New Texas A&M men’s basketball head coach Bucky McMillan is quickly embracing the school’s one-of-a-kind traditions and tight-knit community. At his introductory press conference in College Station, McMillan shared his early impressions of Aggieland, highlighting how distinctive the culture is—even jokingly noting he’d been told the university is “like a cult, in a good way.”
While acknowledging he still has much to learn, McMillan expressed admiration for the school’s unique rituals and deep-rooted spirit. “People told me everything’s kind of the opposite,” he said. “They don’t say ‘hey,’ it’s ‘howdy.’ It’s almost like a cult, like, in a good way… If you’re in, you’re in.”
Rather than being alarmed by the intensity, McMillan sees it as a strength. He praised the unity and passion that Aggie fans show, emphasizing how that shared belief in the university creates a powerful bond. “That’s their way of saying, ‘I’m a believer, you’re a believer, we’re on the same page.’ And I think that’s really cool,” he added.
McMillan believes that people—not facilities—are what make programs successful. “These buildings and this office and all this? It’s fantastic but that’s not going to win us any games. It’s about the people,” he said. He emphasized the importance of collective resilience, suggesting that going through hard times together makes the eventual highs more meaningful.
Although he’s only been in College Station for a few days, McMillan already feels the intensity of Aggie fandom and sees the potential it brings to his program. “I feel the passion from this place and this fanbase and the people that are there through it all,” he said. “We’re going to celebrate a lot of highs. It’s going to be very rewarding.”
With this early embrace of Texas A&M’s identity, McMillan is clearly ready to dive in headfirst. His understanding of the program’s values and connection with the community could prove instrumental as he begins his tenure leading the Aggies on the court.
