Maryland has moved quickly to fill its men’s basketball coaching vacancy following days of turmoil, hiring Texas A&M’s Buzz Williams as the next coach of the Terrapins.
“It is an honor and privilege to be named the head coach of the University of Maryland men’s basketball team,” Williams said. “I want to thank President [Darryll J.] Pines and [Interim Athletic Director] 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.”
The 52-year-old Williams, who is from Greenville, Texas, recorded a 120-73 record along with three NCAA Tournament appearances at A&M in six seasons. Williams previously led the programs at New Orleans, Marquette and Virginia Tech and has accumulated a 373-228 overall record, including three Sweet 16 appearances, a Big East co-championship and run to the Elite Eight at Marquette in 2012-13 — his deepest NCAA Tournament run. Williams is one of 12 active Division I coaches to win at least one NCAA Tournament game at three different schools.
“We are thrilled to bring a coach of the caliber of Buzz Williams to the University of Maryland,” Sorem said. “His incredible record of success at three prominent basketball programs speaks for itself, but we were equally impressed with his tireless work ethic and his dedication to building a program the right way. He embraces the high expectations here at Maryland, and we are all excited to get started on this new era in Maryland basketball.”
Williams inherits a myriad of difficulties in College Park. While leading the Terrapins to the Sweet 16, former coach Kevin Willard went scorched earth on the university and athletic department in public comments over the last two weeks before taking the open job at Villanova on Sunday.
Who Williams’ immediate boss will be is also in doubt after Willard indirectly helped to push out Maryland athletic director Damon Evans, who took the same position at Southern Methodist on March 21. Williams also inherits a bare cupboard of a roster due to graduation and the announcements by five Terrapins, including “Crab Five” starters Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice, that they will enter the transfer portal. Also still to make a decision about his future is Big Ten Freshman of the Year Derik Queen, who is widely expected to declare for the NBA Draft.
“Maryland Athletics is an important part of the University of Maryland community,” Pines said. “Finding the right person to lead Maryland Men’s Basketball was critical to the continued success of our program, both on and off the court.”
Williams is the second coach that Maryland has hired from Texas A&M. Mark Turgeon, who was hired directly from the Aggies after four seasons at Texas A&M, coached at Maryland from 2011-2021 before Willard.
Texas A&M finished this season with a 23-11 record and as high as a No. 7 ranking in the AP Top 25 before falling as a four-seed in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to a familiar Maryland opponent, Michigan.
“We would like to thank Buzz for his years of service heading up our men’s basketball program,” Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts said. “We are excited about the future of Aggie basketball, and we will find the right leader for our program.”
Williams will be officially introduced to the Maryland community at Xfinity Center on Wednesday at noon.
• George Gerbo can be reached at ggerbo@washingtontimes.com.
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