Bucky McMillan To Leave Mountain Brook For Samford Job

HOMEWOOD, AL — Samford University's latest addition to its men's basketball team will be a loss to Mountain Brook's basketball dynasty. Spartans head coach Bucky McMillan has been offered the Samford head coaching job, ending an unprecedented era in Mountain Brook sports.

McMillan coached the Spartans for 12 seasons, winning 333 games and leading the team to five state championships. McMillan was named USA Today's Alabama Coach of the Year in 2019; Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Coach of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015; Birmingham Tip-Off Club State Coach of the Year in 2012, 2015 and 2019; and Over The Mountain Coach of the Year in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. He was selected to coach the Alabama All-Stars in the 2019 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

"When we set out to hire a new coach for our men's basketball program, we had three main criteria," Samford Athletic Director Martin Newton said Monday. "We wanted someone with head coaching experience and a proven track record of winning championships, someone who could excite and engage the Birmingham and Samford communities and someone who understands and embraces the mission of our great university. Bucky McMillan quickly became the obvious choice. Bucky has a proven track record of winning championships, a tireless work ethic, a unique basketball mind and the energy and enthusiasm to bring championship basketball to Lakeshore Drive."

"I am thankful and grateful for this opportunity," McMillan said. "I want to especially give thanks to the leadership at Samford for their confidence in me to lead this program. When I came to Mountain Brook I had never been a high school head coach and the administration there took a chance on me, and this is a similar situation. I am ecstatic to be going to work for one of the top Christian universities in the country, whose values I believe in. I am excited to get to Samford and build relationships with the faculty and staff, and most importantly with the student-athletes."

McMillan played his college basketball at Birmingham-Southern College from 2002 to 2006, where he was named to the Big South Conference Academic Honor Roll all four seasons, and to the league's All-Academic team as a senior. He also earned the distinction of being named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honor's Court. McMillan earned his bachelor's degree in education services from Birmingham-Southern in 2007.

"I encourage everyone to get their season tickets now and enjoy the Bucky Ball era of Samford basketball," Newton said.

Mountain Brook alumnus William Galloway compiled a viseo of former players and friends wishing McMillan well: