For hundreds of basketball coaches, Final Four week long ago transitioned into an extended party of networking, clinics and peace-time socializing.
Along the way, a wallet or two may go conveniently missing at dinner.
But for first-year Northern Arizona University coach Jack Murphy, the absence of his wallet last weekend was legit. Murphy, who spent most of his Final Four trip participating in National Association of Basketball Coaches-sanctioned hoop clinics for kids in Atlanta, was a pickpocketing victim.
With steals littering the March Madness road to the Georgia Dome, this turnover took a peculiar route.
“Somebody took my wallet,” Murphy said Monday from Flagstaff. “Well, I lost my wallet, and I believe it was taken.”
OK, that’s pretty lousy, but not all that stunning in a big city. Anyway, while alerting credit-card companies, Murphy was notified that one of his cards already had been used for purchases totaling $90.
With the cards canceled, the next obstacle was making it from Atlanta back to Arizona without identification.
“I had to answer all of these questions from the TSA,” Murphy said. “I was patted down … but the funny thing happened after I got home.”
Upon returning to Flagstaff, Murphy received a phone call from Fox Sports Arizona reporter Todd Walsh, who – while on assignment in Vancouver, Canada – just happened to have some information on the whereabouts of Murphy’s wallet.
“After I canceled my cards,” Murphy said, “whoever had the wallet just dumped it at a mall. Mall security found Todd’s business card and called him.”
A little sidebar irony … like Murphy, Walsh once worked as a basketball manager at the University of Arizona.
Walsh wasn't the first choice of Mall Security. That apparently went to FOX Sports Arizona marketing director Brett Hansen. While Hansen was trying to figure out why he was being queried about "John Patrick Murphy," the authorities moved on to the next business card in Murphy's collection.
“I was getting ready for the game in Vancouver and got this bizarre voicemail,” Walsh, who was in Canada for a Fox Sports Arizona telecast of a Phoenix Coyotes game, said. “I thought it was spam. I was going to delete it.
“His (Murphy’s) license didn’t say ‘Jack’ because his given name is John, I guess. When security said it was Atlanta, Final Four and everything, I put it together and figured it must have been Jack. All of his money was gone, but the business cards were there.”
With his wallet recovered and his person back in Flagstaff, Murphy now can refocus on the process of building the Lumberjack basketball program.
NAU finished 11-21 in Murphy’s first season as a head coach, but – considering the circumstances – positive steps were taken.
“I think it went well,” he said. “We were picked last by everyone before the season and finished seventh out of 11 teams.”
When asked if the variables of program transformation are starting to fall into place, Murphy said, “I think so. The guys understand how intense I am and what we’re trying to do. I’m excited.”
In addition to the strides made by players returning next season, Murphy’s optimism is boosted by a six-player recruiting class that includes Travis Meeker from Red Mountain High in Mesa and Chris Miller from Greenway High in Phoenix.
Murphy also signed two three-star (per Scout.com) high school products from California – guard Kris Yanku from L.A. Taft and Ako Kaluna from Stevenson Ranch. Kaluna is a power forward whose 6-foot-7, 220 frame contributed to the shattering of a backboard during a putback dunk attempt this season.
If that happens with much regularity at NAU, Murphy may have to go into his wallet for restitution.
