Head Coach -Phillip Murphy

Family

Brandi (wife), Myles(14), Jackson(11), Basil(7), Ellison Greer(2.)

College:  University of Mobile 2001

Playing Experience:  

High School: Pelham High - All-State, 1st team All Birmingham, 1st team All-County

College: Four year letterman, two year starter, holds all time win record at 100-40 during his 4 year career, intrigal part of 1999 National Championship run as a sophomore 

Coaching experience:  2001-2002 Head Junior Varsity and varsity assistant McGill-Toolen Catholic, 2002-2003 graduate assistant university of mobile, 2003-2007 UMS-Wright Junior Varsity head coach and varsity assistant

McGill-Toolen Head coach 

2007-2008 - 15-14

2008-2009 - 16-14

2009-2010  - 19-10

2010-2011 - 20-9  6A sweet sixteen

2011-2012 - 24-6 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs,6A sweet sixteen 

2012-2013 - 24-7 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, Elite Eight 

2013-2014 - 20-9 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, sub state 

2014-2015 - 28-5 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, record for wins , 7A Elite Eight 

2015-2016 - 29 - 6 Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, record for wins,  7 A STATE CHAMPS

2016-2017 - 25-10- Regular Season Area Champs, 7A Final Four 

2017-2018 - 25 - 7 - Regular Seaons Area Champs and tournament champs, 7A State runner up 

Career Record as Yellow Jacket Head Coach 245- 97 ( .716)

Coaching Highlights 

2012-13 - Mobile County Coach of the Year

2013-14- Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the year 

2004-05- 4A elite eight (UMS-Wright)

2005-06 - 4A elite eight (UMS-Wright)

2010-11- 6A sweet sixteen

2011-12-  Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, 6A sweet sixteen 

2012-13- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, elite eight

2013-14- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, sub state 

2014-15- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, elite eight 

2015-16- Regular Season Area and Tournament Champs, State Champs 

2016-17 - Regular Season Area Champs, Final Four

2017-2018 - Regular Season Area champs and tournament champs, 7A Runner up 

2014-15- Mobile County Coach of the Year 

2014-15- Mobile Optimist club Coach of the year 

2015-16- Mobile County Coach of the Year

2015-16- Mobile Optimist club coach of the year 

2015-16 - Mobile Sports Hall of Fame/ AL.com coach of the year

2015-16 - ASWA (Alabama Sports Writers Association) State Coach of the Year

2015-16 - USA Today High School Sports Coach of the Year

2015-16 - AHSAA State Champion Coaches Award 

2016-2017 - 7A Mobile Optimist club Coach of the Year

2017-2018 - 7A Mobile Optimist club Coach of the Year 

2017-2018 - Mobile County Coach of the year

Inducted into the class of 2016 Mobile Bay 40 under 40

Eight straight 20+ win seasons 

Eight straight playoff appearances 

 

 

Coach Murphy is a Native of Birmingham, Alabama where he attended Homewood High School(Freshman-Junior) and graduated from Pelham High School in 1997.  Murphy lettered four years in Basketball and was a First Team All-Metro(Birmingham), All-County(Shelby) and All-State Basketball player.  He has resided in Mobile for the last 20 years and is a 2001 graduate of the University of Mobile where he earned a B.S. in Social-Science and secondary education.  Murphy lettered four years for the Rams where he holds the all-time win record of 100 wins and 40 losses.  Murphy was recruited to the University of Mobile by Head Coach Scott Sanderson(current Faulkner University Head Coach) and assistant coach Jimmy Messer(Head of School Cottage Hill Christian Academy) whom he played for his first two seasons and the staff for which Murphy played in the 1999 NAIA national championship game.  Murphy finished his last two seasons under present Head Coach Joe Niland(former Springhill College Head Coach) where he gained many of his coaching philosophies.  Murphy began his coaching career at McGill-Toolen in 2001 leading the Junior Varsity squad to a 20-3 record and a county championship, while also assisting the Varsity.  Murphy was offered an assistants position the following season at his Alma Mater and assisted Joe Niland in 2002.  While an assistant at the University of Mobile, Murphy managed film exchange, student-athlete academic progress, scouting, recruiting and on the floor coaching.  Following the 2002 Season Murphy was offered the Junior Varsity and varsity assistant position at UMS-Wright where Murphy remained for 4 years.  Coach Murphy posted a Junior Varsity record of 73-26(.76) while at UMS.  Murphy’s overall Junior Varsity record is 93-26(.78).  Murphy enters his eleventh season as the Yellow Jackets Head Coach and has compiled a record of 245-97(.716)in his first eleven seasons.  Coach Murphy's Yellow Jackets have posted eight straight 20 win seasons. The Yellow Jackets have also won seven straight area championships, sub-region champions and 6A Sweet Sixteen births as well as elite 8 appearences in 2013, 2015, 2016,2017,2018 and back to back to back final four appearances in 2016, 2017, 2018.  The 2016 team reached the final four for the first time since 1989 and brought home the programs first State Championship while setting a school record for wins.  The Yellow Jackets 2018 sqaud finished at 7A runner up.   Coach Murphy has also been honored as the 2011-12 6A Mobile Optimist Club Coach of the year,  2012-13 Mobile County 6A Coach of the Year, 2015 Optimist Club 7A Coach of the Year and the 2016 Optimist Club 7A Coach of the Year,Mobile County Coach of the Year, Coastal Alabama Coach of the Year, ASWA 7A Coach of the Year and the Mobile Bays Class of 2016 40 under 40.  In the 2016-2017 season Murphy recorded his career 200th win at McGill-Toolen, won a seventh straight area championship and led his team to a second straight final four appearance while being honored as  Mobile Optimist Club 7A coach of the year for the fourth consecutive season. In 2017-2018 Murphy was honored as Mobile Optimist club coach of the year and Mobile County Coach of the Year Coach Murphy resides in Midtown with his wife Brandi and their four children: Myles(14), Jackson(11),Basil(7) and Ellison Greer (2).  The Murphy's are members of St. Mary's Parrish. 

Varsity Assistant -Terry Buckner

Coach Buckner is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee where he played basketball at Tennessee Temple High School.  Upon graduation, Terry coached the junior high team at his alma mater for two years.  He then transferred to the University of Alabamawhere he worked as a student assistant under David Hobbs for the men’s basketball program.  While there, Terry worked with all facets of the program including assisting in practice, film breakdown and exchange, recruiting, off season shooting workouts, basketball camp and walk on tryouts.  During his time at Alabama, Coach Buckner had the privilege of directly working with four future NBA players.  Upon graduation, Coach Buckner coached the Freshman team at Hillcrest high school in Tuscaloosa for one year before he and his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana.  While in Indianapolis, Terry taught and coached at FranklinCommunity High School for 12 years.  He served at all levels, and spent the last 6 as junior varsity coach at the school.  In 2009, Terry and his family moved back to the south as he continued his teaching career at Mcgill Toolen. 

 

Terry is the proud father of two children: 14 year old Alex and 7 year old Shelby. 

 

Varsity Assistant -Mark Shelley

Mark Shelley, McT Class of 1976, enters his twelfth year with the Men's Basketball Program. He attended St. Dominic School before entering McGill Institute in the fall of 1972. During his years at McGill-Toolen, Mark lettered in basketball and baseball. He then attended Spring Hill College for one year where he was a member of the Badger's baseball team. He completed his education at Auburn University in 1981 with a BS in Business Administration(Accounting). Mark coached many years in the CYO and Matthews Park youth baseball prior to joining the Yellow Jackets staff.

Mark is a Certified Public Accountant and employed as the Controller for John G. Walton Construction Company, Inc. He is a member of Corpus Christi Parish. Mark and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for thirty-one years . Their two sons have continued the McT tradition. Ben, McT Class of 2008, is a graduate in both chemical engineering and microbial cellular biology from Auburn University. He is employed with UOP Honeywell in Chickasaw, Alabama. Paul, McT Class of 2012, is currently attending classes at the University of South Alabama.
 

Head JV, Varsity Assistant - Reed Hotard

Reed Hotard enters his third season as Head Junior Varsity Coach, and his seventh overall with the Yellow Jacket program as a varsity assistant. Reed is a native of Gretna, Louisiana where he graduated from Brother Martin High School in 2004. Following graduation he attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg where he earned both his undergraduated and graduate degrees. Upon completion of his degree Reed taught and coached in Madison County Mississippi until 2010. In 2010 Reed moved to Mobile where he taught at St. Mary Catholic School for two years prior to coming to McGill. Reed resides in Spanish Fort with his wife Jane Allen and their two children, Annie (3) and Will (8 months). 

JV Assistant  - Beau Baggett

Beau Baggett is back on the McGill-Toolen staff this year and will assist Coach Hotard and the Junior varsity team.  He previously worked on the McGill basketball staff from 1997-2000.  Beau graduated from McGill-Toolen in 1988 and the University of Alabama in 1992. Beau lettered in football during his time at McGill.  He is employed by Rob’t  J. Baggett, Inc.  He and his wife, Leslie, have four children, Will (21), Mamie (19), Cate (16), and Lila (9).  He is a member of St. Mary Parish.

Head Freshman/ Varsity Assistant- Daniel Peebles

Daniel Peebles enters his second year coaching with the Yellow Jackets basketball staff. Daniel is a native of Foley, Alabama where he attended Foley High School and lettered four years in Basketball. During his playing days he was an all-county and all tournament player. Upon graduating, Daniel attened the University of South Alabam and was a football equipment manager on the inaugural football staff. Following his one year at South he then transferred to Southern Union Community College to finish his prerequisities before coming back home to finish up at the University of Mobile. Daniel graduated with a bachelors of Science in Human Performance Exercise Science in Decemeber of 2015 abd holds a Profressional teaching certificate for the state of Alabama. He has be coaching for a total of five years, first at Foley High School under one of our former standout area coaches, Shumbe Hunter. His next two season were spent under arguably one of the best coaches in the state, Head Coach Dru Powell at Spanish Fort. Daniel served as Head JV Boys Coach and Varsity assistant at both stops while learning many valuable skills that have brought him to McT. In his first season with McT Coach Peebles served as strenght and conditioning coach, head freshman coach and assistant varsity while bringing home the freshman championshiop and earning Mobile County Freshman coach of the year.  Coach will serve in the same capacity this year and looks forward to working with his new freshaman.  Coach Murphy, "Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge to our program even though he is just beginning his career. Coach Peebles is a basketball guy who lives and breathes the game of basketball, but more importantly he is a man of high character who will help drive our young men to be better people. We hit a home run with this hire and are fortunate to add him to an already strong coaching staff."