Fresh Leadership in the SEC as Three Programs Turn the Page

The SEC saw one of its biggest storylines unfold late in the offseason when longtime Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl announced his retirement.
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SEC Basketball Logo | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

His decision left the league with three new coaches heading into the 2025-26 season. Each comes in with a unique path, and all face the challenge of navigating one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.

Texas Longhorns

In: Sean Miller
Out: Rodney Terry

Sean Miller arrives at Texas with a reputation as one of the most accomplished coaches in the country. Since beginning his head coaching career in 2004, he has racked up 487 wins across stints at Xavier and Arizona before returning to Xavier. His last three seasons produced a 65-40 record and 37-23 mark in Big East play, including a Sweet 16 run, an NIT berth, and another NCAA Tournament appearance.

Rodney Terry, who took over as interim coach in 2022 after Chris Beard’s departure, guided the Longhorns to a Big 12 Tournament title and their first Elite Eight since 2008. He was named the full-time coach in 2023, but despite a 40-20 record, his teams managed just one NCAA Tournament victory. A disappointing First Four loss to Xavier spelled the end of his tenure.

Texas A&M Aggies

In: Bucky McMillan
Out: Buzz Williams

At just 42, Bucky McMillan has already built a reputation as a fast-rising name in coaching. He won 99 games in five seasons at Samford, highlighted by an NCAA Tournament trip in 2023-24 and an NIT appearance last season. Texas A&M moved quickly to hire him in April, and McMillan has wasted no time reshaping the roster through the transfer portal to prepare for the rigors of SEC play.

Buzz Williams exits after six seasons in College Station. He posted a 120-73 overall record, including 56-44 in SEC games, and guided the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years with two wins in that span.

Auburn Tigers

In: Stephen Pearl
Out: Bruce Pearl

The most emotional transition comes at Auburn, where Stephen Pearl takes over for his father Bruce. At 38 years old, Stephen is stepping into his first head coaching role after serving as an assistant since 2017. He inherits a program that has been a consistent national contender under his father’s leadership.

Bruce Pearl leaves behind a legacy that includes 706 career wins and a run of seven NCAA Tournament appearances in the last eight years. The Tigers reached the Final Four twice in that span, cementing Auburn as a national powerhouse. The program hopes that keeping leadership in the family will allow for continuity and sustained success.

As Miller, McMillan, and Pearl step into their new positions, they find themselves in a league where Todd Golden’s Florida Gators just captured the national championship. The competition will be fierce, but each of these new coaches inherits a program with resources and talent, giving them the chance to carve their own mark in SEC history.

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