Cal Murphy was born in Winnipeg and moved to Vancouver as a youngster.  He began his athletic career at Vancouver College, and continued playing football with CYO Juniors and UBC, followed by a stint with the B.C. Lions.  Cal began his coaching career at Notre Dame High School in 1956, then moved to Vancouver College in 1960 where his squad had the school’s only undefeated football season against top American high schools in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1965 Cal coached at Eastern Washington State University, earning his Masters degree and going to the NAIA championships in 1967.  He continued his college career at the University of Hawaii from 1968 – 1972 where the team finished with a 70% winning average, followed by a year at San Jose State in 1973.

Cal Murphy joined the CFL coaching ranks in 1974 with the B.C. Lions under head coach Eagle Keyes, becoming head coach in 1975.  He spent 1977 in Montreal with the Alouettes under Marv Levy and picked up his first Grey Cup win that year.  In 1978 he moved to the Edmonton Eskimos with Hugh Campbell and another five years as Grey Cup Champions.

In 1983 Cal was hired by Paul Robson of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and spent 14 years as head coach, general manager, and GM/head coach, and was instrumental in bringing the Grey Cup to Winnipeg in 1991.  The Blue Bombers were in five Grey Cups and won three – 1984, 1988, 1990.  The 1984 win was the first for the team in 22 years.

Cal had suffered heart attacks in 1978 and 1985, and in July 1992 received a heart transplant.  He was back on the job by the end of the year.

Cal finished his time with the CFL in Regina with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1997 to 1999.  In 2000 he coached with the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, followed by a brief time with Chicago Xtreme in the XFL.  He has been a scout with the Indianapolis Colts since 2001.

Cal and his wife Joyce have seven children – Carol, Mike, Barbara, Erin, Shannon, Brian and Kelly, and six grandchildren.  They still reside in Regina.

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