University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: UofM Athletic Media Relations
Former Football Coach Billy J Murphy on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
Jun 01, 2017 | Football
MEMPHIS – Former Memphis football coach Billy J. Murphy is one six FBS coaches on the ballot for the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame released Thursday. Murphy, the head coach for the Memphis football team from 1958-1971, is the program's winningest coach with 91 career wins, including an undefeated 1963 season. The Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year in three seasons between 1968 and 1971, Murphy was named the National Coach of the Year by the Detroit Times in 1963. Murphy also served as the Tigers' Athletic Director from 1966 to 1981.
Murphy was a tailback and All-SEC selection in the 1940s at Mississippi State. A decorated Marine in World War II, he began his coaching career at then-Memphis State under Ralph Hatley, whom he later succeeded, before assistant coaching stops at Mississippi State and Minnesota before returning to the Tigers in 1958.
In 1963, he guided his Tigers' team to a 9-0-1 record. After a season-opening win over Southern Miss, the Tigers tied #2 Ole Miss, 0-0. That second game of the season would be the only game Memphis did not win that year as the Tigers went on to grab wins over North Texas State, West Texas State, Mississippi State, Louisville, South Carolina, Chattanooga and Houston to post just the second unbeaten season in program history. Murphy would be named the National Coach of the Year by the Detroit Times and was also named a recipient of the Memphis Civilian Award.
For his coaching career, Murphy posted a 91-44-1 record with 11 winning seasons. On his retirement from coaching in 1971, he ranked as the 15th winningest coach in the nation. He guided the Tigers to their first-ever bowl game, a 28-9 win over San Jose State, in the 1971 Pasadena Bowl. After his retirement from coaching after that bowl victory, Murphy served as the Tigers' Athletic Director until 1981, serving as an instrumental part of the formation of the Metro Conference.
Murphy is already a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (1976), the Mississippi State Hall of Fame (1977) and the Memphis M Club Hall of Fame (1982).
The ballot for the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame class went out to over 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Coaches are not eligible for nomination until three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement for coaches at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. All coaches must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage. The other five FBS coaches on the ballot are Frank Beamer, Mack Brown, Jim Carlen, Pete Cawthon, and Darryl Rogers.
The voting deadline for the 2018 class, which will be announced January 8, 2018, in Atlanta, is Tuesday, June 20th.
The Tigers' current Park Avenue practice facility is named in Murphy's honor and the Memphis M Club presents an annual award in his honor to a former student-athlete who has achieved at the highest level of his/her chosen profession since departing the University of Memphis. Former Memphis quarterback Kippy Brown, who went on to coach in the NFL, was the recipient of the Billy J. Murphy Award this past season.
Murphy was a tailback and All-SEC selection in the 1940s at Mississippi State. A decorated Marine in World War II, he began his coaching career at then-Memphis State under Ralph Hatley, whom he later succeeded, before assistant coaching stops at Mississippi State and Minnesota before returning to the Tigers in 1958.
In 1963, he guided his Tigers' team to a 9-0-1 record. After a season-opening win over Southern Miss, the Tigers tied #2 Ole Miss, 0-0. That second game of the season would be the only game Memphis did not win that year as the Tigers went on to grab wins over North Texas State, West Texas State, Mississippi State, Louisville, South Carolina, Chattanooga and Houston to post just the second unbeaten season in program history. Murphy would be named the National Coach of the Year by the Detroit Times and was also named a recipient of the Memphis Civilian Award.
For his coaching career, Murphy posted a 91-44-1 record with 11 winning seasons. On his retirement from coaching in 1971, he ranked as the 15th winningest coach in the nation. He guided the Tigers to their first-ever bowl game, a 28-9 win over San Jose State, in the 1971 Pasadena Bowl. After his retirement from coaching after that bowl victory, Murphy served as the Tigers' Athletic Director until 1981, serving as an instrumental part of the formation of the Metro Conference.
Murphy is already a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (1976), the Mississippi State Hall of Fame (1977) and the Memphis M Club Hall of Fame (1982).
The ballot for the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame class went out to over 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Coaches are not eligible for nomination until three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement for coaches at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. All coaches must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage. The other five FBS coaches on the ballot are Frank Beamer, Mack Brown, Jim Carlen, Pete Cawthon, and Darryl Rogers.
The voting deadline for the 2018 class, which will be announced January 8, 2018, in Atlanta, is Tuesday, June 20th.
The Tigers' current Park Avenue practice facility is named in Murphy's honor and the Memphis M Club presents an annual award in his honor to a former student-athlete who has achieved at the highest level of his/her chosen profession since departing the University of Memphis. Former Memphis quarterback Kippy Brown, who went on to coach in the NFL, was the recipient of the Billy J. Murphy Award this past season.
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