A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he coached at numerous schools in several sports including football, basketball and track.

He played left tackle on the football team for three years and was named captain of the 1908 squad coached V. R. Ford, a former star lineman from Colgate University.

As a basketball player Murphy was known for his accurate passing and for his quickness for his five feet ten inches tall and 200 lbs body.

[4] In his senior season his overall play including five field goals helped Peddie beat the Roman Catholic High School, the basketball champions of Philadelphia, 33–16.

At the time of selection he was serving as the athletic director of the Gilman Country School, and was student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Maryland.

In addition to his football duties, he was responsible for rebuilding of the entire athletic department at Johns Hopkins.

[14] In March 1923, Murphy was named the 17th head football coach at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Due to these problems the Dickinson College athletic committee appointed Joseph Lightner as Field Coach which caused Murphy to resign.

[20] * Does not include the loss to a team US Third Army since the NCAA only recognizes games played against four-year degree-granting colleges† incomplete # denotes interim head coach