June 17, 2006
After two years as an assistant coach at Texas A&M, Buzz Williams has been named head men?s basketball coach at the University of New Orleans, the school announced on Saturday.
"I'm very humbled and grateful for this opportunity, but at the same time I'm heartbroken about leaving Texas A&M," Williams said. "I'm the head coach at the University of New Orleans because of Billy Gillispie and because of what our players accomplished. If Coach Gillispie hadn't hired me, I wouldn't be in this position so I'm forever indebted to him. I will always remember my roots and Billy Gillispie is the top root in my career path."
Williams recently completed his season year at A&M, where he helped Coach Billy Gillispie engineer one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college basketball history.
A&M went 7-21 overall -- 0-16 in Big 12 play -- in 2003-04 before hiring Gillispie. The Aggies had not had a winning season since 1993-94, but went 21-10 in 2004-05 and followed with a 22-9 campaign last season.
A&M advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 years then beat Syracuse in the first round, its first NCAA victory since 1980.
Williams helped A&M land nationally-ranked recruiting classes in each of the last two years.
"I'm really happy for Buzz and his family," Gillispie said. "He's done a fantastic job every single day. We've become a close family and our players and coaching staff will definitely miss him. You always hate to lose good people, but you're always happy to see good people progress in their career in a positive way. Buzz has worked very hard for this opportunity and will make the most of it at a very good place."
The 33-year-old Williams served as associate head coach at Colorado State in 2003-04 after three seasons as an assistant. He also was the Rams' recruiting coordinator. Williams also was an assistant at Northwestern (La.) State (1999-00), Texas A&M-Kingsville (1998-99) and Texas-Arlington (1994-98).
From 1992-94, Williams was a student assistant coach at Oklahoma City University, helping the team to the 1994 NAIA national. He served in the same capacity at Navarro College from 1990-92 as the team won consecutive conference titles.
A native of Van Alstyne, Texas, Williams and his wife, the former Corey Norman, have two children -- 4-year-old daughter Zera Grace and 3-year-old son Calvin Brent.
"Buzz Williams is the right man at the right time forPrivateers basketball," UNO Athletics Director Jim Miller said. "Hehas a tireless work ethic,he knows the game,he is a diligentrecruiterand he understands that we are here to graduate our student-athletes. We are very fortunate to have someone of Buzz's character and qualifications."
Williams is the second assistant to leave A&M this spring. Steve Forbes accepted an assistant coachg position at Tennessee in May.
"These opportunities only come about when you start winning," Gillispie said. "It causes some anxiety, but it is a by-product of us starting to win at the highest level."
Although Gillispie has been a head coach just four years, Williams is his fifth assistant to be hired as a head coach. Doc Sadler succeeded Gillispie at Texas-El Paso, while former UTEP assistants Sergio Rouco (Florida International), Bobby Champagne (North Alabama) and Junsie Cotten (Lincoln Trail College) also moved on to head coaching positions. Another former UTEP assistant, Ryan Carr, is an assistant with the NBA's Indiana Pacers.