Maryland men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams announced four members of his coaching staff Monday.
Associate head coach Devin Johnson and assistant coaches Lyle Wolf, Steve Roccaforte and Wabissa Bede recently worked with Williams at Texas A&M.
Johnson has served with Williams since the latter helmed the University of New Orleans, and he was the Aggies’ associate head coach for the past three years. He has been credited as a skilled recruiter and defensive coordinator who contributed to the school reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons.
“I have an immense amount of trust and appreciation for the type of person and coach he is,” Williams said in a written statement. “His path from manager to associate head coach is truly remarkable. His ability to build genuine relationships with players is a rare gift, and paired with his basketball acumen, especially on the defensive side of the ball, makes him one of the most impactful coaches in the country. As he starts his 15th year on staff, I am extremely grateful he is with us.”
Wolf has worked with Williams for 13 seasons at Marquette, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. During his time with the Aggies, Wolf was known as an offensive strategist and strong recruiter.
“Few people would score higher than Coach Wolf on a Mensa test, but it’s his relentless work ethic and unwavering character that make him truly invaluable to our staff,” Williams said. “Lyle started as a [graduate assistant] for us 13 years ago and has ascended through every role possible on his way to his current position. He is an elite thinker on the court, especially on the offensive side of the ball. His ability to filter information quickly and land on the right answer gives him a real edge — both in game situations and in practice.”
Roccaforte has more than 36 years of coaching experience in college basketball and has worked for John Calipari, Perry Clark and Billy Tubbs. Now in his ninth season with Williams, Roccaforte has been a key figure in Williams’ teams qualifying for five NCAA Tournaments.
“I met Coach Rock when I was 18 years old. He was the first Division I coach I ever met,” Williams said. “Our relationship has stood the test of time because it is built on truth and trust. In a world where real honesty is becoming rare, he remains one of the clearest voices in my life. His skill set is uncommon and growing more valuable by the day. He doesn’t just solve problems — he sees them before they even arrive. His experience as a head coach, and his value as a recruiter, are obvious, but he will touch every part of our organization and take care of our players with a level of consistency and care that never wavers.”
This will mark Bede’s first season as an assistant coach after serving as a program aide for the previous four at Texas A&M. Bede, who filled the point guard role for two years under Williams at Virginia Tech, helped with player development, advanced analytics and camps.
“I am grateful he’s joining us at Maryland in a coaching role,” Williams said. “His experience as a player in our program provides wisdom to connect with players from the start. That connection shows up every day within our player development program and workouts. He has a gift for knowing how to push players the right way. His growth rate year after year has been remarkable, and I have no doubt he’ll keep a similar trajectory here at Maryland.”
Williams, who signed a six-year deal to coach the Terps this offseason, has added eight players via the transfer portal for his coaching staff to develop.
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
Originally Published:
