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Report: Texas Longhorns trying to hire Shaka Smart

By Gary Gurecki

Mar 7, 2015; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Shaka Smart gestures from the bench against the George Mason Patriots in the second half at Stuart Siegel Center. The Rams won 71-60. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Shaka Smart gestures from the bench against the George Mason Patriots in the second half at Stuart Siegel Center. The Rams won 71-60. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas Longhorns are looking at the potential of adding now VCU head coach Shaka Smart as head coach.

Shaka Smart of VCU is reportedly in discussions with University of Texas for its vacancy at head basketball coach.  Texas cut ties with coach Rick Barnes over the weekend, after 17 seasons. 

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Smart has been at VCU since 2009 and has had success in the NCAA tournament, particularly in 2011 where he made it all the way to the Final Four.  Smart has been faithful to VCU up until this point, but this may turn out to be an offer he can’t refuse.  In the past five years Smart has turned down offers from Maryland, NC State, Marquette, Illinois, and Wake Forest. 

For his success and commitment Smart was rewarded with a salary upgrade in 2011 following his team’s tournament bid, where he went from a base salary of $350,000 to $1.2 million per year. 

Barnes has had his own success while at Texas making it to the NCAA tournament 16 out of 17 seasons.  However this firing comes off a second round exit for this year’s Longhorns team, Barnes has also not made it past the third round of the tournament since 2007-2008.  So a change seemed called for by heads of the Texas program, especially in a state that is rich in young basketball talent.

Smart is a promising young coach as he became the youngest coach in Division One NCAA Basketball history to win 100 games in early 2013.  Smart is known coaching wise for his “havoc” causing style defensively.  With this approach Smart has his players press defensively for a majority of the game, even after made baskets in an attempt to throw opposing players off their game.

This is a high risk high reward defensive mind-set, however for this coach it has worked more than it hasn’t overall in recent years.

Smart also utilizes a an up-tempo style of play offensively as well.  If Smart can bring in some of Texas’ statewide basketball talent, his system would fit well with players who are supreme athletes.

Talks between the two parties are still in the infantile stages, if Smart chooses to decline it is said by CBS Sports that the Longhorns likely will turn their attention to Utah’s Larry Krystkowiak and Xavier’s Chris Mack. 

[H/T: CBS Sports]

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