Former Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy is returning to his college roots.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay said on Aug. 13 that Murphy is its first executive in residence, with an office in the Kress Events Center Athletics building on the UW-Green Bay campus.
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Murphy retired as the Packers’ president and CEO on July 25, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. Before joining the Packers in 2008, he was athletic director at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and before that, at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., his alma mater.
According to the university, Murphy will focus on elevating the profile and strength of Phoenix Athletics’ D1 programs and building partnerships throughout the region with individuals and businesses. He will assist with strategic projects, including capital improvements, sports sponsorships and long-term sustainable excellence for Phoenix athletics. Murphy also will assist with mentorship of coaches and staff, and work on special initiatives for the chancellor, including Phoenix Innovation Park.
As president of the Packers, Murphy oversaw many of those same kind of processes. The Packers invested more than $600 million in programs and facilities on the Lambeau Field and Titletown campuses, and the Packers were among the top winning teams in the NFL during his tenure. They won Super Bowl XLV in 2011.
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“I have tremendous respect for both Chancellor (Michael) Alexander and (Athletic Director) Josh (Moon), and look forward to helping them keep UWGB’s athletics program competitive in the rapidly changing Division I landscape. I’m also excited to go back to my roots in college athletics at a school that means so much to the local community,” Murphy said.
More: Packers’ Mark Murphy focused on team, community, fans during his 17 years as president
Moon was named the first Mark Murphy Endowed Director of Athletics at UW-Green Bay in November 2024 after the university received a $250,000 lead gift from the Green Bay Packers to endow the position.
“His passion for this region, belief in the importance of education, his experience as a D1 athletic director, and his incredible qualities as a leader will continue to inspire us,” Alexander said.
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More: Packers give $250,000 to kick off endowment at UW-Green Bay in Mark Murphy’s name
Before turning to college athletics administration, Murphy played eight years in the NFL for Washington, playing in two Super Bowls and winning one. He lead the NFL in interceptions in 1983. After football, he was an executive for the NFL Players Association, and after that a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Murphy will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame on Aug. 28 during a banquet at Lambeau Field.
Contact Richard Ryman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Mark Murphy moves from Packers to UW-Green Bay in new role
