Smart to Texas
- Thread starter Pirate_Hawk
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Huge blow for VCU and I have to feel for them. Not only do they lose their coach but their Havoc defense I would presume are gone too. shaka called a 10pm team meeting which shows that he, like 99% of the worlds population, has more class than Tommy Amaker.
wonder if VCU is interested in Steve Prohm. He plays the same kind of pressing and trapping system at Murray State. Young coach like Shaka (of course doesn't have the success of Shaka). I kind of feel like he fits the mold of VCU. You would have to think that Hurley and Rhode Island might be the top dog in the A10 next season now.
Unless there's a great assistant ready to take over at VCU, Prohm or the La Tech guy would be solid pickups.
I wonder why, with all the opportunities he's had, Shaka would choose Texas, where basketball is a distant third to football and spring football? I'm sure they backed the Brink's truck to his house, but wouldn't UCLA have done the same?
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Smart was paid well but the next move by VCU will make or break them especially with only around $300,000 coming in for TV rights Right now they have money from fan support and I'm sure donor support, they are lined up for the next few years with big preseason tournaments which will pay them well, and they also have good players and recruits coming in. But with a new coach, it would be very easy for them to drop off and lose much of the money and prestige that Smart brought in.
I wish them the best, but on the other hand I would be pretty pissed if they get a good coach and do better than us next year.
I wish them the best, but on the other hand I would be pretty pissed if they get a good coach and do better than us next year.
I have a friend who travels a lot for work and spends about 3 weeks in Austin a year. He said if he were to ever relocate outside the tri-state area it would be to Austin by a mile over anywhere else.
Have been to Austin many times and one of a few places I would relocate. Great weather, diversity, culture and music (SxSW; ACL and 5th St.). Pretty good diversity of food and things to do for exercise and unlike many areas in TX, it's a little hilly and green. Job market is very good and diverse businesses (semi-conductor, film, music, government support, and of course UT).
It's not a huge blow to VCU at all. I like Shaka Smart as much as the next person, but there were two coaches who were very successful at VCU immediately before him. It's a good program and the next coach at VCU has a very good opportunity of being successful there as well.
When considering all the factors, Texas is potentially a better job than Florida: 19 NCAA bids in the last 20 years, strong support by the school's administration, one of the strongest areas in the nation in which to recruit from, and Austin is hands-down the better place to live. Plus, Smart won't have to live in Donovan's two-national-championship shadow. He can create his own identity by building on the strong foundation established by Rick Barnes. I can't think of any advantages Florida has over Texas. Longhorns basketball even has better fan support, despite the two national titles Florida has won.
Some college basketball fans like to refer to their program as a sleeping giant. In the case of Texas, it might actually be true. They've experienced success over the past couple decades that most schools would die for. All that's been needed is a coach to take them a bit further. Shaka Smart could well be that coach. You can bet his style of play will be a big hit with Longhorns fans, as well as Texas high school players and coaches.
Some college basketball fans like to refer to their program as a sleeping giant. In the case of Texas, it might actually be true. They've experienced success over the past couple decades that most schools would die for. All that's been needed is a coach to take them a bit further. Shaka Smart could well be that coach. You can bet his style of play will be a big hit with Longhorns fans, as well as Texas high school players and coaches.
Texas is the richest athletic department in the nation. It's a prime job, probably the best after the traditional basketball powers.
Wright didn't really turn them down. He was just asked by the firm conducting the search if he'd be interested. In the end, I think Texas got the best candidate. Smart is a better fit than Wright because his playing style will be considered more appealing.
Texas is only a pretty good job because of what Rick Barnes accomplished (and Tom Penders), although the same can be said about Florida and Billy Donovan. Program was not even near where it is now before he got there. That said, I don't get the sense that this is a top 10 job. More like top 25 to me. Just because the athletic department is rich doesn't make it the best non-blue blood job.
This post was edited on 4/3 1:26 PM by shu09
Can't think of 10 more attractive men's basketball coaching jobs than Texas. Moving forward, it's even more attractive than one of the blueblood gigs, UCLA.
Over the past 27 years under Penders and Barnes, the Longhorns have gone 610-290 with one Final Four, three Elite Eights, three Sweet Sixteens, 24 NCAA bids, and just two losing seasons (both under Penders). Folks can say Texas' record of making the Sweet Sixteen or better isn't great, but that's why they've hired Smart. People around the program felt it had grown stagnant under Barnes, and wanted someone who could take it higher.
Fantastic pay. Great resources in terms of athletic department money, TV exposure, and recruiting base. Wonderful, diverse place to live and raise a family. Plus, as Hall85 indicated, they don't fire coaches very often. This means Smart will be given every opportunity to build a big winner. Since the Longhorns are already regularly making the Big Dance, he has something to build on.
Remember, Smart took VCU to the tournament five times in six years. Prior to that, they'd gone to the tourney just nine times in their history. If he can recruit well enough in the heart of ACC country to take a midmajor to the tourney with regularity, he should do fine in Texas, where he will be coaching the top dog in a huge state. Kids will want to play for him because he coaches a fun style. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does.
Over the past 27 years under Penders and Barnes, the Longhorns have gone 610-290 with one Final Four, three Elite Eights, three Sweet Sixteens, 24 NCAA bids, and just two losing seasons (both under Penders). Folks can say Texas' record of making the Sweet Sixteen or better isn't great, but that's why they've hired Smart. People around the program felt it had grown stagnant under Barnes, and wanted someone who could take it higher.
Fantastic pay. Great resources in terms of athletic department money, TV exposure, and recruiting base. Wonderful, diverse place to live and raise a family. Plus, as Hall85 indicated, they don't fire coaches very often. This means Smart will be given every opportunity to build a big winner. Since the Longhorns are already regularly making the Big Dance, he has something to build on.
Remember, Smart took VCU to the tournament five times in six years. Prior to that, they'd gone to the tourney just nine times in their history. If he can recruit well enough in the heart of ACC country to take a midmajor to the tourney with regularity, he should do fine in Texas, where he will be coaching the top dog in a huge state. Kids will want to play for him because he coaches a fun style. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does.
+1. Seems like an ideal match and exactly the rare kind of opportunity that lured Smart away from VCU.
He's a tremendous coach Should be fun to see what he can do with the kind of resources and prestige of Texas.
Hard to believe Shaka Smart is still only 37 years old. The guy's already amassed a 163-56 career record (.744) with 5 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 6 seasons at VCU and has reached a Final Four
Had the chance to move from NJ to Austin last year but now in Jacksonville. Austin is an absolutely fantastic city in every way. Like a poster said, a little more green with the hills. Great culture. Food and nightlife. Great music.
Unfortunatley for me in financial services there were not a lot of options.
If you haven't visited you must.
Unfortunatley for me in financial services there were not a lot of options.
If you haven't visited you must.
I did my undergrad at SH and grad. school at Texas. Everything said about Austin is very true. I try to get back every year for a visit. I think Smart can do REALLY well there.
With Charlie Strong as the new football coach, you can't find a better named duo than "Smart and Strong".
With Charlie Strong as the new football coach, you can't find a better named duo than "Smart and Strong".
