Head Basketball Coach Tom Murphy Honored

Hamilton College head men's basketball coach Tom Murphy was recognized with a retirement ceremony after Hamilton's stirring 79-74 win against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Murphy will be stepping down from his position after the completion of his 34th season as Hamilton's head coach. His career record is 599-260, which gives him a winning percentage of .697. Murphy is third on the active list for most wins by a Division III coach and is fourth on the all-time list. His teams have now enjoyed 30 straight seasons with winning records.

A banner hanging from the rafters and bearing Murphy's name was unveiled. The banner was placed alongside the others for the 12 All-Americans and those marking the numerous ECAC and NCAA Tournament appearances his teams have made. A plaque noting Murphy's achievements will be mounted in the lobby area leading into Margaret Scott Bundy Field House.

Jack Withiam '71, who was Murphy's first team captain in 1970-71, was the event's master of ceremonies. A moment of silence was observed for long-time men's basketball program supporter Terry Tolles, who had passed away earlier that week. Withiam then offered some brief remarks about Murphy and his Hamilton career.

Joy Simon addresses the crowd as John Klauberg '87 and Coach Murphy look on.

Others had an opportunity to express their thoughts on Murphy's storied and successful career at the College. Professor of Philosophy Bob Simon, who with his wife, Joy, has attended nearly every Hamilton basketball game at home and on the road since they came to Hamilton in the 1970s, spoke. Mike Schantz '99, who was the 1999 National Player of the Year, and All-Americans John Klauberg '87 and John Cavanaugh '78 also spoke.

At the conclusion of the remarks, Murphy's wife, Joanne, was presented with a bouquet of flowers as Withiam explained the role of a coach's spouse. Joy Simon presented Murphy with a scrapbook of clippings about Hamilton basketball that she had been keeping for the past 30-plus years. The event concluded with a photo of all the current and former players in attendance taken on the bleachers in the Field House.

The 2003-04 Hamilton basketball team
unites with former team members.