Porter Moser, currently the head coach for Oklahoma's men's basketball team, has emerged as the top contender to take over the helm at Texas A&M following Buzz Williams' departure to Maryland. The odds are in Moser's favor with BetOnline Sportsbook listing him at +300, ahead of 14 other coaches up for consideration. Williams left the A&M post earlier this week, sparking a flurry of speculation about who will succeed him.
Alongside Moser, several other prominent Division I coaches have odds attached to their names. Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg sits at +350, followed closely by Chris Jans of Mississippi State at +400.
Coaches like Scott Cross from Troy, Brad Underwood from Illinois, and Alan Huss from High Point have also made the list, each with respective odds of +500. Other candidates span from Stanford’s Kyle Smith (+700) to Bucky McMillan of Samford at +3300.
Even assistant coach Luke Murray from UConn is in the mix at +2500.
However, it's a safe bet that NC State's Will Wade and Xavier's Richard Pitino won't be making a move to the Aggies, as both signed lengthy six-year contracts with their current teams just last month.
The Aggies initially had their sights on Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard, but Beard decided to remain with the Rebels after securing a contract extension earlier this week. This pivot places Moser as the frontrunner, who brings with him a solid history and deep connections to Texas A&M, having served as an assistant coach there twice in the 1990s under Tony Barone Sr.
Moser's resume is impressive — a 367-301 record as a Division I head coach over 21 seasons, with standout performances at Loyola Chicago, where he led the team to the Final Four in 2018 and the Sweet 16 in 2021. His tenure at Oklahoma has been a mixed bag; despite leading the Sooners to an NCAA Tournament appearance, which ended in a round one defeat to UConn, his teams have struggled to make a significant impact in conference play with a 25-45 record over three Big 12 and one SEC seasons.
For Texas A&M to bring Moser on board, they would need to settle a $5.1 million buyout for Oklahoma, noted by Sooners Illustrated, given Moser has $10.2 million left on his contract, which lasts until June 2028.
Time is of the essence for A&M, as the NCAA Transfer Portal for men's basketball opened just last week, and the Aggies are experiencing substantial turnover in their roster. They lost eight of their primary contributors from the previous season, including guards Wade Taylor IV, Zhuric Phelps, and several others, as well as power forwards like Henry Coleman III. The departure of these key players, coupled with juniors Pharrel Payne and Solomon Washington entering the transfer portal this week, means A&M needs a strategic and timely decision to stabilize and rebuild their roster.
Stay tuned for further developments, as Texas A&M’s search for a new head coach could significantly shape the trajectory of their upcoming seasons.
