Hoops radio broadcaster exits were misdelivered, not coach decision

Boston College on Wednesday clarified that its decision to not renew men’s basketball radio broadcasters Kevin Collins and Josh Maurer was “not due to an alleged desire of new coach Luke Murray to make sweeping changes,” but admitted it was a “misguided decision on how the news was delivered” and a “major misread on how it would be received,” according to Chad Finn of the BOSTON GLOBE. Boston College AD Blake James approved a recommendation from Deputy AD Craig Anderson that the “Eagles make changes in the booth.” The decisions “blindsided” Collins and Maurer. The story of Murray having an input “gained major traction” after Collins spoke to Awful Announcing on Monday, saying that he had “been told that Murray wanted to clear out anyone in the men’s basketball program who had been associated with the program during previous coach Earl Grant’s tenure.” Finn notes Collins and Maurer had “received vague, occasional assurances that their jobs” — which included contracts renewed on a year-to-year basis — “were safe.” But on July 30, they were informed by Mike Winn, GM of BC’s multimedia parter Van Wagner, that a “change was being made.” Finn also notes Anderson told Murray that Collins had been “critical” of Grant during his coaching tenure, “including on social media.” Murray considered Collins’ “opinionated style on social media a bit concerning, but never suggested a change” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/6).