Scholar-Athlete Academic Suite in Game Changers Field House Recognizes Contributions of Former AD Jim Murphy ’78

In about a month’s time, more than 170 donors contributed to the Jim Murphy ’78 Academic Suite. The sign beside his photo inside the room reads, “In honor of Jim Murphy ’78, a champion for scholar-athletes whose unwavering dedication, leadership and relentless passion for athletics helped shape the legacy of Davidson College.” Murphy now regularly jokes this is the first time the word “scholar” has been associated with his name. 

The fundraising effort was led by Murphy’s friends and classmates, Debbie Dillon Darden ’78, Julie Chrisco Andrews ’78, Bertis Downs ’78 and Steve Justus ’78.

Murphy served Davidson College as the director of athletics for nearly a quarter century, and his leadership is reflected in many aspects of the college’s programs today. The Carol Grotnes Belk Turf Field for field hockey, the Alumni Stadium for soccer, Wilson Baseball Park and practice facility, a football stadium expansion project, the relocation of the outdoor tennis courts and the Harry L. Vance Athletic Center, including the Cheryle Williamson Center for Dance, all came during his tenure. Davidson teams won 25 regular season titles and 32 tournament championships with Murphy at the helm of the athletics programs. He also oversaw the institution’s move to the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Close friend Ross Manire ’74 flew across the country to attend the recent celebration. The two worked closely together during Murphy’s tenure; Manire served on the Board of Trustees and chaired the Athletics Committee.

“Jim brought incredible visibility to our school and programs,” he said. “He gave us the opportunity to raise the bar for athletic competition at Davidson College, and he did it with unmatched enthusiasm. He put his heart and soul into the job, and we would not be where we are today without his leadership.”

At the gathering to celebrate Murphy’s contributions and the newly named space, his wife and Professor of Political Science Susan Roberts read remarks on his behalf. Murphy was diagnosed a few years ago with Lewy Body Dementia, making it difficult for him to speak loudly enough for the crowd to hear. She shared these words from him:

“At the end of the day, what was most important to me, what I really wanted, was to make the team — to make them love Davidson as much as I did. To be proud of the education and the teammates and the friends. The love of the game, the love of this place. Thank you, and I can’t believe this.” 

Roberts said it would be difficult to fully describe the significance of this honor at this point in his life. 

On the national stage, Murphy served two terms on the prestigious NCAA Division I Management Council. He chaired the Division I-AA Governance Committee and formerly served on the NCAA Division I Business and Finance Cabinet, the Division I Governance Committee and the Division I Finance Committee. From 2002-04, Murphy chaired the Athletics Directors Association of the Southern Conference. He was part of Charlotte’s successful bid to host the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championships in 1999 and 2000 and served as tournament director of the first- and second-round games of the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in Charlotte.

A former member of the Division I Football Issues Committee, Murphy was also a member of the NCAA Task Force on Recruiting, an 18-member panel charged with changing the culture of recruiting in intercollegiate athletics, and served on the NCAA's Fiscal Responsibility Oversight Group. He was recognized as National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletics Director of the Year in 2003-04. He served as FCS ADA President in 2007-08 and was a member of the NACDA Executive Committee from 2012-16. Last year, he was inducted into the NACDA Hall of Fame.