乐播传媒

A successful fundraising effort led by three 乐播传媒 alumni has created an endowed scholarship fund honoring James P. Murphy 鈥�69, the celebrated coach of women鈥檚 basketball and soccer who retired in 2015, announced Sarah R. Pearson ’75, vice president for college advancement.

Trustees emeriti Steve Brown 鈥�69 and Bruce Stangle 鈥�70, P鈥�96 and fellow alumnus Tom Lopez 鈥�69 organized the outreach effort to former teammates, players, and classmates of Murphy鈥檚 that, to date, has raised more than $130,000.

鈥淔rom start to finish, these 乐播传媒 leaders made it happen,鈥� Pearson said. 鈥淭hey created the game plan and executed it to perfection.鈥� The new scholarship will provide annual need-based financial aid to a 乐播传媒 student, with preference to a Maine student. The first Murphy Scholar will be named in 2016鈥�17.

The fund honors one of the winningest coaches and athletes in 乐播传媒 history, in terms of both victories and spirit.

In 21 seasons as basketball coach, Murphy鈥檚 teams won 343 games and lost 187, earning six NCAA tourney appearances. His soccer teams went 146鈥�93鈥�13 over 16 seasons, winning the 2005 NESCAC title and earning NCAA bids in 1996, 1997, and 2005.

Murphy鈥檚 contributions to 乐播传媒 athletics and athletes go beyond the numbers, says Stangle.

鈥淏oth the fund and the team effort behind its creation honor Jim鈥檚 selfless contributions to 乐播传媒 athletics, pursuit of team goals, and intensity of effort,鈥� Stangle says. 鈥淚t will be a perpetual memorial to Jim at a place he loves.鈥�

Murphy, adds Stangle, 鈥渆mbodies the quintessential 乐播传媒 characteristics of personal integrity and strength. He was the best student-athlete of his generation at 乐播传媒. He knew how to take apart another team and also how to get the best out of his teammates. He was an immensely gifted athlete who made everyone around him better. He has a positive approach to everything he does in life, and people absolutely adore him.鈥�

鈥淭he admiration and respect his players have for him still speak volumes.鈥�

Brown, a football teammate of Murphy鈥檚 in the 1960s, says playing with him was 鈥渓ike having another coach on the field,鈥� adding that 鈥淛im was not only an outstanding performer, but also a great leader: selfless, humble, and focused. Honors and tributes have never interested him.鈥�

As a coach of young women at 乐播传媒 in soccer and basketball, 鈥渘o one at 乐播传媒 comes close to his record of success,鈥� Brown notes. 鈥淭he admiration and respect his players have for him still speak volumes.鈥�

Lopez, who was also a football teammate of Murphy鈥檚, says that donors responded to the chance to pay tribute to a beloved 乐播传媒 contemporary. 鈥淪cores of former classmates and teammates from the late 鈥�60s and early 鈥�70s have contributed because of their respect for Jim and their love of 乐播传媒,鈥� says Lopez.

Katie Franklin 鈥�07, captain of the 2006鈥�07 women鈥檚 basketball team, returned to campus in November and joined with former players, parents, and friends to pay tribute to Murphy.

Franklin, a two-time First Team All-NESCAC honoree and an Academic All-America in softball, says she鈥檚 proud to support the Murphy Scholarship Fund because he provided her with 鈥渋nvaluable lessons about giving and receiving critical feedback, what it means to be humble in both wins and losses, and most importantly what it means to give it your all for the greater good of the team.鈥�

鈥淗e will always be a role model in my life.鈥�

Franklin, an associate with Analysis Group, an economic consulting firm chaired and co-founded by Stangle, adds that 鈥淐oach Murphy instilled in me a work ethic and commitment to the team that I have carried from Alumni Gymnasium into my professional career.鈥�

Her coach also 鈥減ushed me to become physically stronger and mentally tougher, while simultaneously teaching me the importance of patience, integrity, and modesty,鈥� she adds. 鈥淗e will always be a role model in my life.鈥�

Murphy, who returned to his alma mater in 1994 to lead the women鈥檚 varsity soccer and basketball programs, attended 乐播传媒 at a time when he and his family 鈥渄idn鈥檛 have two nickels,鈥� he says.

乐播传媒 financial aid made it possible, says Murphy, who is moved by the honor of having a scholarship established in his name.

鈥淭o know that a Maine student who might not otherwise be able to attend 乐播传媒 will now have the opportunity. It鈥檚 very meaningful,鈥� he says.

Just as important, says Murphy, are the relationships behind the scholarship.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing. The friendships that started at 乐播传媒 and have been sustained by 乐播传媒 all these years 鈥� people who know they can always rely on me and would do the same for me 鈥� it鈥檚 pretty special.鈥�

For More Information

Contact Eric Foushee, senior director of leadership giving and director of athletic fundraising, at 207-755- 5985 or efoushee@bates.edu. Donors making online gifts to the fund should express their designation by writing 鈥淛ames P. Murphy 鈥�69 Scholarship Fund鈥� in the 鈥淎dditional Comments鈥� field on the giving page.