Boston College formally kicked off the Luke Murray era on Tuesday with his introductory news conference as the 14th coach of the Eagles’ men’s basketball program.
But before the 41-year-old Murray, one of the top assistant coaches in the country, can really get started building his own roster in Chestnut Hill, Murray has a few last things to finish up at his old job at Connecticut before he can turn in his key card.
The most notable thing, of course, is helping the Huskies win their third national championship title in four years this weekend at the Final Four of the Men’s NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis.
REQUIRED READING: Men’s March Madness bracket: Which teams are headed to Final Four?
“BC is Back! This guy is the best. Will miss him greatly but so proud and happy for him. Long overdue opportunity. Good Bye Champ!,” Murray’s boss, Dan Hurley, tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after Murray was announced as Boston College’s next head coach on March 26.
With Murray, the son of legendary comedian Billy Murray, on the bench sitting next to Hurley, No. 2 UConn takes on No. 3 Illinois at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 4 inside Lucas Oil Stadium
Here’s what to know on Murray’s status for the Huskies’ Final Four and more:
1 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) hits a go-ahead three-point basket late in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
1 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) hits a go-ahead three-point basket late in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
2 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) hits a go-ahead three-point basket late in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
3 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Braylon Mullins #24 of the UConn Huskies celebrates after shooting the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC
4 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after shooting the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
5 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Malachi Smith (0) celebrates with UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) after a game-winning three-point basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
6 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) celebrates after making the game-winning three-point basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
7 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
The UConn Huskies huddle up against the Duke Blue Devils prior to an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
8 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
9 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
10 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) passes the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
11 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) goes to the basket against Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21)in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
12 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) shoots over Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
13 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Silas Demary Jr. #2 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
14 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) and UConn Huskies forward Jayden Ross (23) celebrate after a play against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
15 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) scores against Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) and is fouled in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
16 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley celebrates after a play against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
17 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
18 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Solo Ball #1 of the UConn Huskies dribbles against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
19 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Silas Demary Jr. #2 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
20 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts after a shot clock violation against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.
21 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies looks on against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
22 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
23 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Solo Ball #1 of the UConn Huskies drives to the rim during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
24 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies drives to the hoop against Patrick Ngongba #21 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
25 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies dunks against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
26 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
27 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Jayden Ross #23 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC
28 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
29 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Silas Demary Jr. #2 of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
30 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies reacts after shooting a three point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
31 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies shoots a three point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
32 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Braylon Mullins #24 of the UConn Huskies celebrates after shooting a three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
33 / 33
Braylon Mullins’ late game-winner lifts UConn past Duke
Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after shooting the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Will Luke Murray coach in Final Four?
Yes, Murray is still expected to coach in the Final Four with UConn despite already having started in Chestnut Hill at Boston College.
He confirmed his plans to finish the season out with the Huskies in his introductory news conference on Tuesday, March 31.
“It’s been chaotic (last few days) for sure. We won the Duke game, we got back to Connecticut about two in the morning…,” Murray said. “… Got up Monday morning and drove up here to Boston. Spent all day in the office meeting with a lot of these guys. Obviously, here with all of you today. Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning I’m going back to Connecticut and we’re flying to Indianapolis.
“Going to be in Indy all week and hopefully celebrating a national championship on Monday night.”
Luke Murray coaching career
Here’s a stop-by-stop look at Murray’s coaching career:
2007-08: Quinnipiac (Director of operations)
2008-09: Post (Assistant coach)
2009-10: Arizona (Graduate assistant)
2010-11: Wagner (Assistant coach)
2011-13: Towson (Assistant coach)
2013-15: Rhode Island (Assistant coach)
2015-18: Xavier (Assistant coach)
2018-21: Louisville (Assistant coach)
2021-2026: UConn (Assistant coach)
2026-present: Boston College
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Luke Murray coach in Final Four? Assistant staying with UConn for run
