Marquette names Williams men's basketball coach

Apr 9, 2008 - 12:14 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Marquette introduced Brent "Buzz" Williams its new men's basketball coach at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Nationally renowned as a recruiter, Williams will inherit a Marquette program that has recorded at least 19 victories in each of the last seven seasons. The Golden Eagles went 25-10 this past season, losing in overtime to Stanford in a second-round NCAA Tournament game.

"I'm extremely, unbelievably grateful and humbled to be at this point, to be in this position, for the charge that's been given to me to be the steward of a program," Williams said. "I want you to know is you have my commitment. My intent is to always be here, but what it is about is it's about these guys (the players)."

Williams served just one season under former Marquette head coach Tom Crean, who left the program after nine years last week to take the job at Indiana.

"I've admired Buzz Williams' work from afar for some time and have grown to appreciate it even more as I've gotten to know him over the last year," Crean said. "Adding a person of his character, integrity and talent to our staff means a great deal to me."

In 2006, Williams was the head coach at New Orleans, guiding the team to a 14-win season after spending two seasons as an assistant under Billy Gillispie at Texas A&M.

"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," athletics director Steve Cottingham said.

"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 also was an assistant at Colorado State from 2000-2004, serving as an assistant the first three seasons before being promoted to associate head coach in 2003-04.

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