COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams will leave his post for the open job at Maryland, the A&M athletic department confirmed Tuesday in a statement from Athletic Director Trev Alberts.
“We would like to thank Buzz for his years of service heading up our men’s basketball program,” he said in the statement. “We wish he and Corey and their family all the best moving forward. We are excited about the future of Aggie basketball, and we will find the right leader for our program.”
Williams replaces Maryland’s Kevin Willard, who took the Terrapins to the Sweet 16. The Terps lost to No. 1 seed Florida, 87-71 last Thursday.
According to Williams’ contract, Maryland will owe A&M $1 million as a buyout. The total dropped $1 million after March 31.
“It is an honor and privilege to be named the head coach of the University of Maryland men’s basketball team,” Williams said in a statement. “I want to thank President Pines and Colleen Sorem for this opportunity to lead one of the most prestigious programs in the country. In leading this program, I promise to uphold the history of Maryland basketball and make Terp Nation proud with the men who represent this institution.”
In six seasons in Aggieland, Williams compiled a 120-73 record including three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. The past two seasons, the Aggies saw their season come to an end in the second round of March Madness. The Aggies have posted 20-plus win seasons over the last four years, including a 23-11 mark this season. The Aggies were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 every week of the season.
The two-time AP SEC Coach of the year posted 52 wins between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, which set a program record for consecutive season victories.
A&M said goodbye to eight seniors after this season: A high-mark in the current transfer portal era. That included four years of guard Wade Taylor IV who broke the school’s career points record under Williams’ tutelage.
Williams’ three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament marks the second longest streak in A&M history.
The Aggies will need to replace five of their top six scorers, with center Pharrel Payne (10.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and forward Solomon Washington (4.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) serving as the two key returners.
With Williams’ departure, the Aggies have turned over a head coach in each of their top three men’s revenue sports over the last two years. Football head coach Jimbo Fisher was fired late in the 2023 football season, making way for current head coach Mike Elko. After last baseball season, head coach Jim Schlossnagle left for the same post at Texas.
Williams tied his longest tenure at a school, having served at the helm of Marquette for six seasons between 2008-14. He coached five seasons at Virginia Tech before arriving at A&M.
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