NCAA
Williams leaves Marquette for Virginia Tech
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Feb 2022
Buzz Williams is leaving Marquette to take over as the head basketball coach at Virginia Tech, the schools announced Friday.
“I am extremely excited about welcoming Buzz Williams to the Hokie Nation,” Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said in a release. “Buzz is a proven winner who has earned his way up through the ranks with a strong track record of success. I am confident he will energize our fan base and help make Virginia Tech basketball competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference. I know he will recruit at the highest level.”
Virginia Tech will hold a press conference Monday to formally announce the hiring.
“It’s never easy to leave a great school like Marquette, where I spent seven wonderful years, six as the head coach,” Williams said. “But this is a special situation to work at a place like Virginia Tech. I’ve heard tremendous things about this terrific institution and this is an outstanding opportunity to build a program. My family and I look forward to becoming a part of this great university and community, and taking on the challenges associated in succeeding in the ACC.”
Williams leaves Marquette with a 139-65 record, including leading the team to the Elite Eight in 2013 and the Sweet 16 in 2011 and 2012 in the NCAA Tournament.
“We sincerely appreciate the contributions Buzz has made to Marquette University, both on and off the court,” said Bill Cords, Interim Vice President & Director of Athletics at Marquette. “During his six-year tenure, he helped elevate the program to one of the most successful in the Big East Conference. We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.
Williams takes over for James Johnson, who was fired this past Monday.
Marquette will begin its coaching search immediately.
“We have already begun a search for our next head coach,” Cords said. “The dedicated commitment in support of, and investment in, its men’s basketball program gives us a great foundation to be consistently successful and we look forward to finding the right person who will make us stronger in the future.”
