CLINTON, N.Y. (AP) – A group of Hamilton College alumni said it will no longer financially support the school in protest over the dismissal of longtime men’s basketball coach Tom Murphy, one of only four coaches in Division III to win more than 600 games.

The contingent of 80 alumni, including many former players, sent a letter to College President Joan Hinde Stewart expressing its “collective and profound disappointment” over the school’s treatment of Murphy. The group also took issue with Hamilton’s search and subsequent decision to hire Tobin Anderson as Murphy’s successor.

Murphy – who in 34 years at Hamilton had a record of 602-262, including 30 straight winning seasons and 10 ECAC Upstate New York titles – announced his retirement Dec. 1. He made no secret, however, that he would have liked to continue coaching at the upstate college.

“We are offended. We are upset. We are deeply saddened,” the letter said. “And we are done. Please remove all of the undersigned from your fund-raising lists and any future solicitations.”

Anderson, who coached at Clarkson University for five seasons, had no previous connection to Murphy or Hamilton – a fact that angered the letter-signers.

“The hope was to keep the integrity of the program, the family nature, the tradition,” said John Cavanaugh, a 1987 Hamilton graduate and former Murphy player who is serving as the group’s spokesman.

“It’s like they are attempting to cleanse Hamilton of Tom Murphy and his legacy, for what reasons we don’t know,” Cavanaugh said Friday.

“When Tom was relieved from his athletic director duties about three years ago, that was the first strike,” Cavanaugh said. “The forced retirement was the second strike, and the new coach was the third strike.”

The group blamed Athletic Director Dave Thompson and Dean of Faculty David Paris for Murphy’s departure and subverting the selection process. Cavanaugh emphasized the protest was not directed at Anderson.

Neither Thompson nor Stewart were available for comment Friday. Hamilton spokesman Michael DeBraggio said the school followed its standard personnel search procedure, but he declined any comment on the details, citing confidentiality.

The letter was signed by members of Hamilton classes from as far back as the 1940s up through 2004, including two members of the 2003-04 Continentals who went 19-8 in Murphy’s final season. Six of the former players who signed the letter were All-Americans during their careers at Hamilton.

Knowing that they can’t get Murphy his job back – and he wouldn’t want it now anyway – Cavanaugh said the group decided to withhold any further financial contributions. He could not say how much money members of the group had given in the past, only that it added up to “serious dollars.”

“This is the only thing they understand. It’s all about money,” he said.