Sheamus Murphy has come full circle at his alma mater — which almost wasn’t his alma mater.
Murphy has been promoted to head football coach at Sandburg, where he was assistant tight ends coach last season.
He replaces Troy McAllister, who left for the same job at Homewood-Flossmoor after going 19-20 with three IHSA playoff berths in four seasons with the Eagles.
It’s the third head-coaching job for Murphy, who started the program at Back of the Yards in 2015 and came to Sandburg from Eisenhower.
On his watch, Back of the Yards went 28-10 with two conference titles and two IHSA playoff berths in four seasons. He then led Eisenhower to the best five-year stretch in program history with a 26-21 record, four state playoff berths and five straight winning regular seasons.
“When it first came about, I think the initial reaction was a little bit of shock,” Murphy said of the unexpected job opening. “I had just joined the program, and we had a great year. It was great to work with Troy for a year.
“And as the process kind of unfolded and I learned that potentially being the next head football coach was in the cards, I was really excited for the opportunity to be the head coach at my alma mater.”
The funny thing is, Sandburg almost wasn’t his alma mater.
Murphy grew up on the west side of Oak Forest, but in the Sandburg enrollment area. He said he “fell in love with high school football watching the 1994-97 Providence dynasty.”
He wanted to go to Oak Forest, with his youth sports buddies from that town, or to Providence. He even registered at Providence, but changed his mind and went to Sandburg instead.
“Best decision I ever made,” Murphy said.
By his own admission an “average high school football player,” he had just three Division III opportunities to continue his career. Instead, Murphy went to Illinois State with the intention of becoming a teacher and coach.
His coaching career started as a volunteer assistant at Sandburg in 2008-09. Murphy was an offensive line student assistant and manager at Illinois State in 2010-11 before serving as JV offensive coordinator at Lincoln-Way West from 2012-14.
Murphy credits his success to mentors along the way, including Dave Ernst and Larry Lokanc at Lincoln-Way West and Scott Peters, his defensive coordinator during his playing days at Sandburg.
And also to his wife, Hannah.
When Murphy left his head-coaching job at Eisenhower to be an assistant at Sandburg, the idea was to be able to have more family time. So when the Sandburg top job opened up, he knew what his top priority was.
“The first conversation was with (my wife),” Murphy said. “She had to be on board for me to do this. So having her support, having my son Palmer and son Cooper — their support is what made this work.”
And now he’s ready to get to work at Sandburg, which was 5-5 last fall and qualified for the Class 8A playoffs. He likes the Eagles’ upside.
“The ceiling is competing at the highest levels in 8A,” Murphy said. “That’s the ceiling if we get everything aligned. And that’s what I’m starting to do right now. It starts with a staff and getting really good people to help our athletes reach their full potential.”
The sky is the limit and always knowing and acknowledging the most important people whether their family or team support definitely make this work. Exciting for me having known you pre- high school but still what an amazing young man you were right from the start. All the best to you Shay.