Fontbonne Academy girls basketball coach Clare Murphy was inducted into the Northeast – New Agenda Women’s Sports Organization Hall of Fame on Nov. 2, but her career is far from finished.
Murphy, who has coached basketball at Fontbonne for 35 years (head coach for 28 years) and teaches physical education at Quincy’s Atlantic Middle School, was thankful to receive recognition from an organization that promotes educational equity, equal opportunity and awareness of evolving needs of New England female athletes.
“I’ve spent a very long time at the school as a student and now as a coach, helping to educate female athletes,” she said. “To be able to be recognized by so many amazing female coaches of all varying sports is really, really special.”
A 1987 Fontbonne graduate, Murphy said Fontbonne readied her for college and shaped her identity as well.
“I feel, as a female in education in school with just other females around, and not having to worry about the opposite sex for a variety of reasons, you really learn to find your voice,” she said. “I think Fontbonne really hones in on educating you as a whole person, not just academically, but also socially and emotionally.”
Growing up with four brothers, her father, and her mother from Scotland, she played soccer. Fontbonne didn’t offer a soccer team when she enrolled, so she joined the basketball team. She was delighted to play soccer for Fontbonne in her senior year and cherishes her friendships from her time as a student.
“I’ve met some of my best friends at Fontbonne,” she said. “I’m godmother to one of (my friends’) children, and I’ve made everlasting friendships of people from my time at Fontbonne, so a lot of them are just like a lot of memories of being together, the camaraderie. And I actually really enjoyed being taught by the nuns. It’s a place where there’s a lot of people that have been there for a really long time, and I think that speaks volumes about a place.”
Former Fontbonne athletic director Ellen Sullivan (who retired after 47 years) asked Murphy to return as an assistant coach. Murphy assisted Don Larsen for seven years, learning a great deal about the significance of scheduling statewide teams, organizing practice plans and scouting.
With Murphy as head coach, Fontbonne has competed and advanced far in state tournaments, despite being a small school. Murphy credits the program’s consistency to her players, including college basketball players such as Jen Gemma (Bentley) and Annabelle Larnard (Boston University), as well as others who haven’t played in college.
“I’ve been fortunate to have players that have kind of continued that steady play,” she said. “Also, just the kids that really love the game of basketball and are hard-nosed and tough and come in and give me everything they have for 20 games that are able to keep the program as consistent as it’s been. We’ve had strong players to build around and then a lot of girls that have really bought into the role of assisting those players, knowing that the goal is to take the team as far as we can.”
One of her captains was Gemma, a forward who won a Div. 2 national championship as a Bentley freshman. Gemma was inducted into Bentley’s Athletic Hall of Fame this year, and is back with Fontbonne as an assistant coach.
“She’s so invested in her players,” Gemma said. “And I feel like when you’re in high school, and you’re playing sports, whether you want to … continue in college or not, it’s so valuable to have somebody who’s so invested in you and to be on a team that has such a strong leader, like Clare.”
Although she treasures her memories of beating Melrose at TD Garden in 2002-03 and upsetting teams like Oliver Ames, Walpole and Rockland on the road, a particularly special memory happened in December 2022. Fontbonne defeated Acton-Boxboro on the road on Murphy’s father’s 95th birthday, just days before his passing.
“He wasn’t doing well,” she said. “And I went to see him on his birthday, and I said, ‘We have a game tonight, your birthday game.’ And we were tied. I had to draw up an out-of-bounds play, and the girl who got the winning basket with like no time on the clock, her last name was Murphy. Being able to say to him, like, ‘Hey, Dad. We won that game. And a girl by the name of Murphy got the winning basket.’ He had such a smile on his face. He thought that was so funny. But it was such a memorable win for me. And I’ll never forget that game.”
Fontbonne has moved up to the very competitive Div. 2 this season, and Murphy thinks it will be an enjoyable group to watch. She hopes to make another state tournament run and possibly win the Catholic Conference.
