In a twist that blends humor, loyalty, and family pride, Bill Murray has revealed that his allegiance in college basketball has shifted—at least for now. Though the legendary actor was born and raised in Evanston and grew up cheering for the Illinois Fighting Illini, he is now firmly backing the UConn Huskies during their current NCAA Tournament run.
The reason? Family comes first.
Murray’s son, Luke Murray, has been serving as an assistant coach under Dan Hurley for the past five seasons. During that time, the Huskies have emerged as one of the most dominant programs in college basketball, reaching their third Final Four under Hurley’s leadership.
Speaking candidly, Murray admitted that his shift in loyalty is less about abandoning his roots and more about embracing his son’s success. In typical Murray fashion, he joked that supporting UConn also comes with a practical perk—better access to tickets during the high-demand NCAA Tournament games. Still, beneath the humor lies genuine pride, as he watches his son thrive on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
This weekend’s Final Four matchup adds even more excitement, as UConn looks to continue its impressive postseason run. For Murray, the moment represents a unique intersection of personal history and present-day family achievement. While his childhood loyalty to Illinois remains part of his identity, the current chapter is clearly written in Huskies blue.
Meanwhile, on the coaching carousel, the North Carolina Tar Heels are encountering new challenges in their ongoing search for a head coach. With the program aiming to secure a top-tier candidate, recent developments suggest that one promising option may no longer be attainable.
A name that had been gaining traction is Ben McCollum, currently the head coach at the Iowa Hawkeyes. McCollum has quickly built a reputation as one of the brightest coaching minds in the sport, thanks to his remarkable track record across multiple programs.
In his first season at Iowa, McCollum led the Hawkeyes to a 24–13 record and a stunning run to the Elite Eight—the program’s deepest NCAA Tournament appearance since 1987. Along the way, Iowa pulled off a dramatic upset over the defending national champions, showcasing resilience and tactical brilliance that caught the attention of major programs like UNC.
However, any hopes of luring McCollum away appear to be fading fast.
According to respected analyst Jon Rothstein, Iowa is already working to secure its rising star for the long term. The university’s athletic department reportedly plans to offer McCollum a contract extension, signaling a strong commitment to maintaining continuity and building on recent success.
More importantly, McCollum himself has publicly expressed a desire to remain at Iowa for the foreseeable future. His connection to the program runs deep—he is not only coaching in his home state but also in his hometown of Iowa City. That level of personal attachment makes it significantly harder for outside programs to pry him away.
There are also practical considerations at play. McCollum’s career trajectory has involved multiple moves in a short period. Before arriving at Iowa, he spent one season at Drake Bulldogs, where he posted an outstanding 32–4 record and captured both the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles. Prior to that, he built a powerhouse at Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, where he served as head coach for 16 seasons.
During his tenure at Northwest Missouri State, McCollum compiled an extraordinary 395–91 record, won four national championships, and established one of the most dominant programs in Division II history. His 2018–19 team even completed a perfect 38–0 season—an achievement that remains one of the most impressive in college basketball at any level.
Across all his coaching stops, McCollum has demonstrated consistent excellence in the NCAA Tournament. With a combined 36–9 postseason record and an .818 winning percentage, he has won at least one tournament game in 13 of the last 14 seasons. That level of sustained success is precisely why programs like UNC have shown interest.
Yet, the combination of Iowa’s proactive approach, McCollum’s personal ties, and the desire for stability after several recent moves makes a departure unlikely. For North Carolina, this represents another hurdle in what has become an increasingly რთ challenging search for the right leader to guide the program forward.
As the coaching carousel continues to spin, UNC may need to look beyond its initial shortlist and explore alternative candidates. Meanwhile, McCollum appears poised to continue building something special at Iowa—right where he feels most at home.
From Bill Murray’s courtside loyalties to the shifting dynamics of college basketball’s coaching landscape, the sport continues to deliver compelling storylines both on and off the court.
