SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – After a career that spanned seven decades and resulted in more than 1000 victories at the high school, Division III and Division I levels, Tom Murphy has been named a nominee for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
 
"Coach Murphy's exceptional 63-year career demonstrates innovative coaching, program building, and unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes who excel both on and off the court," said Northeastern men's basketball head coach Bill Coen. "He possesses a rare gift for building meaningful relationships, connecting people across diverse backgrounds and developing the essential life skills of every player he coached, mentored and counseled."
 
Murphy, who coached Coen at Hamilton College before hiring him as an assistant coach at his alma mater in 1987, was on Coen's staff at Northeastern for 19 years as an associate head coach and coordinator of basketball advancement before his retirement in 2025.
 
Murphy's dedication to teaching and advancing the game has taken him to 43 states, three territories, 15 countries and six continents, demonstrating his profound national and global influence in basketball development.
 
Murphy began his coaching legacy in upstate New York at with the Colton-Pierrepont Central Colts and Union Academy Belleville Central Black Knights, where he compiled a 90% overall winning percentage (128-14) and achieved the longest winning streak in New York State history (83 games). After winning four sectional championships, six Frontier League Playoff championships and establishing a youth basketball program and community culture that sustained excellence long after his departure, he accepted the challenge of leading Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. in 1971.
 
His exceptional ability to build programs and cultivate winning cultures is evidenced by his 602-262 overall record at Hamilton, including a remarkable 586-200 (.746) record over his final 30 seasons to establish himself as one of the most respected coaches in NCAA Division III basketball history. His teams dominated Division III basketball from 1975 to 1985, posting an .821 winning percentage that stood as the highest recorded across all NCAA divisions during that period. This unprecedented achievement earned national recognition in the USA Today, the Boston Globe, and through the Associated Press.
 
Murphy's team achievements at Hamilton include 30 conference postseason berths, 10 ECAC Championships, eight NCAA tournament appearances, and 15 seasons with 20+ wins while he was twice named the National Coach of the Year and was a five-time New York State Coach of the Year.
 
After a brief stint at SUNY Tech, where he spent two seasons, Murphy reunited with Coen at Northeastern University in 2006. In his role as associate head coach and coordinator of basketball advancement, Murphy proved pivotal to the program's remarkable transformation over 19 years.
 
Murphy helped Coen become the winningest coach in Northeastern history (passing Jim Calhoun) and the Coastal Athletic Association (passing Jim Larranaga) en route to four CAA regular season titles, two tournament championships, NCAA appearances in 2015 and 2019 and marquee victories over Georgetown, St John's, Michigan State, Indiana, Alabama, Miami (FL), Florida State, UConn and Providence.
 
At Northeastern, Murphy mentored 16 players who earned all-conference honors while developing 32 players who advanced to professional careers in Europe, all while maintaining his commitment to academic excellence with Northeastern's players consistently achieving a high grade point average.
 
"Coach Murphy's extraordinary career serves as a powerful testament to the belief that coaching transcends winning games," Coen said. "His life's work demonstrates that the greatest victory lies in shaping the character and future of young people, empowering them to lead successful and meaningful lives long after their basketball careers have concluded.
 
"His impact transcends traditional coaching metrics," Coen said. "His ability to develop character, foster principled leaders, and inspire excellence has shaped countless lives and strengthened communities wherever he has served. The breadth of his influence, combined with his steadfast commitment to the highest standards of the game, makes him a worthy candidate for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame."

Finalists chosen from the applicable Category Screening Committees for the Class of 2026 will be announced at a later date. The entire Class of 2026 will be unveiled during a nationally televised broadcast on Saturday, April 4, during Final Four Weekend. 
 
The Finalist and Class Announcement times and broadcast networks will be announced by Monday, February 9.