Texas A&M is poised to hire Samford’s Bucky McMillan as its next head basketball coach, as confirmed by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. McMillan is likely to sign a five-year contract with the institution, succeeding Buzz Williams, who recently accepted a position at Maryland.

After five seasons with the Bulldogs, McMillan, aged 41, compiled a record of 99-52, leading Samford to the NCAA Tournament last season before a loss to Kansas in the first round. This year, the Bulldogs finished with a 22-11 record but exited in the opening round of the NIT.

McMillan is known for his innovative offensive system—dubbed “Buckyball”—characterized by a relentless and fast-paced playing style. Under his leadership, Samford ranked 15th in average possession length according to KenPom.com this season.

Texas A&M enters this new chapter with a solid foundation, having secured at least 21 victories over the past four seasons. Their latest season concluded with a defeat against No. 5 seed Michigan in the NCAA Tournament’s second round last month.

Reflecting on McMillan’s journey, he transformed Samford from a struggling program to a competitive team, turning things around after arriving from Mountain Brook High School in Alabama, where he coached from 2006 to 2020.

The announcement of his hiring follows Ole Miss coach Chris Beard’s decision to stay at the university after a significant raise and a top-tier NIL budget. Beard was also considered a top candidate to replace Williams at Texas A&M.

Several candidates were assessed before Texas A&M decided on McMillan, indicating their thorough search for a fit.

In summary, McMillan emerges as the latest in a series of coaching transitions as college basketball evolves, especially after significant changes at other programs, including former Villanova coach Kyle Neptune’s dismissal and Kevin Willard’s departure from Maryland.