Maryland men’s basketball is reshaping its staff as the 2026-27 season begins, with head coach Buzz Williams announcing a series of title changes designed to better match how the program operates.
“College basketball has changed more in the last three years than in the thirty before it, and the way we work has to change with it. Over the last six months, we've spent time diagnosing these changes and rebuilding our workflow around unifying information intake across our organization and elevating our most important decisions. Our goal is to ensure we always have the right information, at the right time, in the right place to make the best decisions possible,” said Williams.
Among the updates, Devin Johnson is now the Associate Head Coach / Executive Director of Basketball Performance. Lyle Wolf and Steve Roccaforte both received the title of Assistant Head Coach, with Wolf also serving as Executive Director of Basketball Operations and Roccaforte taking on the role of Executive Director of Talent Acquisition.
TJ Ryan has been elevated to Assistant Coach / Director of Basketball Intelligence, while Josh Chambers is now the Chief of Staff. Jelani Spain will serve as the Coordinator of Player Relations & Operations, and Seth Allen is now the Coordinator of Player Development.
Williams said the reshuffling is meant to reflect what each staff member actually does.
“These new titles reflect the jobs as they truly are, and our staff is energized by these changes,” said Williams. “None of this is about a title for its own sake, but about improving and adapting together as an organization to give our players our best every day in a more organized, intentional, and effective way.”
Maryland’s 2026-27 season officially opens Monday, November 2, when the Terps host Bucknell at XFINITY Center.
The program will also spend the year celebrating the 25 th Anniversary of its 2002 NCAA National Championship, presented by Northrop Realty. Special promotions are scheduled for the season opener against Bucknell, the January 16 game against Illinois, which will be Gary Williams Bobblehead Day and Alumni Day, and the February 13 matchup with Indiana, which will mark a 2002 Championship celebration.
Season tickets are already on sale at umterps.com/JoinTheTradition or by calling 301-314-7060. Single-game tickets and mini-packs go on sale Oct. 2 to Terrapin Club donors and Oct. 7 to the general public.
Johnny Holliday, Chris Knoche, and Walt Williams will call the action.
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The timing matters because Maryland is counting on Payne to be more than just a body in the paint. He is expected to form the backbone of the front line with new teammate Tomislav Buljan, giving the Terps a chance to stabilize the area that caused so many problems a year ago. Paynes return does not solve everything on its own, but it gives Maryland a proven presence and a clear focal point as the next season comes into view. [Read more 🡒]