Fulfilling a dream

Augusta’s top Red Devil always wanted to be a head coach

By Eric Moore

LITTLE ROCK — Three years ago, Reginald Murphy was given an opportunity to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams.

Murphy jumped at the chance to lead the Augusta Red Devils football team as head coach.

After spending several years as an assistant coach at Marion and Forrest City, Murphy made the move to administration by taking the assistant principal position at Forrest City in 2005.

The move away from the football field was short-lived, however, as later in the year he was offered the job at Augusta. For someone who spent his life in athletics, the ability to get back on the field was just what he was looking for.

In high school, he played football at Pine Bluff Dollarway, where he learned a thing or two about winning. During his varsity years, the Cardinals posted a record of 41-1 with two state championships. His time under legendary coach Lee Hardman led to a collegiate career at Arkansas State University, where he went on to break the receiving record at the school.

Athletics were in his blood at Arkansas State, as he was a twosport athlete, playing baseball and football. All the while, he maintained a high GPA, earning a spot on the Sun Belt Conference All-Academic team.

“[Playing two sports] helped me,” Murphy said. “It kept me on schedule. I didn’t have a lot of time for nonsense.” He had the weight of his family on his shoulders as he was looked upon to be the first one in the family to graduate from college. Not only did he graduate, he went back a few years later and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Now that he has been removed from the playing field by a decade, he enjoys passing his knowledge on to the next generation of players.

“It’s not about X’s and O’s, it’s about the impact you have on young men’s lives,” Murphysaid. “You don’t just teach them the game of football, you teach them the game of life.” Murphy is quick to point out that when you see him on Friday nights, it is only 10 percent of what he actually does.

“There’s a whole regiment to get kids to that point,” Murphy said. “I have to teach, grade papers and prepare lesson plans, too.” Murphy said his time at Arkansas State helped him be able to budget his time better, which comes in handy considering that he still commutes 45 minutes from Forrest City.

Away from the field, Murphy is what his wife, Bettina, calls a “home body.” Other than an occasional game of NCAA Football 2008 in the offseason, Murphy tries to relax as much as he can, whether it is spending time with his daughter, Arrica, or going to St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church just outside of Pine Bluff.

“I keep it God, family and football,” Murphy said. “I try to keep things in perspective.” That is the way of thinking he tries to pass on to his players now. He tries to help them stay focused on their goals of graduating from high school and making it to college, and if football is a part of that, even better.

“Seeing young men go off to college or to the military or becoming a productive member of society and knowing I had a part in it is very special to me,” Murphy said. “It’s my responsibility to instill values that my coachesinstilled in me.” One day Murphy would like to get off the field and back into administration, but he doesn’t see that day coming soon.

“Right now, coaching is what I love,” Murphy said.

- emoore@ arkansasonline.com

Three Rivers, Pages 113 on 08/17/2008