Texas A&M reportedly set to hire Samford's Bucky McMillan as head coach

“Bucky Ball” is coming to the Southeastern Conference.

Texas A&M has reportedly found its Buzz Williams replacement for the position of men’s basketball head coach. That man would be Samford’s Bucky McMillan, who spent the last five seasons turning the Bulldogs into a regular candidate to make the NCAA Tournament. ESPN is reporting a five-year deal between McMillan and the Aggies.

Only 41 years old, McMillan posted a 99-52 (54-29 SoCon) during his five seasons at Samford, which included an appearance in the Big Dance during the 2023-24 season — the program’s first since 2000. He was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year for three straight years from 2022-24. Samford won at least 20 games in four consecutive seasons under McMillan (2021-25) for the first time in school history.

Texas A&M is set to hire Samford coach Bucky McMillan as the school’s next men’s basketball coach, sources tell me and @jeffborzello. The sides are finalizing a five-year deal, per sources. pic.twitter.com/ErYKxoj40X

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 4, 2025

McMillan employs a fast-paced and aggressive brand of basketball, which has been coined as “Bucky Ball”. During Samford’s NCAA Tournament run in 2023-24, the Bulldogs ranked among the top 10 nationally in adjusted tempo and average possession length. McMillan inherited a Samford squad that had won just 10 games the season prior (coached by former Wildcat Scott Padgett) and turned the program into a 21-win team by year two.

His rise to the college ranks was unexpected. McMillan was the head coach of Mountain Brook (AL) High School for 12 seasons (2008-20) where he won five state titles and 333 total games. By pressing teams relentlessly, shooting a ton of threes, and forcing opponents into endless turnovers, he found plenty of success that carried over right away at Samford.

Will that style translate to the SEC? We’ll find out next season.