well...they certainly won't have sellers remorse with kyle neptune
MBB Coaching Carousel, 2025-26 Edition
- Thread starter MChambers
- Start date
Lurkingdukedog
Member
Nope. Jay Wright was a very good coach but apparently didn’t conduct his transition exit strategy with as much consideration and foresight as the GOAT.
Twerps hire Buzz Williams away from A&M.
Not sure I totally get this for Buzz unless Maryland unloaded the Brinks truck on him. Buzz is from Texas (a major reason given for his decision to leave VaTech if I recall), and the two schools' natural recruiting areas are pretty comparable in terms of available talent. Between the SEC factor and Texas rich guy factor, one assumes that Texas A&M's athletic department has resources at least comparable to Maryland's. Maybe Buzz was tired of being at a school where basketball is second fiddle. Maybe he hates collies.
Not sure I totally get this for Buzz unless Maryland unloaded the Brinks truck on him. Buzz is from Texas (a major reason given for his decision to leave VaTech if I recall), and the two schools' natural recruiting areas are pretty comparable in terms of available talent. Between the SEC factor and Texas rich guy factor, one assumes that Texas A&M's athletic department has resources at least comparable to Maryland's. Maybe Buzz was tired of being at a school where basketball is second fiddle. Maybe he hates collies.
MChambers
Member
Matt Norlander (@norlander.bsky.social)
FWIW, there will be a movement on behalf of A&M boosters to get the school to hire Ole Miss' Chris Beard in an effort to get him back into Texas — and to go head-to-head with Beard's former school in Austin.
bsky.app
CrazyNotCrazie
Member
To your point, I thought one of the reasons for Willard leaving was that Maryland was not investing in its program. Either they found religion and decided to spend for Buzz, or he just decided he wanted a change of scenery.
The CBS article says that MD offered Willard a salary that would have made him a top-10 highest paid coach. It also quotes a booster who helped pay for a new $52 million basketball practice facility. There must be some money up there.
SavDukeGrad
Member
Buzz to Maryland sounds like a match made in heaven! He was the sweatiest coach while he was at Va. Tech that I’ve seen since Gary Williams. Although his 3 piece suits hide it pretty well these days.
LTLurker77
Member
There is an article on Yahoo Sports (sorry, no link) which talks about the very real possibility that non football schools will have a huge advantage when revenue sharing kicks in. No negotiating with football programs to divvy up the revenue; it can all be used for basketball. So a school like Villanova might have up to $6 million a year to spend on its program. Schools with big football programs will have far less. Perhaps this went into Willard’s equation. And Basketball is King at Nova. At Maryland, not so much.
MChambers
Member
The Sickos CBB Committee (@sickoscbb.bsky.social)
Really need Buzz Williams to turn the Maryland flag into a vest.
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MChambers
Member
Patrick Stevens (@d1scourse.bsky.social)
I've watched a lot of introductory pressers, most in person but some (like today) on TV. They're largely pretty similar, so trying to find something that stands out can be hard. But I'm *pretty* sure Buzz Williams' was the first I've seen where the hire doesn't actually mention the school's name.
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DonerKebab
Member
He probably forgot which school he was at given how he changes jobs
Patrick Stevens (@d1scourse.bsky.social)
I've watched a lot of introductory pressers, most in person but some (like today) on TV. They're largely pretty similar, so trying to find something that stands out can be hard. But I'm *pretty* sure Buzz Williams' was the first I've seen where the hire doesn't actually mention the school's name.
Lot of buzz about Chris Beard and A&M. He turned down Arkansas a year ago before they hired Calipari (Arkansas's AD said Cal was the only coach they offered, but I suspect that's one of those lawyer's lies that technically true, Beard was clearly the Hogs' #1 target) and used the interest to get a raise from Ole Miss. But A&M has shown a willingness to spend bananas money on coaches so maybe they've made him an offer he can't refuse.
brevity
Member
DukieInKansas
Well-known member
Doesn't it just fly at night?
DallasDevil
Member
This Villanova/Maryland/Texas A&M/Ole Miss coaching saga is starting to remind me of last year's SMU/USC/Arkansas/Kentucky/BYU chain of events where it felt like each of those programs managed to get an upgrade, or at least a better fit, at the head coaching position.
Very late at night, early morningDoesn't it just fly at night?
Bay Area Duke Fan
Member
Is that Mike Elko in the background?
Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15
Member
Mike Elko isn't "in" the background. He IS the background.
I believe, because of weight limitations for that size jet, that MM is no longer allowed to fly on that plane. Texas A and M has purchased a used 747 cargo plane for Mike.