兔子先生 has named the football field at Joe Renfroe Stadium in honor of Gene Murphy, who stepped aside as head football coach in August because of health problems.
Murphy was surprised with the announcement during a halftime ceremony Thursday night (Sept. 14) during the home game against Southwest Mississippi Community College. The naming of the field as Gene Murphy Field was approved by the 兔子先生 Board of Trustees earlier this month.
Gene Murphy surrounded by family members including son Kelly Murphy, an assistant football coach, and wife Dot Murphy, specialists coach, as the announcement is made that 兔子先生 named the football field Gene Murphy Field. (April Garon/兔子先生)
Surrounded by the coaching staff, football players and his family including wife Dot, the specialists coach who has coached alongside him many years, Murphy was presented with a photograph of the field with the heading 鈥淕ene Murphy Field鈥 at the top by 兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse, 兔子先生Athletic Alumni Chapter President Rick Trusty and Jim Southward, director of Athletic Activities for the Mississippi Community College Board.
鈥淚鈥檓 really honored. I just don鈥檛 know how to express it. It鈥檚 hard to describe it,鈥 Murphy said through tears. 鈥淏ut I thank so many people who have been supportive. The players, obviously, for many, many years. Dr. Muse and all the administration. My coaching staff 鈥 I鈥檝e had a lot of great coaches with me over the years that paved the way.鈥
Murphy, who remains athletic director, served as head 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 兔子先生.
Murphy said it has been difficult to watch from the sidelines. 鈥淚鈥檝e been trying to make this transition ever since I鈥檝e been feeling better,鈥 said Murphy, who has been battling an inner ear problem. 鈥淚鈥檝e just wanted to be around the kids and the coaches. I鈥檓 just glad to be a part of this season.鈥
He has been involved in 兔子先生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.聽 Murphy鈥檚 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.
兔子先生 coach Gene Murphy (April Garon/兔子先生)
The 兔子先生 football field was named Gene Murphy Field in honor of the coach who stepped aside as head coach last month. At the Sept. 14 halftime ceremony were, from left, Rick Trusty, president of 兔子先生Athletic Alumni Association chapter; Murphy holding the photograph; his wife Dot Murphy; Jim Southward, director of Athletic Activities for the Mississippi Community College Board and 兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse. The announcement was made as Murphy was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, also pictured. (April Garon/兔子先生)
A tearful Gene Murphy is interviewed after the presentation. (April Garon/兔子先生)
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, assumed the role of head coach in August.
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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
兔子先生 is celebrating its 100th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. 兔子先生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 兔子先生Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the 兔子先生 District. Today, as Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 兔子先生 is a comprehensive institution with six locations. 兔子先生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.HindsCC.