Bob Finamore
Retired Teacher, Coach and Administrator
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Education, 1968
Current Title: Retired Teacher, Coach and Administrator
What year did you graduate and what degree did you earn?
I received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1968. The presentation of my degree was delayed due to a two-year military obligation with the United States Army, from 1966 to 1968.
What led you to choose the University of Memphis?
In my senior year of high school, I was offered a four-year grant-in-aid scholarship to play Division I football at the University of Minnesota. After graduation in 1958, the New Jersey football recruiter for Minnesota, Coach Ray Malavasi, joined fellow assistant, Coach Billy Murphy, in making the move to Memphis State University. Murphy would go on to serve as head coach from 1958 to 1971. Having developed a strong relationship with Coach Malavasi, I decided to follow them south to Tennessee.
What is a favorite or meaningful memory from your time at UofM?
The years spent bonding with other young men – both in training and in competition – left a lasting impression on me. Standout moments include the university’s first win against an SEC team, Mississippi State, in 1962, and being part of the 1963 undefeated team – only the third in the school’s history to achieve that distinction. Carrying Coach Murphy off the field in Starkville after the Mississippi State win is a memory I’ll never forget.
How did your experience at the University prepare or shape you for your career?
Both the educational and athletic experiences I gained at the University were instrumental in preparing me for my 35-year career as a teacher, coach, and administrator. The competent professors in the classroom and the mentoring I received from the coaching staff on the field guided my journey and helped me reach my full potential – both professionally and personally.
What has your career path looked like since graduating?
I retired in 2005. In 2020, my brother and I co-authored a memoir, Two Jersey Brothers, recounting our early lives in Haledon, NJ – a small, quiet, one-square mile town – from 1939 – 1953. In 2022, we completed a sequel, Bond of Brothers, which chronicles the rest of our stories: our divergent paths, successes, hardships, and enduring close relationship, spanning from where the end of the first book left off through 2020.