Report:Texas A&M to offer coaching job to Williams

Texas A&M reportedly is pursuing Virginia Tech’s Buzz Williams to replace Billy Kennedy as head coach.

FILE PHOTO: Mar 24, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Buzz Williams reacts against the Liberty Flames during the second half in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported Saturday morning that Texas A&M is prepared to offer Kennedy a multiyear contract that would pay him at least $3.5 million annually.

Williams is scheduled to earn $3 million next season at Virginia Tech and has a contract buyout of $750,000 for the 2019-20 season.

Kennedy was fired March 15 at the end of his eighth season with the Aggies, who went 14-18 overall and 6-12 in the SEC in 2018-19. The 11th-place league finish came on the heels of a 22-win season a year earlier, when the Aggies earned their second NCAA Tournament appearance in Kennedy’s tenure in College Station, Texas.

Rothstein said Texas A&M officials are banking on Williams and have no secondary candidate.

Virginia Tech’s season ended Friday night with a 75-73 loss to Duke in the East Region semifinals. The Hokies finished at 26-9, giving Williams a 100-69 record in his five seasons in Blacksburg, Va.

Williams, 46, has led the Hokies to three straight NCAA Tournament berths.

A native Texan, he coached at New Orleans (2006-07) before moving on to Marquette, where he spent six seasons. Five of them ended in the NCAA Tournament.

Overall, his coaching record is 253-155.

—Field Level Media

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source: reuters.com