COLLEGE PARK — Wednesday’s introductory news conference for the newest Maryland men’s basketball coach was not ordinary.

Even before Buzz Williams, university president Dr. Darryll J. Pines and interim athletic director Colleen Sorem took the stage inside Xfinity Center, the school band played a selection of songs, cheerleaders lined one side of the floor and about 45 members of the public were permitted to sit in the stands on the other side.

A number of alumni and donors filled chairs on the court and applauded enthusiastically when the 52-year-old Williams was introduced by Sorem, leading him to quip, “It’s rare that everybody claps for a coach. So I appreciate you guys being nice to me.”

In some ways, the demonstration symbolized one community’s full-hearted embrace of a coach who elected to leave Texas A&M — where he had guided that program to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments — for a Terps program that is in disarray after the abrupt departure of coach Kevin Willard to Villanova on Sunday and the entry of eight players into the transfer portal — a group led by the starting backcourt duo of junior point Ja’Kobi Gillespie and sophomore shooting guard Rodney Rice.

Williams’ appearance drew a who’s who of Maryland royalty. The pair of coach Gary Williams and shooting guard Juan Dixon — who fueled the 2001-02 team’s run to the school’s first and only national championship — sat in one of two front rows, and forward James Gist stood in the back.

Terps coaches Mike Locksley (football), Brenda Frese (women’s basketball), John Tillman (men’s lacrosse), Matt Swope (baseball), Andrew Valmon (track and field), Adam Hughes (volleyball) and Kelly Hovland (women’s golf) also attended the event in a show of force that seemed designed to send the message that all was right in College Park.

Williams boasts a lengthy track record of success. In 18 years at New Orleans, Marquette, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M, he has amassed a 373-228 record (.621 winning percentage) and led those teams to 11 NCAA Tournaments with four Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight.

While noting that Williams continues a tradition of Williamses who have flourished for the Terps (Gary, Walt and Jordan), Pines said, “There’s a new Williams, but really there’s a new Buzz around campus. Buzz has an exemplary record of competitive success. His resume speaks for itself.”

Sorem said she and Pines evaluated more than 30 candidates for criteria such as coaching success, postseason experience, familiarity with the name, image and likeness landscape and a passion for Maryland.

“This is a historic hire for the University of Maryland in more ways than one,” she said. “His success is undeniable, but so too is his infectious energy and his dedication to developing young men. He is committed to doing things the right way. He has committed to the right high standard of leadership, and he is dedicated to personal responsibility and accountability.”

Why Williams left the Aggies, whom he had guided to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, for the Terps, who had been to two over the same stretch might be the biggest mystery. Doing so nine days since the transfer portal opened March 24 only adds to the perplexity. He said he was convinced to replace College Station, Texas, with College Park, Maryland, during a conversation with Pines.

“It was a very unique and tight process, and I’m probably best when I understand exactly what it is and the parameters, and that was very attractive to me because this exposure of what all of this has become, it kind of gets loose,” he said. “I thought Dr. Pines was very direct from the get-go, and that was very attractive to my family and me.”

What will matter more to fans is whether Williams can revitalize the Terps. Gary Williams offered his vote of approval.

“He’s likable, and he can coach,” he said. “When all the press conferences and newness wears off, it’s the scoreboard. Who wins and who loses, and he’s won everywhere he’s been. So I think anybody that can win here is a good fit.”

Before Willard’s exit, he publicized his dissatisfaction with the university’s revenue-sharing plan. Sorem, who took over after predecessor Damon Evans left for SMU last month, said the school and athletic department will fortify its support of the basketball program under Williams.

“Buzz and I share high expectations,” she said. “We intend to position our men’s basketball program to compete year in and year out for conference titles and national championships because that’s what Maryland basketball is all about. We will provide the resources Buzz needs to win, and we will win.”

Unlike his predecessor, Williams said he had no issue with the plan.

“Relative to what I thought was important on the commitment going forward and what is needed to be successful at the highest level, there was never any question from them on the commitment for us — me, the staff, NIL, the players, the resources,” he said. “I’m not trying to be argumentative on anything, but I’m at peace with all of it.”

Whether that will translate into on-court success will likely depend on how quickly Williams can replenish the roster. Freshman center Derik Queen, redshirt sophomore shooting guard Chance Stephens and sophomore shooting guard Lukas Sotell are the only players with eligibility who remain on the roster. Queen, a Baltimore native, is widely expected to enter the upcoming NBA draft.

Williams acknowledged that he has “done no recruiting” since accepting the position and still needs to shore up his coaching staff. And while his teams have earned a history for playing tough defense and winning the rebound battles, he vowed to adapt according to the nuances of playing in the Big Ten as opposed to the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East.

“I want to make a good decision on what’s important in the Big Ten,” he said. “We’ve never coached in the Big Ten. So I want to have some context on what that is. I think the coach’s job is to get the best players that fit the people you want to be around and then figure out how to put them in a position to be as successful as they can be.”

Williams did not address whether fans should anticipate growing pains for the upcoming season. Instead, he vowed to shape the team to prioritize certain objectives.

“I think what’s important is for you to know that anybody associated with the team that we will be a part of now will give our best and will give our best from early in the morning until we can’t go any more,” he said. “And all of us will have an insatiable desire to figure out how to change our best because staying status quo we know is never good enough.”

Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.