Sean Murphy is in his 11th season with the Nicholls State University football program as the wide receivers coach. Prior to the 2025 season, he will also serve as the recruiting coordinator.
Under Murphy’s direction, the Colonels have had at least one All-Southland receiver in seven of the last nine seasons. David Robinson, Jr. was the most recent all-league selection in the 2023 championship campaign.
The Colonels had two receivers garner all-league honors in each of the 2021 seasons, headlined by Dai'Jean Dixon. After his breakout season in 2019, Dixon etched his name in the Colonel record book by breaking all three of Hall of Fame receiver Mark Carrier's career records. Dixon surpassed Carrier's totals in receiving yards (2,709), receptions (147) and touchdown catches (24) en route to his second consecutive All-Southland First Team selection. K.J. Franklin also repeated as an all-league selection.
Dixon posted a historic campaign in 2019, becoming the first Colonel since 1986 to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season. Despite missing 5.5 games with an injury, Dixon totaled 1,044 yards receiving and eight touchdowns on 54 receptions. His 116.0 yards per game ranked second in the FCS as he racked up five 100-yard games that season. His most memorable performance was a 190-yard, three-touchdown game in the River Bell Classic win over Southeastern.
In 2018, Dixon landed on All-Southland Second Team after hauling in 753 yards and seven touchdowns on 53 receptions. Teammate Damion Jeanpiere, Jr. led the team with 850 yards along with an impressive 19.3 ypc average. An All-Southland selection as a junior, Jeanpiere left Nicholls ranked second on the Colonels all-time receiving yards list, trailing only Carrier. Jeanpiere followed in Carrier’s footstep and earned a rookie free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers.
In 2016, C.J. Bates was tabbed All-SLC after totaling 798 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Bates put his name in the Colonel record book for two of his performances. His three-touchdown game in 2016 against rival Northwestern State tied a program single-game record, while his 11-reception effort versus Central Arkansas in the year prior also tied the program single-game mark.
Murphy came to Nicholls after spending three seasons at the University of Louisiana as a graduate assistant. In his last two campaigns at UL, he served as an assistant coach for the wide receivers and was the scout team coordinator. In 2012, Murphy assisted the Ragin’ Cajun coaching staff in daily operations and helped with film breakdown.
During his tenure at LL, the team captured the 2013 Sun Belt championship, won at least nine games in each campaign and ended the season with a victory in the New Orleans Bowl. In 2013, wide receiver Jamal Robinson was named Second Team All-Sun Belt after recording 54 receptions for 862 yards and eight touchdowns.
Murphy, a native of Biloxi, Miss., played quarterback at Millsaps College where he earned a bachelor’s in history with a minor in education in 2012.
THE MURPHY FILE
Personal: Born August 31, 1989. Hometown: Biloxi, Miss. Family: Married to the former Dori Waltz. The couple has two daughters, Elliot and Skylar.
Coaching Experience: Louisiana (2012), graduate student intern; Louisiana (2013-14), graduate assistant/ wide receivers; Nicholls (2015-present), wide receivers.
Playing Experience: Quarterback at Millsaps College (2008-11).
Education: Bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in education from Millsaps College in 2012.
