@CoachMMurph
Recruiting Areas: Indianapolis/Central Indiana/Central Illinois
Matt Murphy is in his third season as a member of the Indiana State football coaching staff. Murphy is the program's assistant coach with the tight ends.
In 2014, the Sycamores had a historic season that saw them finish with an 8-6 overall record and, most importantly, their first trip to the NCAA FCS Playoffs since 1984 and their first postseason victory since 1983.
Of Indiana State's eight victories in 2014, six were against nationally-ranked FCS opponents. The Sycamores also returned the Victory Bell to Terre Haute for the first time since 1987 when they earned a 27-20 victory in Muncie over FBS opponent Ball State on Sept. 13. The Sycamores also earned a victory over Top-10 FCS opponent Northern Iowa and remained in the national polls a school-record 10 consecutive weeks.
From 2013 to 2014, the Sycamores achieved the greatest turnaround in college football. A great deal of that success can be attributed to a Leadership 101 course which was designed and implemented by coach Sanford and his staff prior to the season.
The play of senior quarterback Mike Perish, a Second-Team All-MVFC performer, was a big reason for the Sycamores' success. Perish wrapped his career with the school record for pass completions (620), attempts (1,051), yards (6,696) and touchdowns (45). He also set the single-season record for pass completions, attempts, yards and total offense. His 75-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Johnson in the FCS playoffs set a new school record for touchdown passes in a season with 21.
In total, eight different Sycamores were named all-conference, three were listed as academic all-conference and three more were named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team.
When you dive deep into the Sycamores' 8-6 overall mark, Indiana State owned a FBS victory plus five other wins over nationally-ranked foes. They had the nation’s toughest strength of schedule and their five wins over ranked teams were only bettered by FCS Championship Game foes North Dakota State and Illinois State.
In 2013, Murphy was the Sycamores' director of football operations. He oversaw all Sycamore team travel, practice and gameday planning for the Sycamore football program. He also worked with the Indiana State football managers and support staff to help coordinate The Mike Sanford Football Youth Camps.
Murphy finished up his playing career at UNLV in 2010 and signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in July of 2011. In September of 2011, he was signed to the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad and then claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals in May of 2012.
He completed a highly successful playing career at UNLV in 2010, playing most of his career for Mike Sanford with the Running Rebels.
At UNLV he started in 44 consecutive games at left tackle and as a senior he was a preseason First Team All-Mountain West Conference pick by Lindy's and Second-Team selection by Phil Steele's and Athlon. He was listed as the preseason No. 42 OT in the nation by Phil Steele's and ranked as the conference's No. 6 NFL talent by Lindy's.
Murphy came in and played right away as a freshman in 2007 at the difficult position and earned First-Team Freshman All-America honors. He won UNLV football's Outstanding Character Award after his junior season and was his program's 2010 nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team. Murphy earned a spot on the Dean's Honor List in spring 2009 and took home Academic All-MWC honors for three straight seasons.
As a junior, Murphy was an honorable mention all-league selection and was a second team pick in 2008. As a freshman, he blocked for UNLV's leading rusher Frank Summers, who amassed 928 yards, the eighth-best single-season total in Rebels history. Murphy was named to the prestigious Football Writers of America and AON Insurance Freshman All-American Team, one of only 12 true freshmen on the list and earned Honorable Mention All-MWC in the process as well.
Murphy is a 2007 graduate of El Toro High School, where he lettered three times and was a team captain as a senior for the Chargers under coach Jake Haley. He earned first team all-league and first team All-CIF honors. Murphy was a multi-sport athlete who also lettered in wrestling as well as competing in the shot put and discus in track and field.
Murphy and his wife of three years, Jessica, have one child -- Piper -- born Feb. 21, 2015.
