FOOTBALL: GENE MURPHY GOLF TOURNEY
The 3rd Annual Gene Murphy Golf Tournament took place with nearly 100 former players, coaches, family members, and friends from the University of North Dakota, Cal State Fullerton, and Fullerton College meeting at the Coyote Hills Golf Course on Monday to honor the well-loved coach.
"This is a great way to honor Gene. He gave so much to so many, and I'm thrilled to be out here with these coaches and former athletes who have such respect for Coach Murphy, Fullerton College Athletic Director Scott Giles.
A special thanks goes out to former UND football player Mr. Gary Pietruszewski for spearheading this great event that benefits the Eugene "Gene Murphy Football Endowment" that is shared by the UND, Fullerton College, Cal State Fullerton. Coach Murphy was the proud Head Coach of all three institutions.
This year, one third of the golf tournament proceeds will be donated to the daughters of former Cal State Fullerton Titan Football player, Kerry Reed (WR: 1989 - 1991). The Reed family set up an educational fund and a donation will be made at the completion of the March 2016 tournament. Kerry Reed passed away in June 2015 leaving behind two young daughters.
ABOUT COACH MURPHY
Murphy was a three-year letter winner from 1960-62 for the University of North Dakota, including serving his senior season as team captain. He quickly moved into an assistant coaching role at UND in 1963 and remained in that position until 1978 when he took over as head coach for Jerry Olson. In honor of Coach Murphy's huge impact at the University of North Dakota and lifetime of commitment to football, a handful of his former teammates, players, and fans have established a scholarship endowment in his name.
In 1980, Gene Murphy was named head football coach at California State University, Fullerton. He coached the team from 1980 to the end of the program in 1992. His team won the Pacific Coast Athletic Association championships in 1983 and 1984. The 1984 team was ranked in the National Top 20. In 1999, Gene Murphy was inducted into the University of North Dakota Hall of Fame and in 2009, Coach Murphy was inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Hall of Fame.
After Cal State Fullerton dropped its football program, Gene Murphy served as head coach at Fullerton College from 1993 to 2007. He remained a consultant with the program until 2011.
Murphy had 26 players selected in the NFL draft. Another 22 former players moved on to the Canadian Football League, with three - Damon Allen, Allan Pitts and Mike Pringle setting all-time CFL records. Murphy also coached former Major League slugger Phil Nevin, a former Titan punter. In addition, more than 25 of Murphy's former assistants have gone on to positions as head coaches, coordinators or assistants at the college or professional level. Several of Murphy's former assistants have either coached or are coaching in the NFL such as Steve Mariucci, Jerry Brown, Tom Cable, Ed Donatell, Hue Jackson, Mike Heimerdinger, and Richard Smith. Murphy was honored by the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Department in 2009 when he was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
Murphy also championed several charities, most notably the Kathleen E. Faley Memorial Games for the developmentally disabled. Incorporating the Titan football program every year since 1985 (the inaugural year) to service the massive event, Murphy's dedication continues on today with the Fullerton College football team donating their time and resources. Murphy's dedication and commitment to The Games were noted in 1999 when the charity named the coach its "Man of the Year."
