Jean Gordon "Gene" McMurray (July 25, 1902 – January 2, 1971) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Milligan College—now known as Milligan University—in Milligan College, Tennessee, from 1929 to 1931 and East Tennessee State College—now known as East Tennessee State University—in Johnson City, Tennessee, from 1932 to 1946.[1] McMurray was also the head basketball coach at East Tennessee State from 1933 to 1947.

Gene McMurray
Biographical details
Born(1902-07-25)July 25, 1902
Huntington, Indiana, U.S.
Died(1971-01-02)January 2, 1971
Oxford, Mississippi, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1922–1925Maryville
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1929–1931Milligan
1932–1946East Tennessee State
Basketball
1933–1947East Tennessee State
Baseball
1934–1937East Tennessee State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1929–1932Milligan
Head coaching record
Overall62–39–11 (football)
90–84 (basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 Smoky Mountain (1938)

A native of Huntington, Indiana, McMurray was a graduate of Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. He earned a master's degree from Peabody College and Vanderbilt University and a doctorate in physical education from New York University. McMurray resigned from his coaching post at East Tennessee State in 1947 to head the physical education department at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).[2] He died on January 2, 1971, in Oxford, Mississippi, after an apparent heart attack.[3]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Milligan Buffaloes (Smoky Mountain Conference) (1929–1931)
1929 Milligan 6–1–1 3–1–1 2nd
1930 Milligan 4–4–1 1–2–1 5th
1931 Milligan 2–2–4 0–1–3 6th
Milligan: 12–7–6 4–4–5
East Tennessee State Teachers Buccaneers (Smoky Mountain Conference) (1932–1945)
1932 East Tennessee State Teachers 3–3–1 0–2 5th
1933 East Tennessee State Teachers 6–1–2 3–1–1 2nd
1934 East Tennessee State Teachers 3–3–2 2–2–1 T–3rd
1935 East Tennessee State Teachers 5–3 4–3 2nd
1936 East Tennessee State Teachers 6–2 4–3 4th
1937 East Tennessee State Teachers 4–5 4–4 4th
1938 East Tennessee State Teachers 6–2 5–1 1st
1939 East Tennessee State Teachers 5–3 4–2 T–2nd
1940 East Tennessee State Teachers 4–4 3–3 3rd
1941 East Tennessee State Teachers 2–5 0–3 4th
1942 No team—World War II
1943 No team—World War II
1944 No team—World War II
1945 No team—World War II
East Tennessee State Buccaneers (Independent) (1946)
1946 East Tennessee State 7–1
East Tennessee State Teachers / East Tennessee State: 50–32–5 29–24–2
Total: 62–39–11
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ Thomson, Marvin (September 4, 1932). "L. M. U. Will Not Have Grid Team This Year". The Knoxville Journal. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 8. Retrieved September 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "J. G. McMurray Resigns as Head Coach at E. T. State College". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. Associated Press. December 24, 1946. p. 12. Retrieved September 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Dr. J. G. McMurray, Ole Miss, Dies After Attack". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. January 3, 1971. p. 8. Retrieved September 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com  .