Texas A&M is hunting for a new coach after Buzz Williams left for Maryland. With their strong history and tradition, the Aggies will be an attractive destination for any coach. Texas A&M Athletic Director Rosa Bjork will be looking to bring in a coach who can restore the team to its former glory after multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
Maryland acted fast by hiring Williams on Tuesday after losing Kevin Willard to Villanova on Sunday. Texas A&M will also need to act fast to keep its streak of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances alive. Below are the top five candidates likely to replace Williams.
Top 5 Coaching Candidates Texas A&M
Chris Beard
Chris Beard has a proven track record of success, and the Texas native will be one of the first on Texas A&M’s list. Beard guided Ole Miss to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001 after they defeated No. 3 seed Iowa State. He also led Texas Tech to the finals of the NCAA in 2018.
Grant McCasland
Grant McCasland is one of the hottest coaching prospects around at the moment. The 48-year-old has led Texas Tech to the Elite Eight this season, and his stock has never been higher. McCasland coached Arkansas State and North Texas and was an assistant at Baylor under Scott Drew.
Brad Underwood
Brad Underwood has been at Illinois since 2017, leading the team to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. He also has a strong track record of developing talents. Underwood burst onto the coaching scene with Stephen F. Austin and had success at Oklahoma State.
Bucky McMillan
Like Grant McCasland, Bucky McMillan is also a highly-rated coach. Since he got his first Division I head coaching job in 2020, The 48-year-old has led Samford to four straight 20-win seasons and its first NCAA Tournament berth in 24 years.
Chris Jans
Chris Jans has led Mississippi State to the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons. Although Jans has yet to lead the team to a win in the tournament, they are currently a better team than before he took over.
KEEP READING: ‘Starting to Like Him Already’ — Terps Fans Rally Behind Derik Queen’s Unexpected Praise for Buzz Williams
Mississippi State only qualified for the NCAA Tournament once in 13 years before the 55-year-old was appointed head coach.
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