Buzz Williams, who has led Texas A&M to three NCAA tournament appearances, is leaving the Aggies to become the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins. Williams, who arrived at Texas A&M in 2019, has posted winning seasons in all five years of his tenure and has a 120-73 record with the team.
The move comes after Kevin Willard left Maryland to coach Villanova. Maryland was a No. 4 seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament and reached the Sweet 16, while Texas A&M lost in the second round. Williams’ departure includes a reduced buyout of $1 million and Maryland will receive $2 million from Villanova for Willard’s departure.
Williams’ decision to leave Texas A&M for Maryland follows previous complaints from Willard about the lack of financial support for the basketball program. The hire of Williams, who has no previous ties to Maryland, comes after calls from former player Len Elmore for the school to hire someone with direct ties to the program. Elmore criticized the trend of hiring outsiders as head coaches, citing a history of inconsistency since the retirement of Gary Williams.
Maryland has seen turnover in coaching staff since the retirement of Gary Williams in 2011, with Mark Turgeon stepping down in 2021 and Danny Manning serving as an interim coach before Willard’s hiring. The 2024-25 season marked the team’s seventh NCAA tournament appearance and second Sweet 16 run since Gary Williams’ departure. The school is expected to provide increased resources to support Williams in his new role.
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