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William D. Murray

1908 – 1986

American football player and coach, basketball coach, college athletics administrator

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About William D. Murray

Lived 1908 – 1986 (aged 77). William D. Murray was an American basketball coach, american football player and american football coach.

A bust of William D. Murray located at Delaware Stadium commemorating his record as head coach, National Championship, and College Football Hall of Fame induction. William D. Murray (September 9, 1908 – March 29, 1986) was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at University of Delaware from 1940 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1950 and at Duke University from 1951 to 1965, compiling a career college football record of 142–67–11. During his tenure at Delaware, Murray tallied a 49–16–2 mark including three undefeated seasons from 1941, 1942, and 1946; there was no formal team from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. Murray's career record at Duke was 93–51–9, giving him second most wins in program history behind Wallace Wade. Murray was also the head basketball coach at Delaware for one season in 1944–45.

In 1965, Murray retired as Duke's head football coach and was named executive secretary of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), where he served for 17 years. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1974. In 1983, Murray was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Murray died on March 29, 1986, in Durham, North Carolina.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Rocky Mount High School
Awards
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
Also known as
Bill Murray

People in William D. Murray's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William D. Murray's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William D. Murray?

American football player and coach, basketball coach, college athletics administrator (1908-1986)

When was William D. Murray born?

William D. Murray was born on 9 September 1908 in Rocky Mount.

When did William D. Murray die?

William D. Murray died on 29 March 1986 in Durham.

What was William D. Murray's occupation?

William D. Murray was a basketball coach, american football player and american football coach.

What nationality was William D. Murray?

William D. Murray was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William D. Murray

· Wikidata: Q8007501

· DBpedia: Bill Murray (American football coach)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William D. Murray. https://biography.guide/william-d-murray/

MLA: "William D. Murray." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-d-murray/.

Chicago: "William D. Murray." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-d-murray/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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