Íæż½ã½ã’s Gene Murphy, who stepped aside as head football coach in August, will be honored tonight at the halftime of the home football game in Raymond against Southwest Mississippi Community College. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Renfroe Stadium.
Joe Renfroe Stadium on the Raymond Campus of Íæż½ã½ã
Murphy, who remains athletic director, was head football coach twice for a total of 24 years. As of the time he stepped down from active coaching, he was the winningest active football coach in the National Junior College Athletic Association and is also the winningest football coach of all time at Íæż½ã½ã.
He has been involved in Íæż½ã½ã football since 1983 when he was assistant football coach under Bill Buckner. He was head coach from 1987 to 2003 and then again from 2009 to 2017. ÌýMurphy’s teams have gone 172-76-5 in his two tenures as coach, guiding teams to the state playoffs 14 times and eight junior college bowl games. During that stretch, numerous former Eagles have gone on to notable careers at four-year universities and more than 100 have played in the National Football League.
Marks of success both on the football field and off are evident in the 15 times the college has won the David Halbrook Award since 1987. The award is given to the community or junior college with the highest percentage of graduates or completers in its athletic programs district-wide.
Larry Williams, who is also defensive coordinator, replaced Murphy as head coach in August.
[tweetable alt=””]Íæż½ã½ã’s Gene Murphy to be honored at tonight’s home football game.[/tweetable]
The Murphy Years:
Assistant coach, 1983-1987
Head coach, 1987-2003
Head coach, 2009-August 2017
Athletic director, 1997-present
State Championships, six
Regional Championships, six
National Junior College Athletic Association Bowl Games, eight
All Americans, 42
National Junior College Athletic Association National Players of the Year, two
Professional players, more than 100
Region 23 Coach of the Year, six times
Halbrook Award for student-athletic graduation rates, 15 times
Overall record 172-76-5
Íæż½ã½ã is celebrating its 100th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. Íæż½ã½ã opened in September 1917 first as an agricultural high school and admitted college students for the first time in 1922, with the first class graduating in 1927. In 1982 Íæż½ã½ã Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the Íæż½ã½ã District. Today, as Mississippi’s largest community college, Íæż½ã½ã is a comprehensive institution with six locations. Íæż½ã½ã offers quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.Íæż½ã½ãCC.
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