Texas A&M officially announced a new head men’s coach on Saturday, confirming earlier reports. He takes over the program following five successful seasons at Samford, where he made a name for himself as a dynamic and forward-thinking coach. He replaces Buzz Williams, who recently accepted the head coaching job at Maryland.
In a statement, he expressed his excitement and readiness to embrace the challenge in College Station. “Growing up around the SEC, I understand what it means to compete at the highest level,” he said. “Texas A&M’s vision is clear — they want to win big. I’m here to make sure we do that, every single season. As I always say when asked about our playing style — we play to win, we just aim to do it faster!”
Before joining the college ranks, McMillan was known for his impressive run as head coach at Mountain Brook High School in Alabama, where he began at just 25 years old in 2008. In over a decade at Mountain Brook, he led the team to five state championships, laying the groundwork for his eventual jump to Samford in 2020.
At Samford, McMillan quickly turned the program around, compiling a 99–52 record. He guided the Bulldogs to two Southern Conference regular-season titles, one SoCon tournament championship, and, most notably, a school-record 29 wins in 2024 — earning Samford its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a quarter-century.
Samford University president Dr. Beck A. Taylor praised McMillan’s impact, saying, “Coach McMillan helped restore a culture of excellence in Samford basketball. Beyond the wins and exciting play, I’ll always appreciate how he embodied our values and faith-based mission. While we’re sad to lose him, we wish him success at the next level.”
Texas A&M has been on an upswing, reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons after making just two appearances in the 11 years prior. Now, McMillan, at 41, is expected to keep that momentum going.
“Bucky is a modern coach with innovative ideas and an analytics-first mindset,” said Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts. “He’s got the energy, intelligence, and leadership to take our program to new heights. We’re excited to turn the page and begin this new era under his guidance.”
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