Phillip Murphy
Head Coach
Coach Murphy is a Native of Birmingham, Alabama where he attended Homewood High School(Freshman-Junior) and graduated from Pelham High School in 1997. Murphy lettered four years in Basketball and was a First Team All-Metro(Birmingham), All-County(Shelby) and All-State Basketball player. He has resided in Mobile for the last 28 years and is a 2001 graduate of the University of Mobile where he earned a B.S. in Social-Science and secondary education. Murphy lettered four years for the Rams where he holds the all-time win record of 100 wins and 40 losses. Murphy played for his first two seasons for Scott Sanderson(current Faulkner University head coach) and the staff for which Murphy played in the 1999 NAIA national championship game. Murphy finished his last two seasons under Head Coach Joe Niland(Current AD at Springhill College) where he gained many of his coaching philosophies. Murphy began his coaching career at McGill-Toolen in 2001 leading the Junior Varsity squad to a 20-3 record and a county championship, while also assisting the Varsity. Murphy was offered an assistants position the following season at his Alma Mater and assisted Joe Niland in 2002. While an assistant at the University of Mobile, Murphy managed film exchange, student-athlete academic progress, scouting, recruiting and on the floor coaching. Following the 2002 Season Murphy was offered the Junior Varsity and varsity assistant position at UMS-Wright where Murphy remained for 4 years. Coach Murphy posted a Junior Varsity record of 73-26(.76) while at UMS. Murphy’s overall Junior Varsity record is 93-26(.78). Murphy enters his nineteenth season as the Yellow Jackets Head Coach and has compiled a record of 417-158(.725)in his first eighteen seasons. Coach Murphy's Yellow Jackets have posted 6 final four appearances (2016,2017,2018,2022,2023,2025) winning it all in 2016 as 7A State Champs and runner up in 6A in 2018. In the 2016-2017 season Murphy recorded his career 200th win at McGill-Toolen, in the 2020-21 season his 300th win and his 400th win came in the 2023-24 making him the all time winningest coach in McGill—Toolen Catholic history. Coach Murphy resides in Midtown with his wife Brandi and their four children: Myles(22), Jackson(19),Basil(15) and Ellison Greer (9). The Murphy's are members of St. Mary's Parish.
QUICK FACTS
Family
Brandi (wife), Myles(22), Jackson(19), Basil(15), Ellison Greer(9.)
Playing Experience: High School: Pelham High
- All-State, 1st team All Birmingham, 1st team All-County
College: University of Mobile 2001
College: Four year letterman, two year starter, holds all time win record at 100-40 during his 4 year career, integral part of 1999 National Championship run as a sophomore
Coaching experience: 2001-2002 Head Junior Varsity and varsity assistant McGill-Toolen Catholic, 2002-2003 graduate assistant university of mobile, 2003-2007 UMS-Wright Junior Varsity head coach and varsity assistant
McGill-Toolen Head Coach
2007-2008 - 15-14
2008-2009 - 16-14
2009-2010 - 19-10
2010-2011 - 20-9 6A sweet sixteen
2011-2012 - 24-6 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs,6A sweet sixteen
2012-2013 - 24-7 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, Elite Eight
2013-2014 - 20-9 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, sub state
2014-2015 - 28-5 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, record for wins , 7A Elite Eight
2015-2016 - 29 - 6 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, record for wins, 7 A STATE CHAMPS
2016-2017 - 25-10- Regular Season Area Champs, 7A Final Four
2017-2018 - 25 - 7 - Regular Seaons Area Champs and tournament champs, 7A State runner up
2018-19 - 26-7- Regular Season Area Champs and tournament champs, Elite 8
2019-2020 - 23-9- Regular Seasaon Area Champs, Sweet Sixteen
2020-2021 - 15-16 Regular Season Area Champs, 6A Sub-State
2021-2022 - 30-5 Regular Season Area Champs, Area Tournament Champs, Regional Champs, 6A Final Four
2022-2023- 29-7 Regular Season Area Champs, Area Tournament Champs, Regional Champs, 6A Final Four
2023-2024 - 23-8 Regular Season Area Champs, 6A Sub State
2024-2025 - 22-9 Regular Season Area Champs, Area Tournament Champs, 6A South Regional Champs, 6A Final Four
Career Record as Yellow Jacket Head Coach 417- 158( .725)
Coaching Highlights
2012-13 - Mobile County Coach of the Year
2013-14- Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the year
2004-05- 4A elite eight (UMS-Wright)
2005-06 - 4A elite eight (UMS-Wright)
2010-11- 6A sweet sixteen
2011-12- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, 6A sweet sixteen
2012-13- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, elite eight
2013-14- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, sub state
2014-15- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, elite eight
2015-16- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, State Champs
2016-17 - Regular Season Area Champs, Final Four
2017-2018 - Regular Season Area champs and tournament champs, 7A Runner up
2018-2019- Regular Season Area Champs, Tournament Champs, Elite 8
2021-2022 - Regular Season Area Champs, Area Tournament Champs, 6A Final Four
2022-2023- Regular Season Area Champs, Area tournament champs, South Regional Champs, 6A Final Four
2023-2024 - Regular Season Area Champs, 6A sub state
2014-15- Mobile County Coach of the Year
2014-15- Mobile Optimist club Coach of the year
2015-16- Mobile County Coach of the Year
2015-16- Mobile Optimist club coach of the year
2015-16 - Mobile Sports Hall of Fame/ AL.com coach of the year
2015-16 - ASWA (Alabama Sports Writers Association) State Coach of the Year
2015-16 - USA Today High School Sports Coach of the Year
2015-16 - AHSAA State Champion Coaches Award
2016-2017 - 7A Mobile Optimist club Coach of the Year
2017-2018 - 7A Mobile Optimist club Coach of the Year
2017-2018 - Mobile County Coach of the year
Inducted into the class of 2016 Mobile Bay 40 under 40
Eleven straight 20+ win seasons
12 straight playoff appearances
2021-2022 Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the Year
2022-2023 Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the year
2024-2025 Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the Year
2024-2025 Lagniappe 6A-7A Coach of the Year