| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 13, 1921 Lorenzo, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 2008 (aged 87) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1941–1942 | Mississippi State |
| 1946 | Mississippi State |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1947–1951 | Memphis State (backfield) |
| 1952–1953 | Mississippi State (backfield) |
| 1954–1957 | Minnesota (backfield) |
| 1958–1971 | Memphis State |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1966–1981 | Memphis State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 91–44–1 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 MVC (1968–1969, 1971) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2022 (profile) | |
Billy Jack "Spook" Murphy (January 13, 1921 – February 21, 2008) was an American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Memphis State University—now known as the University of Memphis—from 1958 to 1971, compiling a record of 91–44–1. Murphy's 1963 team was the school's first undefeated team in 25 years, and Murphy was named national coach of the year. Murphy was also the athletic director at Memphis State from 1966 to 1981. He grew up in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and played college football at Mississippi State University.
Murphy met all eligibility requirements and was first on the 2007 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. In 2022, he was inducted.[1]
Murphy died in a retirement community in Memphis, Tennessee in 2008.[2][3]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis State Tigers (NCAA College Division independent) (1958–1959) | |||||||||
| 1958 | Memphis State | 4–5 | |||||||
| 1959 | Memphis State | 6–4 | |||||||
| Memphis State Tigers (NCAA University Division independent) (1960–1967) | |||||||||
| 1960 | Memphis State | 8–2 | |||||||
| 1961 | Memphis State | 8–2 | |||||||
| 1962 | Memphis State | 8–1 | |||||||
| 1963 | Memphis State | 9–0–1 | 14 | ||||||
| 1964 | Memphis State | 5–4 | |||||||
| 1965 | Memphis State | 5–5 | |||||||
| 1966 | Memphis State | 7–2 | |||||||
| 1967 | Memphis State | 6–3 | |||||||
| Memphis State Tigers (Missouri Valley Conference) (1968–1971) | |||||||||
| 1968 | Memphis State | 6–4 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1969 | Memphis State | 8–2 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1970 | Memphis State | 6–4 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1971 | Memphis State | 5–6 | 4–1 | 1st | W Pasadena | ||||
| Memphis: | 91–44–1 | 14–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 91–44–1 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||