Tom Murphy a standout coach for LHS Girls Basketball
• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.
Tom Murphy was a very successful 21-year LHS Head Girls Basketball Coach (1979-99). Tom first came to LHS for the 1971-72 school year teaching Economics, US History, Government, and Sociology throughout a 32-year LHS teaching career. He had previously spent a year at West Aurora High School.
For his first seven years at LHS, Tom was the Boys Sophomore B Basketball coach. He accepted Athletic Director Bob Tunnicliff's offer to lead the Girls Basketball team. LHS began its girls athletic program full time in 1975. For the first five years, the LHS girls were successful: 77-21 with a regional title. But when Tom took over the program he led the girls' program to unmatched heights.
Coach Murphy's girls won the first 10 regional titles in a row, 17 regional titles in Tom's 21 years. They won five sectional titles. And the 1983 and 1985 teams won super sectional titles to have the distinction of being the only LHS girls basketball teams to reach the state tournament. They won 11 conference championships. Coach Murphy's final head coaching record was 454-142.
Coach Murphy took the 2000 season off from coaching. He returned in 2001 and coached the Girls' JV team his final three years of teaching. He was selected into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. He was named to the Lake County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. During his time as the LHS Girls Head Coach he coached 8 Division 1 players including Teri Rodgers, a 1987 All-State player who is currently the successful head coach of the New Trier Girls program.
Other sports Tom coached at Libertyville include cross-country, track, and boys and girls soccer, including coaching his daughter Erin's freshmen team in 1988.
Tom was born and raised on Chicago's south side. He went to Harper High School where he was the starting point guard his junior and senior years. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1969.
Tom and his wife, Sharon, a 1966 LHS grad and retired Libertyville grade school teacher, now split their time between Arizona and Libertyville. While in Libertyville, they are supportive Libertyville High School Athletics grandparents.