Brian Murphy, a 1968 graduate of Stonehill, was a consistent advocate and supporter of the athletics program over his nearly 42 years at the College before retiring as Dean of Admissions in 2009. He is regarded as an unsung hero of the athletics department and one of the pillars of Stonehill.
Murphy signed an estimated 18,000 acceptance letters for Stonehill alumni, including each of the 101 student-athlete members of our Athletics Hall of Fame - our four student-athlete inductees tonight included. During a time of great growth of the intercollegiate athletics program at Stonehill, Murphy was instrumental in implementing communications between the athletics and admissions office that expanded the broader range of student-athletes the department desired, especially when the department expanded with the addition of women’s athletics and football.
Murphy admitted thousands of student-athletes at Stonehill, meeting with them and their families at all times, regardless of the hour of day or day of the week. He understood the recruiting process and its challenges and developed a strong relationship with the athletics administration and coaching staffs.
While the admissions process may have been done once student-athletes arrived on campus, he maintained a presence over the course of their careers. He kept in touch during their four years at Stonehill, challenging them to maintain their academic status and to be good students, working with coaches to ensure they stayed on target to graduate. He and his wife Kathy attended numerous athletic events and took a personal interest in the athletic teams.
