Louisville basketball picks up big win for 2019-2020

Louisville basketball assistant coach Luke Murray’s name has come up for several coaching jobs this summer. Him turning them down is a huge recruiting win for the future of the Cards.

For most Louisville basketball fans, they know assistant coach Luke Murray as the coach whose dad is uber famous actor, Bill Murray. But what most fans likely don’t know (maybe you do) is that landing the “Super Six” aka Louisville basketball’s top 10 recruiting class for 2019, wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Luke Murray.

Murray spent the past three years with Chris Mack at Xavier, helping him lead the Musketeers to a 81-26 record during that time, before deciding to follow over his boss to be apart of the new Louisville basketball staff. Prior to his time at Xavier, Murray had stops at Rhode Island, Towson, Wagner, as well as at Arizona under Sean Miller as a graduate assistant.

After Louisville’s season ended in disappointing fashion to Minnesota in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, multiple head coaching positions came open – several of which tied Luke Murray to the role.

Marist, Fairfield, Mercer, and Buffalo were a few of the programs who either interviewed Luke Murray or attempted to get into contact with the Cards assistant coach, to no avail.

In his post-season press conference Mack alluded to the fact that he thought Luke Murray, along with fellow assistant coach Mike Pegues, would both be back for the 2019-2020 season although he made nothing official or made any promises he couldn’t keep.

It all looked like it was set in stone that Murray would return, until Northern Kentucky head coach John Brennan was announced to be leaving the Norse to take over at Cincinnati. Within hours Luke Murray was once again being linked to an opening, this time it felt legitimate.

Thankfully, Danielle Lerner from the Courier Journal, got the official scoop; Luke Murray said thanks but no thanks, ultimately ended all notions that he could be looking to take a head coaching spot elsewhere, keeping him on the Louisville bench for another season.

The Cards will be getting back their lead recruiter this season, one who played a huge role in the recruitment of nearly every single member of the Super Six, specifically with Samuell Williamson and Aidan Igiehon.

While it may just be for one more year, the Cards will be getting back one of the top young assistant coaches in the program, which will only help with continuity for a roster that will be bringing in at least seven new players next season.

There’s no one who speaks more of Murray than his boss Chris Mack, who has been on record as saying:

"“Luke Murray is a superstar,. No detail goes unnoticed with Luke. Whether it’s working with our perimeter players, scouting, or recruiting, Luke excels. He’s one of the most organized, detailed and high-energy recruiters that I’ve ever been around. He carries the role of recruiting coordinator on the staff and allows us to leave no stone unturned when searching for the next University of Louisville great."

While there will be plenty more jobs open in the future, many of which that will be led by AD’s smart enough to put Luke Murray at the top of their list.

But for 2019-20, we can all breathe easy knowing, Murray (Luke, maybe Bill) will be back for one more ride.