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 20 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 was recruited to the University of Mobile by Head Coach Scott Sanderson(current Faulkner University Head Coach) and assistant coach Jimmy Messer(Head of School Cottage Hill Christian Academy) whom he played for his first two seasons and the staff for which Murphy played in the 1999 NAIA national championship game. Murphy finished his last two seasons under present Head Coach Joe Niland(former Springhill College Head Coach) 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 fifteenth season as the Yellow Jackets Head Coach and has compiled a record of 372-141(.725)in his first sixteen seasons. Coach Murphy's Yellow Jackets have posted 11, twenty win seasons in the last 12 tries. The Yellow Jackets have also won ten straight area championships, sub-region champions and 6A Sweet Sixteen births as well as elite 8 appearences in 2013, 2015, 2016,2017,2018 and 2019. Back to back to back final four appearances in 2016, 2017, 2018. After a short hiatus the Yellow Jackets returned to the final four in 2022 to make their fourth appearance in 7 seasons. The 2022 squad broke the school record for wins(30-5), a season that ended with another coach of the year honor for murphy. The 2016 team reached the final four for the first time since 1989 and brought home the programs first State Championship while setting a school record for wins. The Yellow Jackets 2018 squad finished at 7A runner up. Coach Murphy has also been honored as the 2011-12 6A Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the year, 2012-13 Mobile County 6A Coach of the Year, 2015 Optimist Club 7A Coach of the Year and the 2016 Optimist Club 7A Coach of the Year,Mobile County Coach of the Year, Coastal Alabama Coach of the Year, ASWA 7A Coach of the Year and the Mobile Bays Class of 2016 40 under 40. In the 2016-2017 season Murphy recorded his career 200th win at McGill-Toolen, won a seventh straight area championship and led his team to a second straight final four appearance while being honored as Mobile Optimist Club 7A coach of the year for the fourth consecutive season. In 2017-2018 Murphy was honored as Mobile Optimist club coach of the year and Mobile County Coach of the Year. Coach Murphy recorded is 300th win during the 2020-21season. Coach Murphy resides in Midtown with his wife Brandi and their four children: Myles(19), Jackson(16),Basil(12) and Ellison Greer (6). The Murphy's are members of St. Mary's Parish.
QUICK FACTS
Family
Brandi (wife), Myles(20), Jackson(17), Basil(14), Ellison Greer(8.)
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
Career Record as Yellow Jacket Head Coach 395- 149( .726)
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