Gophers Coaching Candidate Profile: Shaka Smart - Head Coach at VCU

[GopherHole Staff]

Shaka: Why It Works

Norwood Teague hired Shaka Smart at VCU and the two (along with Mike Ellis) reportedly have a very good relationship.

Shaka would bring an incredible amount of energy to the program and will be a big boost to ticket sales, fundraising and has the potential to excite local recruits that may be looking elsewhere.

Assuming he implements the Havoc mentality of play, its a style that recruits and fans will enjoy.

Shaka: Why It Doesn't Work

Shaka could practically have his pick of jobs if he were to choose to leave VCU. He reportedly had an offer from Illinois last year, which is arguably a better job than Minnesota.

The main reason Gopher fans feel they have a shot at Shaka is due to his relationship with Teague, but is that enough to make a move?

Will the Havoc style of play translate to a methodical Big Ten style of play where most teams have very good ball handlers?

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/240405?referrer_id=331171

 

[GopherHole Staff]

 

[GopherHole Staff]

 

[GopherHole Staff]

 

[GopherHole Staff]

 

[Nate]

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...down-shaka-smarts-vcu-contract/1#.UVGYshfFX9o

From last year, but guessing it hasn't changed much. I thought this was pretty interesting/funny:

A university that hires Smart will have to schedule a two-year home-and-home series with VCU or pay the school $250,000.

 

[MadtownGopher]

28 - yes 0 - no. I think we know who the home run hire is.

 

[Gopher+RamFan]

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...down-shaka-smarts-vcu-contract/1#.UVGYshfFX9o

From last year, but guessing it hasn't changed much. I thought this was pretty interesting/funny:

Yes, that happened with Jeff Capel at Oklahoma and Anthony Grant at Alabama. Both came back and got beat by double digits. Sometimes that's the only way VCU can get Big 6 teams to the Seigel Center.

 

[Gopher Warrior]

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...down-shaka-smarts-vcu-contract/1#.UVGYshfFX9o

From last year, but guessing it hasn't changed much. I thought this was pretty interesting/funny:

Hasn't changed. There is other info on Smart's current deal with VCU (he's worked under a different agreement in each of his four seasons at VCU) in THIS article from Sunday.

 

[Buttcheeks McGaffigan]

Can someone explain the necessity of SEAL training for a college basketball program?

 

[Gopher+RamFan]

Can someone explain the necessity of SEAL training for a college basketball program?

Even though it was only a week: mental fortitude, resiliency and creating a team.

At least that's what Basic and other military schools taught me. 90% of the military, and deployments are mental. The psychology of sports are becoming more important.

 

[BleedGopher]

per USA Today:

Smart, 35, has been one of college basketball's rising stars ever since VCU's Final Four run in 2011. He had had many suitors over the past two years, and this spring has been no exception. After UCLA fired Ben Howland and Minnesota fired Tubby Smith, fans of both programs began buzzing about luring Smart away from VCU. The person who spoke to USA TODAY Sports confirmed that both of those schools have reached out to Smart.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2013/03/26/vcu-shaka-smart-contract/2022959/

Go Gophers!!

 

[mnsportsgeek]

per USA Today:

Smart, 35, has been one of college basketball's rising stars ever since VCU's Final Four run in 2011. He had had many suitors over the past two years, and this spring has been no exception. After UCLA fired Ben Howland and Minnesota fired Tubby Smith, fans of both programs began buzzing about luring Smart away from VCU. The person who spoke to USA TODAY Sports confirmed that both of those schools have reached out to Smart.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2013/03/26/vcu-shaka-smart-contract/2022959/

Go Gophers!!

Good find. I'm guessing something happens tomorrow. Whether good or bad for us.

 

[Mikie S]

OK ... one pro & one con.

CON: Shaka took over a healthy program that had just won three straight conference titles under Anthony Grant. Shaka has finished 5, 4, 2, 2. In short, he has not done as well as his predecessor.

PRO: The Gophers have won EIGHT non-vacated NCAA games (5 tourney games were forfeited) in history. Shaka's VCU teams have won SEVEN NCAA tournament games in just 4 years.

 

[rrjackIII]

http://interviewangel.com/10-inspiring-facts-about-vcu-coach-shaka-smart/

This is a couple years old but I thought I would paste it here.

Here are 10 inspiring facts about VCU Coach Shaka Smart:
1. Raised by a single mother in Wisconsin, Shaka Smart is named after Shaka Zulu, the southern African king who united hundreds of thousands of people.
2. Achieved a near perfect SAT score while in high school in Oregon, WI (outside Madison). Three-year starter for Oregon High School’s basketball team. Owns school records for career assists (458), season (201), and single game (20).
3. Accepted at Ivy Leagues schools Harvard, Yale, and Brown (Smart decided to attend Kenyon College in Ohio – which is the alma mater of actor Paul Newman, former U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, and former Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist).
4. Started as a freshman point guard at Kenyon College, and ended up as the school’s all-time assists leader with 542.
5. Recognized as the North Coast Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior. Graduated magna cum laude in 1999 with a degree in history.
6. One of 20 students in the country to be named to the USA Today All-USA Academic Team in 1999.
7. Earned a Master’s degree in Social Science from California University of Pennsylvania while serving as assistant basketball coach.
8. Led VCU to 27 wins in the 2009-10 season (Smart’s first year as a head coach). The win total topped all first-year head coaches in the country.
9. Coaches a style of basketball at VCU known as “wreaking havoc” through the heavy use of full court press (VCU led the CAA in steals this year).
10. At age 33, Smart is the second youngest coach in the NCAA Tournament (Josh Pastner at Memphis is younger by 5 months). Coincidentally, the next youngest coach (age 34) in the Tournament is Brad Stevens who has now led Butler to a second consecutive Final Four. VCU and Butler meet up next Saturday in the Final Four. Their combined age (67) is less than the age of legendary Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun (age 68) who has also led his team to the Final Four.