Texas A&M Welcomes Bucky McMillan: A Bold New Era for Aggie Basketball

In a significant move for its basketball program, Texas A&M University has announced the hiring of Bucky McMillan, previously the head coach at Samford University, to replace Buzz Williams who recently departed for the University of Maryland. McMillan is set to sign a five-year contract and is excited to bring a fresh, dynamic approach to the court, emphasizing an up-tempo offense style he has coined “Buckyball.”

Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts expressed enthusiasm about the new coaching direction, stating, “We're incredibly excited about Bucky coming to Aggieland to lead our men's basketball program. His innovative coaching style and analytics-driven approach to the game will undoubtedly enhance our program.” Under McMillan’s leadership, the Aggies are expected to embrace a fast-paced and aggressive style of play, which aims to maximize scoring opportunities.

At 41, McMillan boasts an impressive track record from his three seasons at Samford, where he achieved a record of 99-52. Last season, the Samford Bulldogs made it to the NCAA Tournament, showcasing McMillan's impact, although they fell to Kansas in the first round. This season, Samford finished with a record of 22-11 and competed in the NIT.

“I couldn't be more excited to wake up as the head basketball coach at Texas A&M. As someone who grew up around the SEC, I am inspired by the vision of A&M's leadership to compete at the highest levels of college basketball,” said McMillan. He aims to elevate the Aggies’ performance to a championship level consistently.

One of the key aspects of McMillan's philosophy is his high-octane “Buckyball” offensive system, characterized by quick transitions and relentless pace. Samford’s recent performance statistics, which ranked them 15th in average possession length according to KenPom.com, are a testament to this style.

Texas A&M, which has had a successful run in recent years with at least 21 wins in the last four seasons, is coming off a disappointing end to the 2024-25 season, where they lost to Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. McMillan inherits a program that has a solid foundation, poised for growth under his innovative guidance.

Before his time at Samford, McMillan racked up experience coaching at Mountain Brook High School in Alabama for 14 years. His transition to Division I basketball has proven effective, transforming a struggling Samford program to one that competes at a high level.

Amidst the coaching carousel in college basketball, McMillan’s hiring signifies a strategic shift for Texas A&M. While Chris Beard, the Ole Miss coach, chose to remain with his school after significant incentives, the Aggies explored many candidates before landing on McMillan.

As the Aggies prepare for the future, fans and players alike are eager to see how Bucky McMillan will reshape the Texas A&M basketball landscape and propel them towards a championship-winning program. The excitement is palpable, and the Aggies' journey under McMillan begins now!