The most recent domino of the school basketball offseason fell on Tuesday when Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams bolted for a similar job at Maryland. The information of Maryland poaching Williams away from the SEC got here lower than 72 hours after Villanova employed former Maryland coach Kevin Willard to succeed Kyle Neptune.
Williams spent the final six seasons in Faculty Station and guided the Texas A&M program to 3 consecutive berths within the NCAA Match. The Aggies gained at the very least 21 video games over the past 4 seasons. Texas A&M’s 2024-25 season ended with a loss to No. 5 seed Michigan within the second spherical of the NCAA Match final month.
With Williams heading to Faculty Park, Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts has a possibility to reset the basketball program (Alberts arrived in 2024 and didn’t rent Williams).
Ole Miss’ Chris Beard appeared to be a number one candidate, however he’s reportedly out of the working after reaching an settlement to stick with the Rebels.
‘He performed us like a drum’: Inside Kevin Willard’s turbulent Maryland departure
John Talty
If Texas A&M desires to remain in-state for its subsequent coach, one other identify price a telephone name is Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland. The Pink Raiders reached the Elite Eight this previous season beneath McCasland’s watch.
Listed here are a few of the prime teaching candidates Texas A&M may contemplate to switch Williams.
Underwood, who burst onto the scene along with his success at Stephen F. Austin, has been at Illinois since 2017 and this system has been to the NCAA Match for 5 consecutive seasons beneath his watch. Illinois was on monitor to succeed in the NCAA Match in 2020 for the primary time in Underwood’s tenure, however the Huge Dance was canceled because of COVID-19. Illinois reached the Elite Eight final spring for the primary time since 2005.
Underwood is 274-128 in his Division l teaching profession.
Oklahoma reached the NCAA Match for the primary time in Moser’s tenure this previous season earlier than getting bounced within the first spherical by two-time reigning nationwide champion UConn. Earlier than Moser arrived in Norman, Oklahoma, he helped Loyola Chicago attain the Closing 4 in 2008.
Notable: Moser was an assistant coach at Texas A&M from 1996-98.
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska
Hoiberg has been at Nebraska since 2019. The previous Iowa State and Chicago Bulls coach helped Nebraska attain the NCAA Match final spring for the primary time in a decade. The Cornhuskers gained 18 video games this previous season and missed out on the Huge Dance after shedding 5 consecutive video games to finish the common season.
Hoiberg has a 196-164 report as a university coach. He labored beneath Alberts when he was the AD at Nebraska. Would he be keen to go away the Midwest area, the place he is clearly very snug?
Jans has gained at the very least 20 video games throughout his first three seasons at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are coming off their third consecutive look within the NCAA Match. Earlier than he arrived at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs reached the NCAA Match in three straight seasons solely as soon as (2002-05).
Jans is an outside-the-box candidate who has familiarity with the SEC that Texas A&M might contemplate.
Grant McCasland, Texas Tech
McCaslad is the wild card out of this group. He is likely one of the fastest-rising coaches within the sport and simply helped Texas Tech attain the Elite Eight. The previous Arkansas State and North Texas coach was a longtime assistant at Baylor beneath Scott Drew and has turned the Pink Raiders into one of many elite applications within the Huge 12 in his quick tenure.
McCasland might say no to the job, however it’s price making the decision at minimal.
GigEm247 was on prime of all that was unfolding behind the scenes with Buzz Williams being a prime candidate for the Maryland job. Now Texas A&M is in search of its subsequent head coach. Keep up-to-date on the Aggies’ teaching search and join GigEm247 to get 50% off VIP Texas A&M scoop! From the checklist of teaching candidates Texas A&M is focusing on to roster motion within the switch portal, GigEm247 is your go-to supply for all issues Aggies!