Murphy Named New Football Coach

Just 10 seconds into Tim Murphy's opening comments at a press conference announcing his hiring as the 30th football coach in Harvard history yesterday afternoon, those in attendance realized that a new era had dawned in Harvard football.

The tall, solid 37-year-old walked up to the podium after being introduced by Athletic Director Bill Cleary '56, smiled and leveled his voice into the microphone.

"I know why they hired me," Murphy said. "I was at Maine and Boston University before, and they both won hockey championships. And, besides that, I'm Irish."

It was a good joke, eliciting a chuckle from the audience. But even more, it was symbolic: gone were the staid, pedantic sermons of the aging Joe Restic, and in were the Leno-like one-liners of a young, vibrant coach on the rise.

Yesterday, Murphy officially took control of the Harvard football program, becoming only its fourth coach since 1950. Previously, Murphy coached at the University of Cincinnati for five years.

"I just felt Harvard was a unique opportunity that wasn't going to come along again for another 20 years," Murphy said. "The reason I coach is the reason most guys play in the Ivy League--for the love of the game."

At Cincinnati, Murphy led the Bearcats to an 8-3 record this season, their first winning season since 1982, and was one of only 20 Division I-A schools to graduate 70 percent of its recruiting class.

A native of Kingston, Mass., Murphy coached at Division I-AA Maine for four years before moving on to Cincinnati. Previously, he spent six years in assistant positions at Brown, Lafayette and Boston University. Murphy graduated from Springfield College in 1974.

Although Murphy said he will take a 40 percent pay cut to coach here, the chance was too good to pass up.

"Money's great, but it's not why I'm in this business," Murphy said. "When was an assistant at Brown, I worked nights and earned $800 a month so I could coach days. I don't think I can adequately express why I feel comfortable here. It's just a unique opportunity."

"We are delighted to get a person of the quality of Tim Murphy to come and be our coach," Cleary said. "Tim possesses the background and represents the values that we felt were important in out new coach, and considers football a valuable experience in the total educational process."

Players on the Harvard football team echoed those sentiments.

"I'm pretty excited about him," junior center Toby Brundage said. "He met with us earlier and it seems like he really wants to rebuild. He's really enthusiastic."

At the Conference

Cleary set the stage for the coach's speech with an enthusiastic introduction.

He started by explaining the search committee process: the seven person group formed this summer and, while receiving "numbers" of applications, seriously considered only "about 15" candidates. All the while, the process was kept quiet so as not to take any excitement away from Restic's last season, Cleary said.

Then, with a smile as wide as the Texas Panhandle spreading over his face, Cleary described the Kingston, Mass. native as an "exciting choice," before presenting him to the audience.

Murphy then took center stage and delivered a short speech before opening the floor to questions. During the question-and-answer period, Murphy eschewed specifics but did say he placed a lot of emphasis on winning.

"The game is fun, but it's a hell of a lot more fun when you win," Murphy said.

Murphy then turned to his top priority: recruiting.

"I think these are exciting times," he said. "A few years ago, you could recruit a lot more people. Now you can only recruit 35 in a class and so there are a lot more good players to go around. I hope we can take advantage of that."

Finally, after declining to predict whether he would stay at Harvard for 23 years like Restic did, he closed with similarly vague, but enthusiastic statements, about his offensive philosophy.

"Basically, my philosophy is simple," he said. "I believe that you have to be balanced, you have to be able to both throw and run well or you're in trouble. You definitely have to be able to run up here in the Northeast."

His simple philosophies contrast sharply with the intricacies of Restic's famed Multi-Flex.

"I favor a simple, pro-style offense. The Dallas Cowboys have an offense

TIM MURPHY (32-45-1) Season  College  Record 1987  Maine  8-4 1988  Maine  7-4 1989  Cincinnati  1-9-1 1990  Cincinnati  1-10 1991  Cincinnati  4-7 1992  Cincinnati  3-8 1993  Cincinnati  8-3

.BACKGROUND: Born in Kingston, Mass., an All-American linebacker at Springfield College, graduating in 1977.

.1979-1980: Offensive line coach at Brown.

.1981: Defensive line coach at Lafayette.

.1982-1984: Offensive line coach at Boston University.

.1985-1986: Offensive coordinator at Maine.

.COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: Kodak District l (1-AA) Coach of the Year, 1987; Yankee Conference co-champions, 1987; NCAA Division 1-AA playoffs, 1987. like ours." He paused. "Or, maybe that shouldbe the other way around."

In all, most in attendance were impressed withMurphy.

"You know, it's a different world in coachingtoday," Cleary said. "The number one thing is thata coach has to be able to relate to his players,he has to be able to see things from theirperspective: Vince Lombardi would do so well. Ithink we got the type of person who can do that."

Sophomore Dave Sprinkle echoed thosesentiments.

"I really like the way he spoke," he said. "I'mhappy to see someone who is that enthusiastic andwho can relate to us like that. Restic was not themost profound guy, you know, and I think if we hadgotten fired up a little more this season, wewould've pulled through in the fourth quartermore. I hope that that added enthusiasm willcorrelate into more wins.

"[Murphy's] goal is to win the league in threeyears," Sprinkle added. "I don't see why we can'tdo it this year."CrimsonAmanda M. DawsonIncoming Harvard football Coach TIM MURPHYspeaks.

In all, most in attendance were impressed withMurphy.

"You know, it's a different world in coachingtoday," Cleary said. "The number one thing is thata coach has to be able to relate to his players,he has to be able to see things from theirperspective: Vince Lombardi would do so well. Ithink we got the type of person who can do that."

Sophomore Dave Sprinkle echoed thosesentiments.

"I really like the way he spoke," he said. "I'mhappy to see someone who is that enthusiastic andwho can relate to us like that. Restic was not themost profound guy, you know, and I think if we hadgotten fired up a little more this season, wewould've pulled through in the fourth quartermore. I hope that that added enthusiasm willcorrelate into more wins.

"[Murphy's] goal is to win the league in threeyears," Sprinkle added. "I don't see why we can'tdo it this year."CrimsonAmanda M. DawsonIncoming Harvard football Coach TIM MURPHYspeaks.