Why yes, that is Bill Murray on the sidelines of Oklahoma-UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
Why is he at the March Madness game?
Well, the actor from the ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise actually has quite the connection to the defending back-to-back national champion Huskies. He’s also a big sports fan and was recently seen at the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tokyo Series games.
Here’s why Murray is at the game, and why the 74-year-old ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum is a UConn fan:
Why is Bill Murray at UConn game?
Murray has been one of the most prominent celebrity fans of the UConn men’s basketball program, and the explanation is simple: His son, Luke Murray, is one of three assistant coaches on Dan Hurley’s staff.
Luke Murray joined UConn in 2021 and has been to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and is a two-time national champion with the Huskies. Bill Murray has been a constant in the stands at UConn games over the years, and was prominently shown during the Huskies’ national championship runs in 2023 and 2024.
Luke Murray began his coaching career as the director of basketball operations at Quinnipiac in 2007-08 under current UConn assistant Tom Moore. He has also coached at Post University, Arizona, Wagner, Towson, Xavier, Rhode Island and Louisville.
Bill Murray college
Bill Murray attended Regis University in Denver, a private Jesuit school.
Where is Bill Murray from?
Bill Murray isn’t from Connecticut, nor did he go attend the University of Connecticut. He was born in Evanston, Illinois, and attended an all-boys Jesuit high school in Wilmette, Illinois.
He grew up a fan of the Fighting Illini.