Boston College men's basketball coach Luke Murray has initiated a significant overhaul of the program, beginning with the dismissal of veteran radio announcers Kevin Collins and Josh Maurer. The firings, which concluded nine seasons for the broadcast duo, are part of Murray's effort to implement a fresh start for the Eagles, who have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2009.
Collins stated that the decision came directly from Murray, who expressed a desire for a "whole new fresh coat of paint on the entire program" and to remove "remnants of the past." Collins indicated that Murray felt uncomfortable being associated with any element linked to the program's history, even before meeting the announcers. He was informed that the coach sought to eliminate any perceived "losing mentality" associated with the team.
Collins, who also works as the Milwaukee Brewers' radio play-by-play announcer, reportedly offered to continue in a non-speaking engineering role but was declined. He expressed that both he and Maurer were surprised by the decision, especially given the timing, as it leaves them with limited opportunities to secure other winter work. Collins noted that he and Maurer had repeatedly attempted to meet with Murray since his hiring in March but were consistently rebuffed, with excuses ranging from recruiting to official visits.
Boston College athletic director Blake James confirmed the decision was made by BC Athletics administrators in consultation with their multimedia relations partner, Van Wagner. James wished Collins and Maurer well in their future endeavors. Reports suggest that deputy athletic director Craig Anderson opposed the move but was overruled.
Murray, the son of actor Bill Murray, was hired in March following a five-year tenure as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut, where he contributed to two national championships. His coaching career also includes stops at Xavier and as an assistant under Dan Hurley at UConn.
