Education
Mountain. Vernon Township High School (Illinois).
tennis coach basketball player
Mountain. Vernon Township High School (Illinois).
Previously, he played basketball at Murray State and was the first player in school history to score more than 1,000 points for his career, finishing with 1,054 points from 1948-1952. He was twice selected All-OVC and earned all-America honors after his play at the small college NAIB tournament in Kansas City in 1952. After his college career, he toured with the Harlem Globetrotters before returning to Murray to serve as assistant basketball coach under Cal Luther before later taking over as head tennis coach in 1968.
21 is one of nine retired by Murray State for basketball.
He was inducted into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 1990, the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association"s Hall of Fame in 1999. Murray State"s tennis courts are named in his honor.
Purcell is a member of Murray State"s athletics hall of fame and his Number.