Texas A&M hires Samford's McMillan as head coach

Texas A&M announced the hiring of Bucky McMillan to become the next head coach of the Aggies on Saturday.

McMillan has been the head coach of Samford for the past five seasons, boasting a 99-52 record in 151 games. He guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back regular-season Southern titles in 2023 and 2024. McMillan also won last year's Southern Tournament title, bringing Samford to the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2000.

Texas A&M is finalizing a five-year deal with McMillan, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello on Friday.

"I couldn't be more excited to wake up to the reality of being the head basketball coach at Texas A&M," McMillan said in a press release. "As a guy that grew up around the SEC, I am motivated by the vision of Texas A&M's leadership to compete at the highest levels of college basketball. As I've done my entire career, I won't rest until we get the Aggies playing at a championship level year in and year out."

The 41-year-old won five state high school titles in Alabama before taking the Samford job.

The Aggies' head coaching gig opened up after Buzz Williams left for the vacant role at Maryland this week. Reports indicated that Texas A&M was courting Ole Miss' Chris Beard before he inked a six-year extension to stay in Oxford, Mississippi.

Forward Pharrel Payne has already announced his plans to leave Texas A&M and join Williams at Maryland. Six other Aggies remain uncommitted in the transfer portal.

Texas A&M is coming off a 23-11 season but was bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The school ranked as high as No. 7 in the AP Poll - its best ranking in the Williams era.