SAN ANTONIO -- In a significant development for Texas A&M athletics, Bucky McMillan, the former head coach at Samford University, has officially been appointed as the new men's basketball coach, the university announced on Saturday. This exciting news marks a new chapter for the Aggies basketball program as they look to elevate their competitive profile in college basketball.

According to sources close to the matter, McMillan has inked a lucrative five-year contract with the Aggies, a deal that reflects the school's commitment to building a robust basketball program in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC). In his statement, McMillan expressed his enthusiasm for taking on this new role: “I couldn’t be more excited to wake up to the reality of being the head basketball coach at Texas A&M. As a guy that grew up around the SEC, I am motivated by the vision of Texas A&M’s leadership to compete at the highest levels of college basketball. As I’ve done my entire career, I won’t rest until we get the Aggies playing at a championship level year-in and year-out.”

During his tenure at Samford, McMillan demonstrated remarkable coaching prowess, leading the Bulldogs to two Southern Conference championships and securing a place in the NCAA tournament in 2024. Over five seasons, he amassed an impressive overall record of 99 wins and 52 losses, which included four consecutive seasons with 20 or more victories. His success at Samford was not only a testament to his talent as a coach but also to his innovative approach to the game, which he affectionately termed “Bucky Ball.”

McMillan's playing style emphasizes a high-tempo offense and aggressive defensive strategies, which contributed to his rapid success at Samford and earned him the title of Southern Conference Coach of the Year three times. Reflecting on his coaching philosophy, McMillan stated, “People ask what kind of style do you play? And I oftentimes say, 'it's real simple, we play the kind of style that WINS, we just want to do it FASTER.'”

Aggies athletic director Trev Alberts expressed strong support for McMillan’s appointment, stating, “We’re incredibly excited about Bucky coming to Aggieland to lead our men’s basketball program. He’s an innovator as a coach, and he has a smart and analytics-driven approach to the game. Bucky brings a unique combination of qualities to our program and we’re thrilled to begin the next chapter of our basketball history under his leadership.”

This coaching change comes after Buzz Williams, the previous head coach, departed for the University of Maryland following a successful stint that included three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, capped by a commendable No. 4 seed in this year’s tournament.

McMillan’s coaching resume is not only impressive on the collegiate level; he has a storied history in high school basketball as well. At Mountain Brook High School in Alabama, he achieved an extraordinary five state championships and built a formidable program, winning 333 games over a 12-year span while averaging nearly 28 wins per season. His remarkable ability to transform the local high school team into a nationally recognized powerhouse speaks volumes about his coaching capabilities.

A hallmark of McMillan's coaching style is his emphasis on pressing defense and disrupting opposing teams. This approach proved successful at Samford, where the Bulldogs ranked among the top 20 nationally in forcing turnovers over the past two seasons, creating numerous scoring opportunities.

As McMillan steps into his new role, he faces the challenge of energizing a Texas A&M fanbase that has traditionally been more attuned to football than basketball. However, with nearly $7 million available in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds and revenue sharing for the upcoming season, the Aggies have a robust financial platform to enhance their competitiveness in the SEC.

This is undoubtedly an exhilarating time for Texas A&M basketball, as they look to leverage McMillan’s dynamic coaching style and innovative strategies to ascend the ranks in college basketball. The Aggies are now poised for a promising future under McMillan's guidance, aiming for consistent championship-level performance.