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Whoa.
Buzz Williams will leave Marquette to become the next coach at Virginia Tech, Y!Sports source.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) March 21, 2014
Williams is 139-65 (.681) in five seasons with Marquette, guiding the Golden Eagles to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances before this year's disappointing -- by recent Marquette standards, anyway -- 17-11 (9-6 Big East) season. Williams had one year left on his deal with Marquette.
Pretty big coup for Virginia Tech and new athletic director Whit Babcock, who parted ways with second year coach James Johnson earlier this week. Every coaching hire is a bit different and I don't want to read too much into this hire. But what does this say about the future of ACC basketball and the new Big East Conference when Virginia Tech can lure a pretty big name away from a hoops school like Marquette?
The guys over at Gobbler Country are sure to be pleased with the hire. Anonymous Eagle will not be so pleased.
Pressure is on Bates to land the right guy for Boston College, as the ACC only seems to be getting stronger with this hire. But if Virginia Tech can land Williams and a three-time National Championship coach has "significant interest" in the opportunity with BC, you have to like the program's chances of making a similar splash hire.