NEWS
Former Athletic Director of Davidson College, Jim Murphy, Receives National Recognition
Jim Murphy
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the Association’s Hall of Fame Class of 2024 included Jim Murphy of Davidson College. Jim Murphy served as director of athletics at Davidson College for nearly 25 years
Each aspect of athletics at Davidson reflects Murphy’s leadership. The Carol Grotnes Belk Turf Field for field hockey, the Alumni Stadium for soccer, Wilson Baseball Park and practice facility, the football stadium expansion project, the relocation of the outdoor tennis courts, and the Harry L. Vance Athletic Center, including the Cheryle Williamson Center for Dance, all came during his tenure. Davidson teams won 25 regular season titles and 32 tournament championships with Murphy at the helm of the athletics programs. He oversaw Davidson’s move to the Atlantic-10 Conference, where Davidson athletes have met with success in swimming, tennis and track and field.
Under Murphy’s direction, the Wildcats pursued several major construction and capital projects, including the creation of the innovative $10 million Davidson Scholars Program, a state-of-the-art weight room, new press box and additional permanent seating as part of facility enhancements.
Most importantly, Murphy ensured that Davidson’s Division I athletics program served the long-term aspirations of the college’s scholar-athletes and furthered Davidson’s holistic educational mission.
On the national stage, Murphy served two terms on the prestigious NCAA Division I Management Council. He chaired the Division I-AA Governance Committee and formerly served on the NCAA Division I Business and Finance Cabinet, the Division I Governance Committee and the Division I Finance Committee. From 2002-04, Murphy chaired the Athletics Directors Association of the Southern Conference. He was part of Charlotte’s successful bid to host the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championships in 1999 and 2000 and served as tournament director of the first and second-round games of the 2005 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in Charlotte.
A former member of the Division I Football Issues Committee, Murphy was also a member of the NCAA Task Force on Recruiting, an 18-member panel charged with changing the culture of recruiting in intercollegiate athletics and served on the NCAA’s Fiscal Responsibility Oversight Group.
Murphy was recognized as NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) in 2003-04. He served as FCS ADA President in 2007-08 and was a member of the NACDA Executive Committee from 2012-16.