IU basketball coaching candidate profile: Buzz Williams

This is the fifth in a series of profiles of potential candidates for Indiana’s open basketball head coaching position.

Candidate: Buzz Williams

Age: 52

Current position, tenure: Texas A&M head coach since 2019

Previous Jobs: Virginia Tech head coach (2014-19); Marquette head coach (2008-14); Marquette assistant coach (2007-08); New Orleans head coach (2006-07); Texas A&M assistant coach (2004-06); Colorado State assistant coach (2000-04); Northwestern State assistant coach (1999-00); Texas A&M Kingsville assistant coach (1998-99); Texas-Arlington assistant coach (1994-98).

Accomplishments: Williams has experienced success at each of his three primary head coaching stops. The successor to Tom Crean at Marquette, he took the Golden Eagles to five straight NCAA Tournaments, including an Elite Eight in 2013, and Sweet Sixteens in 2011 and 2012. He took Virginia Tech to three straight NCAA Tournaments over his last three seasons there, including a 26-win Sweet 16 trip in 2019. He now has Texas A&M headed to a third straight NCAA Tournament and a fourth straight 20-win season. Williams is 368-225 (.621) over his 18 years as a head coach. He’s had 13 20-win seasons and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances counting this season.

Why it might work: Williams has experienced success wherever he’s gone, including places where history has shown it is not easy to win. Perhaps an opportunity at a program with top-tier resources and dedication to basketball will bring out his best?

Under Williams, Texas A&M is on track to finish in the KenPom top-35 for the fourth straight season. IU has only done that twice in the last nine years. The Aggies’ current spot at No. 21 as of Friday would be the program’s best finish since 2016. This has been Texas A&M longest run of sustained high-level success in 15 years.

Williams seems to be able to mold a good team based on its strengths. In his 18 seasons as a head coach, 11 times the offense has had a higher efficiency level than the defense, and seven times the defense was better. He had one of the nation’s best 3-point shooting teams in his best year at Virginia Tech, and he has the nation’s best offensive rebounding team this year. His best teams at all three schools have been some of the nation’s best on the defensive end.

Williams was able to take the reins from Crean and build on his success at Marquette. In years three and four there he posted 27 and 26 win seasons, and consecutive 14-4 marks in the Big East. He delivered arguably the best years in the history of the Virginia Tech program. At the very least it seems he should be able to lift the floor of the IU program to that of a regular NCAA Tournament participant — something that has been elusive for a long time.

Williams is widely believed to be a successful coach who IU has a legitimate shot to land. And ESPN is reporting his contract buyout is believed to be low.

Why it might not work or happen: There will be some who question whether Williams can be great? He’s had good teams but only once reached the Elite Eight, and not since 2013. In fact, he’s only made the Sweet 16 once since 2013.

If IU is looking for a break in their long run of not having good shooting teams, Williams might not be the guy. All six of his Texas A&M teams have shot 32.6% or worse from three, and ranked outside the national top-240 in that regard. Moreover, Williams’ teams have all ranked outside the national top-200 in tempo.

Williams also has a curious history of leaving programs after five to six years. The details behind those departures would need to be vetted. He told CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish in 2013 he left Marquette for Virginia Tech in part because coaches who stay put for too long tend to not do well. He followed the same pattern when he left Virginia Tech for Texas A&M. If Indiana wants a long-term solution, what are the chances Williams wouldn’t get the itch to make another move in six years?

Williams has no real ties to the state of Indiana or even this part of the Midwest, and thus would need to surround himself with a staff who can help make recruiting inroads.

Previous profiles:

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