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Sandburg hires Sheamus Murphy as a football coach

Sheamus Murphy closed his circle in his Alma Mater – which was almost not his Alma Mater.

Murphy was promoted to Cheffussball coach in Sandburg, where he was a deputy coach last season.

He replaces Troy McAllister, who had recorded the same job in four seasons with the Eagles with three IHSA playoff lying areas at Homewood-Fossmoor.

It is the third job for head training for Murphy, who started the program on the back of the yards in 2015 and came from Eisenhower to Sandburg.

On his watch, the back of the yards went with two conference titles and two IHSA playoff lying areas in four seasons 28-10. He then led Eisenhower with a record of 26-21, four state playoff lying areas and five regular seasons in a row to the best five-year route in the program history.

“When it came to the first time, I think the first reaction was a bit of shock,” said Murphy about the unexpected opening of the work. “I had just joined the program and we had a great year. It was great to work with Troy for a year.

“And when the process developed and I found out that it was on the cards to possibly be the next head coach, I was very excited about the opportunity to be head coach of my Alma Mater.”

The funny thing is, Sandburg was almost not his Alma Mater.

Murphy grew up on the west side of the oak forest, but in the Sandburg region. He said he “fell in love with high school football, who observed the 1994-97 Providence Dynasty”.

He wanted to go to Oak Forest with his youth sports fans from this city or to Providence. He even registered with Providence, but changed his opinion and instead went to Sandburg.

“The best decision I've ever made,” said Murphy.

At his own discretion, he had only three ways to continue his career. Instead, Murphy went to the state of Illinois to become a teacher and trainer.

His coaching career began in 2008-09 as a volunteer assistant in Sandburg. Murphy was a student assistant and manager of offensive line in the state of Illinois in 2010-11 before working as a JV-offensive coordinator at Lincoln-Way West from 2012 to 2014.

Murphy attributes his success to the mentors on the way, including Dave Ernst and Larry Lokanc von Lincoln-Way West and Scott Peters, his defensive coordinator during his game days in Sandburg.

And also to his wife Hannah.

When Murphy left his head coaching job in Eisenhower as an assistant in Sandburg, it was the idea of ​​having more family time. When the top job opened in Sandburg, he knew what his top priority was.

“The first conversation was with (my wife),” said Murphy. “She had to be on board so that I could do this. So when I have support, my son Palmer and my son Cooper have – their support did this work. ”

And now he is ready to work in Sandburg, which was 5-5 last autumn and qualified for class 8a playoffs. He likes the eagles of the eagles.

“The ceiling competes in 8a at the highest level,” said Murphy. “This is the ceiling when we have everything aligned. And I'm starting that. It starts with a staff and makes really good people to help our athletes to exploit their full potential. ”