Hamilton College men's basketball coach Tom Murphy, one of the winningest coaches in the history of Division III, announced his retirement on Dec. 1. The decision will be effective at the end of the 2003-04 season.
Murphy began his 34th and final season at Hamilton with a 77-62 win against local rival SUNY IT on Nov. 24, and followed that up by winning the David Wells Classic in Pomona, Calif. To date, Murphy's teams have compiled a 587-254 (.698) record.
"I have been fortunate to work with some very dedicated and committed student-athletes," Murphy said. "Whatever success we have had can be attributed to the hard work of the players I have been fortunate to coach over the past 33 years. Hamilton has enabled me to help students achieve their full potential, and I am grateful for that experience."
"The men's basketball program has enjoyed tremendous success at Hamilton during Tom Murphy's tenure," said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty David Paris. "We appreciate his many years of service to the college and to his players, and we wish him well in retirement."
After struggling to a 16-62 record in his first four years, Murphy has not had a losing season since 1974-75, compiling an impressive 568-192 (.747) record prior to the 2003-04 campaign, including frequent rankings among the nation's top-10 Division III programs. In 1990-91 Murphy helped guide the Continentals to a #1 ranking in the final NCAA Division III poll, finishing the season with a 26-1 record.
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The National Association of Basketball Coaches has recognized Murphy for his achievements numerous times. In 1978-79 and 1990-91 he was named the NABC Division III Coach of the Year, and the NABC East Region Coach of the Year after the 1982-83 and 2002-03 seasons. In August of 1998 Murphy was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame. More recently he was named the UCAA Coach of the Year in 1999, 2000 and 2003.
Murphy's accomplishments are best measured by the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship banners hanging in Scott Field House. Before NESCAC teams were allowed to compete in NCAA championships the Continentals had been invited to every ECAC Upstate New York Championship since the tournament's inception in 1974-75. Hamilton came away champions 10 times -- in 1976, 1979, 1981-84, 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1992. Murphy also has a knack for developing players to their full athletic potential, as evidenced by the 12 All-Americans who have worn the Buff and Blue, including, most recently, 2003 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) First Team All-American Joe Finley '03.
Murphy, a 1960 graduate of Springfield College, came to Hamilton in 1970 from Belleville (NY) High School, where his teams registered a national record 83 consecutive wins. He also served for 25 years as Hamilton's Director of Athletics.
A search for Murphy's successor will begin in the spring.
