Father Wild is pumped up!

[Sweenz]

Just got this email from the big guy himself!


Marquette Alumni,

I am pleased to share with you this very exciting news about the Marquette Men's Basketball program. Please read the important announcement ahead.


Brent "Buzz" Williams Named 16th Head Coach At Marquette
Current Assistant Coach Promoted To Top Position

Milwaukee - Brent "Buzz" Williams, a highly respected recruiter and veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, has been named the 16th head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball program, MU President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and Director of Athletics Steve Cottingham confirmed Monday night.

The university will hold a press conference Tuesday (April 8) to formally introduce Williams. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public are invited to attend. The press conference will begin at 2 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center, 770 N. 12th St.

In 2007-08, Williams served as an assistant coach with the Golden Eagles in his first season at Marquette. MU concluded the year 25-10 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.

His coaching career has included stints as an assistant, associate head and head coach. He has nearly 15 years of experience at the NCAA Division I level. Williams has recruited and coached over 20 players who have earned all-conference accolades, including one league player of the year and two conference freshmen of the year.

"When I met with Buzz, I was convinced that he brings us a passion for college basketball and our BIG EAST conference, and a commitment to both Marquette and the high-level of play our fans have come to expect from Marquette basketball," Father Wild said.

Williams arrived in Milwaukee after serving for one season as the head coach at the University of New Orleans. He guided the Privateers to a 14-win campaign in 2006-07 and his roster featured Bo McCalebb, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. UNO (14-17) claimed fourth place in the Sun Belt's Western Division and advanced to the league tournament quarterfinals. His recruiting class for the 2007-08 season was ranked in the top 50 nationally by HoopScoop Online.

Prior to UNO, Williams served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M for two seasons (2004-05 - 2005-06) under head coach Billy Gillispie. Both of his recruiting classes with the Aggies were ranked among the best in the nation and featured some of the top-ranked talent at the prep level. The squad made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years in 2005-06 and the previous team posted the top turnaround in the nation, improving its win total in 2004-05 by 14 games compared to 2003-04.

"Early on in this process it became clear that Buzz provided the right fit the University was looking for as the men's basketball program at Marquette begins another era in its storied history," Director of Athletics Steve Cottingham said.  "Buzz is a tireless worker, a nationally recognized recruiter and has developed a quality relationship with the players and staff during his tenure at Marquette. All of these qualities, as well as many others, make me confident he will be able to continue the program's continued rise at the national level."

Williams spent four seasons (2000-01 - 2003-04) at Colorado State, serving as an assistant the first three seasons before being promoted to associate head coach in 2003-04. Two of his recruiting classes were ranked among the 40-best in the nation, including the 2003 group, which was tabbed No. 1 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Colorado State made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years during his tenure and he was named one of the top assistants in the country by HoopScoop Online.

Williams was previously an assistant at Northwestern State (1999-2000), Texas A&M- Kingsville (1998-99) and Texas-Arlington (1994-98).

Williams signed the highest-rated recruiting class in the history of the Southland Conference while at Northwestern State. The Demons advanced to their first ever NCAA tournament the following season and two of his recruited players were named All-Conference, while one was tabbed Southland Conference Tournament MVP.

His accomplishments at Texas A&M-Kingsville include signing the 1998-99 Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year and a third team All-America guard from Panola Junior College.

At Texas-Arlington, Williams recruited a Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and signed the first Academic All-American in the school's history.

Williams was a student assistant coach from 1992-94 at Oklahoma City University where he assisted the team to the 1994 NAIA championship after it advanced to the Sweet 16 the previous season.

Williams served as a student assistant from 1990-92 at Navarro College (Corsicana, Texas) where the team won consecutive conference titles while sporting a 45-17 record during his tenure.

The Van Alstyne, Texas, native earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Oklahoma City University in 1994 before completing his master's work in the same field at Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1999.

Williams is married to the former Corey Norman and the couple has one daughter, Zera, and two sons, Calvin and Mason.

[Norm]

Fr. Wild and the MU Administration seem pretty impressed with the HoopScoop recruiting service.

Also, 2nd MU coach in a row that did not play college basketball. Not saying that's good or bad, just interesting.

[romey]

As I'm reading the above release/email, I found myself wondering "who are all these recruits and freshman of the year and academic all americans, etc."  It's funny that there are no names mentioned.  Just curious if we've heard of any of these guys