James J. Murray IV
SPORTS AGENT
James J. Murray lV grew up on Highfield Lane in Nutley. He attended Yantacaw Elementary School, Franklin Middle School and is a 1995 Graduate of Nutley High School. At Nutley High School, Murray was class president, a National Honor Society member and captain of the football team.
Murray graduated from Muhlenberg College, entered the sports industry as an intern for Integrated Sports (ISD, and quickly rose through the ranks. In 2000, ISI was sold to SFX Sports Group, a powerhouse agency representing athletes in every sport. Clients at the time included Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Kobe Bryant and Jerry Rice. At the time, Murray worked under legendary sports agents David Falk and Arn Teller-n and became the youngest certified agent in baseball. With SFX Sports Group, Murray represented and worked with a staggering seventeen percent of all Major League Baseball players.
In 2011, Murray joined Excel Sports Management. Excel is a multi-sport marketing and management firm representing a select number of high-profile athletes including Derek Jeter, Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning. At Excel, Murray’s primary focus has been to help lead a baseball division. Thanks in part to Murray’s contributions since his arrival, Excel has negotiated more total dollars in baseball contracts than any other agency and has twice earned the Sports Business Journal award for Best in Talent Representation and Management.
Murray has been a leading advocate, marketer and player representative in the sports industry and his expertise runs the gamut. His achievements and involvement in free agent contract and labor negotiations, salary arbitration, sales, marketing, consulting, licensing, branding, public relations and general advice to clients, teams and leagues alike make him different from almost any other agent. In baseball terminology, Murray can be considered a rare “five-tool” executive with experience and success that make him a perennial “All-Star.”
Murray has represented or co-represented multiple Cy Young, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award winners; numerous All-Stars and World Series Champions; and multiple Most Valuable Players. Murray personally has been involved in negotiations of contracts totaling over $2.5 billion. Notably, he has also worked for five years with the NFL charities in the organization and management of the annual Super Bowl Charity Golf Tournament.
While his rise to success has been rapid, Murray has maintained the highest level of professionalism and integrity. He has earned the respect of colleagues for his affability and work ethic. He has also earned the respect of front office personnel, sponsors and corporations alike for a style that is simultaneously tough, yet fair and practical, yet creative. Murray’s style is also decidedly understated. He believes the client should be the person making headlines, not the representative.
Murray credits his Nutley upbringing for much of the success he enjoys today. His parents, Joy and James Ill molded, guided and supported him through thick and thin, making him eternally grateful for their love. His brother Eric Murray, a 1999 graduate of Nutley High School, was and remains his best friend and role model. Nutley educators including Sue Ames, John Calicchio, Greg Catrambone, Bob Harbison, Brian McGinley, John Suffren and Joe Zarra along with parents, other coaches, other teachers and classmates shaped the character, drive and fortitude that helped propel him through life.
Murray unequivocally believes his greatest achievement has nothing to do with baseball players and that his family are the true superstars of his world. Murray and his wife, Suzanne, have two beautiful children and currently reside in Montclair.