UConn fills Luke Murray vacancy with assistant Mike Pegues hire

UConn men’s basketball has added Mike Pegues to Dan Hurley’s coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, according to the program’s official announcement on Monday, June 8, 2026. The hire comes after Luke Murray left UConn for the Boston College head coaching job, creating a major vacancy on a staff that has been central to the Huskies’ recent recruiting and on-court success.

Pegues will join UConn after four seasons at Butler, where he worked under head coach Thad Matta from 2022-26. UConn’s release describes him as a veteran recruiter and emphasizes his background in developing big men, a theme that has defined his stops across high-major programs. Hurley said he is “excited to add a coach of Mike’s caliber” and pointed to Pegues’ track record as “a tireless recruiter,” as well as the ability to help develop UConn’s frontcourt players.

The new assistant’s coaching path has made him a familiar figure across college basketball’s upper tier, with experience at multiple programs that emphasize talent development and recruitment. Before Butler, UConn said Pegues spent four years in the ACC on Louisville’s staff, and earlier coached under Chris Mack at Xavier, another Big East program. That combination means UConn is adding someone who has worked in both conference environments, while also bringing a direct connection to the recruiting and development demands that come with competing in the Big East.

Pegues’ résumé also includes a brief stretch as a head coach at Louisville, where UConn noted he coached 18 games as interim head coach during Mack’s suspension in 2021-22 and went 5-1 in an early-season stretch. UConn’s release also highlights his work at Xavier and Louisville in terms of team results and recruiting, including “a pair of top-20 recruiting classes” at Louisville and national tournament appearances during his time with other staffs.

Murray’s departure is the obvious backdrop. Boston College announced on March 26, 2026 that it hired Murray as its new head coach. In Boston College’s account, Murray brought a decade of coaching experience at the highest levels, including a key role on UConn’s staff during the Huskies’ run that included multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and two national championships. That context helps explain why UConn’s search for a replacement focused on someone with both high-major experience and a proven ability to develop players.

The Pegues hire also indicates that UConn’s front office expects continuity in how the program builds toward the postseason. Along with Pegues, UConn announced the addition of Justin McClelland as the director of men’s basketball strength and conditioning, rounding out what the program frames as a staff upgrade for the 2026-27 season. The next test for Pegues will be integration: where he plugs into the daily structure of recruiting, player development, and on-court preparation as UConn begins to retool its staff with a new Big East-facing assistant.