When Bucky McMillan was announced as the new head coach at an SEC program, the college basketball community responded with surprise and intrigue.
While his name may not carry the traditional cachet of longtime high-major veterans, McMillan’s rapid ascent, from high school coaching to a successful stint at Samford, reflects the evolving dynamics of today’s hiring landscape.
Why CBS Sports Says Bucky McMillan’s SEC Jump Is “Unexpected, But Justified”
In an era where conventional coaching ladders are being disrupted, McMillan represents the bold, outside-the-box hire that programs are increasingly leaning toward.
“It ranks among the four or five more surprising ones,” said CBS’s Matt Norlander. “But if he can convince players to run that up-tempo, 78–79 possession-per-game style, I think it will be fascinating.”
McMillan’s name wasn’t atop many big boards, but insiders knew he was lurking. “I put it at a 4.8,” CBS analyst Chip Patterson said when grading the surprise factor. “There was some buzz that Bucky could get an SEC gig around 2026–27. So, we’re just ahead of the pace.”
His success at Samford, where he brought an aggressive, pressing style, made him a cult favorite among basketball purists. The question now is whether that chaos translates to a conference where elite athletes and seasoned coaches reign.
Analysts like Gary Parrish are intrigued. “Who are they gonna hire?” he asked. “We’re at a point where it’s harder than ever to find a sure-thing candidate.” McMillan might lack big-name pedigree, but he checks the box for innovation.
Norlander added, “GP and I are rooting for it because we want to see someone go full-out press in the SEC. If he can get buy-in from his guys, it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Coaching Carousel Chaos: Why McMillan’s Bold Style Could Be What the SEC Needs
College basketball is undergoing a stylistic shift, and McMillan’s hire may be a byproduct of that. With a record 275,867 three-pointers attempted last season in Division I, there’s a growing hunger for pace, space, and flair, something McMillan’s system delivers.
“Different styles make different fights,” Norlander said on the Eye on College Basketball podcast. “The college game hasn’t gone full NBA yet, and that’s a good thing.” McMillan’s method is a fresh injection into a league often dominated by half-court execution and size.
But the road won’t be easy. “It’s a big jump,” Parrish said. “You go from high school to mid-major and now to the SEC in a short span. That’s rare. But coaching hires aren’t as easy as they used to be.”
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Ultimately, McMillan’s hire speaks to a broader trend in college sports: risk-taking. With traditional pipelines yielding mixed results, programs are gambling on vision over resume. “If it hits,” Norlander said, “it changes the conversation about how you get a high-major job.”
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