Packers' Next President: Northwestern's Murphy

[TOPHAT]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com.../20071127/PKR01/71127209/1057/PKR&located=RSS



Search committee tabs Northwestern's Murphy as Packers' next president

By Pete Dougherty
[email protected]

The Green Bay Packers have targeted a former NFL player and current major-college athletic director as their next president and chief executive officer. Three NFL sources confirmed that Mark H. Murphy, athletic director at Northwestern University, is the Packers search committee’s choice to replace Chairman Harlan as the 10th head of the organization. The Packers have begun contract negotiations with Murphy, though their 45-person board of directors ultimately will have to confirm him for the position with a majority vote before the hiring is official. The board is expected to meet early next week.

One source said Murphy, 52, was among three finalists, along with Jason Wied, the team’s vice president of administration and corporate counsel, and a third unidentified candidate. Murphy has no experience in NFL administration but played in the league for eight years, from 1977-’84, as a safety for the Washington Redskins, and has knowledge of the league’s collective-bargaining agreement after a stint as an assistant executive director with the NFL players association when his playing career was finished. He has not worked for an NFL team in an administrative capacity.

Murphy played football and baseball in college at Colgate. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from American University while he also played for the Redskins, and after finishing his football career earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. After earning his law degree he became a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1992, Murphy became Colgate’s athletic director, and he held that post until Northwestern hired him as athletic director.

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[brennan1884]

interesting

 

[gmann001]

Thanks for the posting. Does anyone know anything about him (how he runs the show at Northwestern, etc.)?

 

[Greg C.]

It's good that they hired a guy with a football background. That's all I can say at this point. I do remember him from his playing days with the Redskins. Here's what Wikepedia has on him:

Mark Murphy (Redskins)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Murphy
Position(s):
Safety Jersey #:
N/A
Date of birth: July 13, 1955 (age 52)
Place of birth: Fulton, New York
Career information
College: Colgate
Pro Bowls 2
Teams
1977-1984 Washington Redskins
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Mark Hodge Murphy (born July 13, 1955 in Fulton, New York) is a former American Football safety for the Washington Redskins who played eight seasons in the National Football League from 1977 to 1984. Murphy played college football in Colgate University before his NFL career.
Murphy played in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XVIII with the Washington Redskins. He played a key role in the Redskins 27-17 Super Bowl XVII win over the Miami Dolphins, recording a second half interception of Miami quarterback David Woodley's pass with the Dolphins on Washington's 37-yard line.

Murphy's best season was in 1983, when he led the NFL with 9 interceptions and returned them for 127 yards. He finished his 8 season career with 27 interceptions and 282 return yards, along with 6 fumble recoveries for 22 returns yards, in 109 games. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1982 and 1983.

Murphy now lives in Chicago and is the athletic director at Northwestern University. He was formerly the athletic director at his alma matter, Colgate University.

 

[Bertram]

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Mark H. Murphy was named the 20th director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation at Northwestern University in June 2003, and has been at the helm for four of the finest athletic years in school history.

In the past four years, Murphy has overseen a 19-sport program that has won nine conference team championships and 34 individual Big Ten titles, including 13 in 2006-07 alone. Northwestern has garnered 13 conference Coach of the Year accolades, 19 Player of the Year and 11 Freshman of the Year honors. A total of 49 student-athletes have earned first-team All-America distinction, with 32 of those honors coming in the last two years (16 in both 2005-06 and 06-07). There have been eight individual national championships (four coming in 2006-07) and three NCAA team titles, 216 all-conference honorees and 505 Academic All-Big Ten certificates in Murphy's tenure, along with 10 CoSIDA Academic All-America awards and 28 CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees.

NU had its best sports season in program history in 2005-06. Eleven sports earned postseason berths, and women's lacrosse and men's swimming's Matt Grevers successfully defended their NCAA championships from the year before. Cristelle Grier and Alexis Prousis of women's tennis won the 2006 NCAA doubles championship to add to Northwestern's exploding total of titles. Softball nearly made it two team titles in 2006, advancing all the way to the final pairing of the Women's College World Series.

In 2006-07, the Wildcats continued to improve as a department, sending 10 sports to the NCAA postseason and earning an astounding four individual national titles (three for men's swimming) and one NCAA team title courtesy of women's lacrosse.

As a department, Northwestern finished 30th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings with a school-best 626.5 points. NU has been in the top-30 in the standings for the past three seasons. Northwestern finished sixth among Big Ten schools for the third-straight year after not placing higher than ninth in any previous season.

Following the 2006-07 season, Murphy was named the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) AstroTurf Football Bowl Subdivision Central Region AD of the Year.

"I am very excited about the future of our program," says Murphy. "We offer student-athletes a truly unique combination-a chance to receive a first-class education at one of the top universities in the country while playing athletics at the highest level. I think we can serve as a role model for schools nationally by showing that you can combine excellence in athletics with excellence in academics."

A former professional football player who holds both a law degree and an MBA, Murphy brought a record of similar success both on and off the field from his 11 years as athletic director at Colgate, a member of the NCAA Division I Patriot League. During his tenure, Colgate's football program went from 0-11 in 1995 to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA I-AA playoffs, and the men's basketball team twice advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Colgate women's soccer team captured eight Patriot League championships and made three NCAA tournament appearances, while the women's volleyball team went to the NCAA tournament twice. In addition, the softball and men's ice hockey teams also made appearances in the NCAA tournament.

During that same time, Colgate, like Northwestern, had some of the highest graduation rates for student-athletes in Division I athletics. Northwestern's graduation rates for student-athletes are perennially among the best in Division I-A while Colgate also has been in the top 10.

"Mark understands our goals and values at Northwestern: to maintain the highest academic standards while competing at the highest level on the field and providing outstanding recreational opportunities for our students," says Northwestern President Henry S. Bienen when he first introduced Murphy. "We are confident that, under his direction, Northwestern's athletics will continue its recent track record of success and our club sports and recreational offerings will be enhanced even further for the entire Northwestern community."

A 1977 graduate of Colgate, where he was captain of both the football and baseball teams, Murphy brings a varied background to his position. He holds a master's in business administration from American University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He worked on his MBA in the off-seasons while a player for the Washington Redskins pro football team.

Murphy was a safety for Washington from 1977-85, co-captain from 1980-85, co-captain of two Super Bowl teams and a first-team Pro Bowl player in 1983. When he completed his playing career, he served as assistant executive director of the National Football League Players Association.

After receiving his law degree, Murphy was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as a radio commentator for NPR for 10 years, analyzing football games and commenting on other sports issues.

Murphy became Colgate's athletic director in 1992. During that time, he significantly improved the school's athletic facilities, including a new fitness center, an Astroturf stadium for field hockey and lacrosse, a cross-country trail, and improvements to numerous other athletic facilities.

Murphy and his wife, Laurie, who also is a Colgate graduate, have four children: Katie, 24, a graduate of Harvard who played basketball for the Crimson; Emily, 21, a junior at Middlebury; Brian, 18; and Anna, 16.

 

[wpr]

Thanks Tophat.
This is an interesting choice.
He has expertise in a few of the right areas. former player, law degree, management degree and worked for the players association. All this should prove helpful but NW isn't tearing up the Big 10 in the non revenue sports so it looks like he will need a lot of help from his staff to get up to speed on the Packer organization.

 

[bozz_2006]

i have no right whatsoever to comment on the soundness of this choice. i just hope he excels at his job.

 

[PackOne]

New Packer President Selected

Fill me in ... do we like this?

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=690856

No NFL experience ?

 

[tromadz]

New Packer President Selected

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That right there, is the face of a genius.

 

[PackOne]

Re: New Packer President Selected

I almost lot it when I saw that.

 

[TOPHAT]

Thanks for the posting. Does anyone know anything about him (how he runs the show at Northwestern, etc.)?

NOTE: MV VIEW ABOUT THE PACK'S NEW PREZ:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com.../20071128/PKR07/71128129/1057/PKR&located=RSS

Mike Vandermause column: Murphy story is bigger than Dallas game

As it turns out, the game between a pair of 10-1 teams will only be the second-biggest story line of the week as far as the Packers are concerned. The most compelling news broke on Tuesday, when the Press-Gazette reported that Northwestern University athletics director Mark Murphy is in line to become the next Packers president. It doesn’t generate the same kind of buzz as a game-winning Brett Favre touchdown pass to Greg Jennings, yet Murphy’s hiring carries major significance because of the long-term implications for the storied franchise. Replacing team chairman Bob Harlan is more important, in the long run, than finding a suitable successor to Favre at quarterback.

It’s imperative the Packers get it right at the top of the organization. Pulling the plug on John Jones just days before he was slated to take over for Harlan last May averted a potential disaster. The hiring of Murphy, who must be approved by the Packers’ 45-person board of directors early next week, carries similar weight. It’s too early to say whether he’s the right man for the job, but he will bring a stellar reputation to Green Bay. Northwestern is not exactly a college football factory and hasn’t won any national championships or Big Ten titles during Murphy’s four-year reign as athletics director. But to judge Murphy solely on that would be shortsighted.

This is a man who during his athletics director tenures at both Colgate and Northwestern put an emphasis on excellence in the classroom as well as the playing field. In other words, he has integrity. “I don’t think there is anything wrong with being competitive and striving to win,” Murphy said in a 2003 interview with Pro Football Weekly. “But in the process of doing it, you have to make sure you aren’t sacrificing your academic standards and ignoring the educational opportunities for your students.” Success is written all over Murphy’s resume, and it’s easy to see why the Packers’ search committee became enamored with him. Murphy, not to be confused with the former Packer of the same name and position, played safety for the Washington Redskins from 1977 to 1984 and was co-captain of two Super Bowl teams. He became a Pro Bowl player in 1983 — impressive for an undrafted free agent out of Colgate. Besides possessing athletic prowess, Murphy is as sharp as a tack. He holds a master’s degree in business administration and a law degree. Murphy told Pro Football Weekly that he uses the same management style that he saw in Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, a three-time Super Bowl champion. Murphy said he tries to respect everyone around him and maximize their strengths, all while incorporating a strict set of values into everything he does.

During another interview, Murphy talked about his experience as an attorney for the Department of Justice and one time standing before a three-judge panel on a case headed to the Supreme Court. “That was as big a pressure situation as I’d ever faced,” Murphy said. “But playing in the NFL taught me the value of doing my homework. When you’re prepared, you have confidence and it enables you to perform in the spotlight.” Some important questions still must be addressed. Will Murphy take a hands-off approach to the Packers’ football operation and allow General Manager Ted Thompson to do his job without meddling? Does Murphy have the humility and people skills of Harlan, who answered his own telephone and related to the common fans? Answers will come soon enough as we get a closer look at Murphy. From a distance, it appears the Packers will be in strong, capable hands.

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[BearPerspective]

He certainly looks smart. Bwahaha.