Franklin Pierce has announced their men’s basketball staff for the 2026-27 season under recently hired Head Coach Art Luptowski. Chris Fischer will return for his second season in Rindge as an assistant, and will be joined by new hires Leo Gershgorin and Willie “Trey” Murray.

Chris Fischer

Fischer brings a wealth of experience from a number of different programs and levels, including D1, D2, D3, Prep and HS ranks.

“Thankful to Coach Art and the administration for the opportunity to keep building on the strides we made last year and to continue to build this program back to where the university and its supporters deserve it to be.”

Fischer spent time at Bryant University as the Director of Basketball Innovation and Advancement, where he had a hand in all aspects of the program including player development, scouting, and logistics. While at Bryant, the Bulldogs reached 20 wins, including a win over #10 Florida Atlantic University, the first win over a Top 10 team in Program History.

Prior to that, Fischer spent two years at Albertus Magnus, a perennial D3 powerhouse. While at Albertus, Fischer helped the Falcons reach two GNAC Conference Championships, winning one of those and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. He also helped with the development of All-League players Terry Dawkins, Justice Washington, Tyreek Perkins, and Davon Warner.

Fischer has also made stops at the prep and HS levels, coaching at Scotland Campus and Trinity High School(NH).

Leo Gershgorin

Gershgorin joins the Franklin Pierce University men’s basketball coaching staff after spending the previous season as the lead assistant coach at Colby-Sawyer College. During his time at Colby-Sawyer, Gershgorin gained valuable experience in recruiting, scouting, player development, game preparation, and the day-to-day operations of a collegiate basketball program.

Before joining Colby-Sawyer, the Brookline, Massachusetts native spent 10 years coaching AAU and high school boys’ basketball, developing a strong background in player development and building meaningful relationships with student-athletes. His extensive coaching experience has provided him with a well-rounded understanding of the game and a passion for helping young men reach their full potential both on and off the court.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Franklin Pierce University community and basketball family! This is a tremendous opportunity, and I’m extremely grateful to Coach Art Luptowski for believing in me and welcoming me to his staff. Franklin Pierce has a great basketball tradition, and I’m excited to be part of a program that competes at a high level in the Northeast-10 Conference. I look forward to learning from Coach Luptowski, building relationships with our student-athletes, and doing everything I can to help our program succeed.”

Willie “Trey” Murray

Murray joins the Franklin Pierce men’s basketball coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant for the 2026–27 season after spending the previous season as an Assistant Coach at the University of Maine at Augusta.

A Roxbury, MA native, Murray is a dedicated basketball coach whose passion for the game is rooted in both his playing and coaching background. 

Murray was recruited to the University of Maine at Farmington by Head Coach Dick Meader; however, an injury led him to transition into coaching. While at UMF, he served as a Student Assistant Coach under Coach Sam Leal and Coach Quinn Newton. In this role, he contributed to day-to-day program operations, assisted with practice planning and execution, and helped coordinate game-day logistics. He also worked closely with student-athletes to support their individual development outside of scheduled practice time. 

Following his time at UMF, Murray continued his coaching career at the University of Maine at Augusta, where he helped guide the program to a 21–14 overall record and a No. 7 national ranking in the USCAA. The team advanced to the national quarterfinals and earned national Coaching Staff of the Year honors during his tenure. At UMA, he gained valuable experience in player development, scouting report preparation, recruiting, and the management of daily basketball operations. 

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Murray has been actively involved in player training and development, working with professional athletes as well as competitors at the Division I, II, and III levels. His well-rounded background continues to shape his approach to coaching, with an emphasis on skill development, discipline, and helping student-athletes reach their full potential both on and off the court.