First-year Boston College men's basketball coach Luke Murray, one of actor Bill Murray's six sons, has had the program's longtime radio broadcast team let go, according to announcer Kevin Collins.
Collins and his on-air partner Josh Maurer had called Boston College games together for nine seasons on WEEI radio before both were dropped this month.
Murray's Overhaul in Chestnut Hill
Murray, 41, was hired in March after five seasons as a University of Connecticut assistant coach, a run that included two national championships under head coach Dan Hurley. He takes over a Boston College program that has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2009, and Collins said the removal of the radio team is part of a broader effort to clear out reminders of the program's recent struggles.
Collins said the decision to remove him and Maurer came directly from Murray. "The reasoning that I was given was that Coach Murray basically wants a whole new fresh coat of paint on the entire program and wants no remnants of the past around the program," Collins told Awful Announcing. "We have nothing to do with any of that. But he wanted us removed. Didn't feel comfortable being around a link to the past, if you will. My challenge was, well, how can he not feel comfortable around us? He hasn't even given us the chance to meet us."
Told to Go Despite Offer to Stay
Collins said program officials told him Murray did not want anyone connected to the program's "losing mentality" to remain in Chestnut Hill. He said he offered to stay on in a non-speaking role as a radio engineer but was turned down.
"I asked that question, and he just wants everybody new," Collins said. "It doesn't matter who it is. It just seems like even though he hasn't met you guys, it's like anybody but you two."
Maurer, who also serves as the Milwaukee Brewers' radio play-by-play announcer, has not commented publicly on his dismissal.
Athletic Director Responds
Boston College athletic director Blake James did not deny that Murray played a role in the decision, but said it was made by athletics administrators together with the school's multimedia rights partner, Van Wagner. "The decision to not renew the contracts of our men's basketball radio announcers was made by Boston College Athletics administrators in consultation with our MMR partner," James said in a statement. "We wish both Kevin and Josh the best going forward."
Bill Murray has been photographed courtside supporting his son's coaching career over the years. Luke Murray previously worked as an assistant at Xavier University before joining Hurley's staff at UConn, where the Huskies won back-to-back national titles.
Timing Leaves Pair Without Options
Collins said the timing of the move made it worse. Had the pair been let go in March, when Murray was hired, they would have had time to look for winter work. Instead, they enter the college basketball season with little hope of landing at another station.
Collins said he and Maurer had been trying to secure a meeting with Murray since he took the job in March, but were repeatedly turned away. "I was always told either Coach Murray is off recruiting, or we have an official visit today, and it's not a good day, we've got a lot going on," Collins said. He said the pair even tried inviting Murray to a catered lunch. "That angle didn't work either," Collins said. "We didn't get any reply on that."
Deputy Director Overruled
Collins said he was told his job was safe until last week, when the situation changed abruptly. He said Boston College deputy athletic director Craig Anderson pushed back on the decision to replace him and Maurer but was overruled.
"You just allow this guy to come in and demand our jobs and our livelihoods without any real fight," Collins said. "It seems like without giving us a chance to perhaps speak up and defend ourselves, or at least try to build some type of connection with Coach Murray before he was allowed to make that decision. It just seems really unjust to me."
Collins said colleagues within the program shared his shock. "They are in an absolute state of amazement and shock as well," he said. "Can't believe it."
