 Marquette
University surprised many people when it named Brent "Buzz"
Williams to replace Tom Crean as men’s basketball coach.
Williams, 35, who assisted Crean last
season, has been preparing for this opportunity since high school.
Williams has a reputation as a top recruiter, and he has 15 years of
experience at the Division I level.
Williams, his wife, Corey, and their
three young children are new Mequon residents. M sat down with
Williams in his office to find out more about the Golden Eagles’ new
coach.
How did you get your nickname?
My freshman year in college I was a
manager and the coach said I was always buzzing around. Everybody
started calling me Buzz and it stuck.
What kind of player were you?
A competitive but real bad player. I
knew that my playing career would be short-lived; I wanted to coach.
How did you get your name out there in
the coaching ranks?
When I was 18, any coach that I met, I
would write them a letter once a week. It really wasn’t a letter. It
was, "Hey coach, how are you doing? Hope you’re doing well. I’ll
write you another letter next week." From that point forward, I
would write them once a week throughout my four years of college. When
I graduated, I was writing 425 coaches a week. In the end, building
relationships is a lot of what life comes down to. If I wouldn’t
have written letters on a weekly basis, I wouldn’t have had the
chance to get my first Division I coaching job when I was 21.
What stands out to you about Marquette?
The thing that’s most impressive is
what "We Are Marquette" symbolizes. This is the first
institution I’ve been employed at where it’s about the totality of
the experience. Once you’re part of "We Are Marquette,"
you’re always part of it for a lifetime.
What makes you so passionate about
coaching?
I love the competitiveness of it. As I’ve
grown older, I’ve loved the relationships involved and the
opportunity to add value to the lives of players in ways other than
coaching.
What type of impact do you want to have
on your players?
Winning games is vital, but in my
opinion there’s much more to it. I want to help shape their lives in
positive ways as men, students and players.
What goes through your mind every day
when you walk into the Al McGuire Center?
When you walk in the door and see Al
McGuire staring at you, it tells you the expectation level. The last I
heard, he won a national championship the last game he coached. Some
of the most powerful things don’t need to be said.
How much do you value planning and time
management?
I’m fanatical about being organized.
No matter your occupation, success is determined by your daily agenda.
I don’t like to give away a minute in a day. I tell our guys every
day is a work day at Marquette. I don’t wear a watch because I never
want to make decisions based on time.
How much does your wife know about
basketball?
In her senior year, she was the best
player in the state of Texas. She’s probably as big of a sports fan
as I’ve ever known. She definitely gives suggestions. At times, she’s
Coach Williams.
What do you think of Mequon and
Milwaukee?
I’ve had nothing but positive
thoughts and impressions, but honestly, all I do is drive to the
office and drive to the airport to recruit. My (family) loves it. My
wife thinks it’s the best place we’ve ever lived.
What television programs do you watch?
My wife TiVos "Pardon the
Interruption" for me. I’ll watch anything where there’s
competition. I watch Larry King so I can answer a question that doesn’t
involve Marquette basketball. My wife knows what movies I like, and we’ll
sometimes watch them at midnight.
What would be your dream foursome in
golf?
Jesus, because he’s my savior. Pat
Riley was a coach I grew up idolizing. And John Maxwell — I think he’s
our generation’s most renowned authority on leadership.
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