William Murphy
Class of 2005
Born in Chicago, Bill Murphy attended Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. He was a graduate of the Class of 1965. As a college wrestler at St. Joseph’s College in Collegeville, IN he was a three years varsity starter and captain his junior and senior year. He placed twice in the Indiana Collegiate Conference.
In 1969-70 Bill served as an assistant wrestling coach at Tinley Park High School. Tinley Park placed third in the state that season. In 1970-71 he was an assistant at Marian Catholic High school before becoming the head coach at St. Laurence High School in 1971. During his ‘Six years at St. Laurence, from 1971-1977, Bill had a dual meet record of 66-38-5. His teams won the Catholic League in 1974 and 1975 and he was named Catholic League Coach of the year in 1974 and 1976.
In 1977 Bill went to Reavis High School and served as an assistant varsity coach and head sophomore coach before going to Lisle High School in 1980. During his one season at Lisle he had a dual meet record of 10-8-1 and had one state qualifier and place-winner.
He was an assistant at Oak Forest in 1981-82 and then became head coach at Homewood Flossmoor in 1992.
As head coach at Homewood-Flossmoor, Bill had a dual meet record of 234-218-8. His career record was 310-264-14. His H-F teams won two regional titles and one SICA East championship. He had eighteen state qualifiers and six state place-winners. In 1986 he founded and became the first coach of H-F IKWF Kids Wrestling Program.
Bill has hosted dozens of IWF Freestyle and summer tournaments and has worked as an announcer, referee, judge, and weigh-in official. He served on the committee for the realignment of the SICA Conference and was historian and recorder from 1986-2003. As an officer of the SICA Coaches Association, Bill has served as President, Treasurer, and Representative.
Bill was selected by the SICA Coaches Association as Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996, and 2001 and in 1995 was nominated as I.W.C.O.A. Coach of the Year. In 2003 the SICA Wrestling Coaches presented Bill with a Special Recognition Award. He received the Lifetime Service Award from the Cook County State’s Attorney Office in 1999.