murphy (January 13, 1921 – February 21, 2008) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Memphis State University—now known as the University of Memphis—from 1958 to 1971, compiling a record of 91–44–1. Murphy's 1963 team was the school's first undefeated team in 25 years, and Murphy was named national coach of the year. Murphy was also the athletic director at Memphis State from 1966 to 1981. He played college football at Mississippi State University.
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Lorenzo, Texas | January 13, 1921
Died | February 21, 2008 87) Memphis, Tennessee | (aged
Playing career | |
1941–1942 | Mississippi State |
1946 | Mississippi State |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1947–1951 | Memphis State (backfield) |
1952–1953 | Mississippi State (backfield) |
1954–1957 | Minnesota (backfield) |
1958–1971 | Memphis State |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1966–1981 | Memphis State |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 91–44–1 |
Bowls | 1–0 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
3 MVC (1968–1969, 1971) |
Murphy met all eligibility requirements and was on the 2007 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, but was ultimately not selected for induction. He died in a retirement community in Memphis, Tennessee in 2008.[1][2]
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Memphis State Tigers (NCAA College Division independent) (1958–1959) | |||||||||
1958 | Memphis State | 4–5 | |||||||
1959 | Memphis State | 6–4 | |||||||
Memphis State Tigers (NCAA University Division independent) (1960–1967) | |||||||||
1960 | Memphis State | 8–2 | |||||||
1961 | Memphis State | 8–2 | |||||||
1962 | Memphis State | 8–1 | |||||||
1963 | Memphis State | 9–0–1 | 14 | ||||||
1964 | Memphis State | 5–4 | |||||||
1965 | Memphis State | 5–5 | |||||||
1966 | Memphis State | 7–2 | |||||||
1967 | Memphis State | 6–3 | |||||||
Memphis State Tigers (Missouri Valley Conference) (1968–1971) | |||||||||
1968 | Memphis State | 6–4 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
1969 | Memphis State | 8–2 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
1970 | Memphis State | 6–4 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
1971 | Memphis State | 5–6 | 2–1 | T–1st | W Pasadena | ||||
Memphis: | 91–44–1 | 12–3 | |||||||
Total: | 91–44–1 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
References
- http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3258031
- "Long-time Former Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Billy J. Murphy Passes Away". Gotigersgo.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2012.