Titans’ Murphy Finalist for UNLV Coaching Job

Cal State Fullerton’s Gene Murphy is one of 12 finalists for the Nevada Las Vegas football coaching job, and is likely to be interviewed after the list of candidates is narrowed today, UNLV Athletic Director Brad Rothermel said Sunday.

“We hope to pick the top two or three and invite them in,” Rothermel said. “Gene would seem likely to be interviewed.”

Murphy, 50, had been contacted by UNLV after Wayne Nunnely resigned with one game left in the season, but did not make a formal application until this week, Rothermel said.

Murphy could not be reached for comment Sunday. A Fullerton assistant coach said Murphy traveled to Las Vegas Sunday on a recruiting trip, but Rothermel said he had not met with Murphy in Las Vegas.

Rothermel did not release the names of the other finalists.

Fullerton beat San Jose State in its final game to finish the season 6-4-1, its best record since the Titans went 11-1 in 1984, Murphy’s fifth season at Fullerton.

After that season, Murphy was a top candidate for jobs at Utah, Oregon State and Missouri. Murphy has said he held out for the Missouri job, his first choice, but finished second to Woody Widenhofer, who was replaced after last season.

After finishing the season with a record above .500 for the first time since 1985, Murphy is again being mentioned for available jobs.

Murphy said last week that he has been contacted informally by an intermediary at Utah, but that he was not yet a candidate.

Murphy was head coach at North Dakota for two seasons with a combined record of 15-7. In 10 seasons at Fullerton, Murphy has a record of 54-60-1.