Shaka Smart
Encyclopedia
Shaka Smart is an American college basketball
coach, and the current head coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University
Rams men's basketball program
. Before accepting the job at VCU, Smart served as an assistant coach for the Akron Zips
, Clemson Tigers
and Florida
Gators
men's basketball programs.
in Wisconsin. He was a second-team All-Badger Conference pick as a senior and by the end of his career was the all-time assists leader at Oregon for a career (458), season (201) and single game (20).
After graduating from high school, Smart attended Kenyon College
, a liberal arts school in Ohio. On the ESPN program Pardon the Interruption
Smart credited his personal relationship with then Head Coach Bill Brown as the reason for his decision. As a member of the Kenyon College basketball team, he was an all-conference selection as a senior and is the school's career assists leader (542). Smart was named a member of the 1999 USA TODAY All-USA Academic Team.
, where he also earned a Master's Degree. Afterwards, he was hired as Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Dayton
. He was then an assistant at the University of Akron
for three years, Clemson for two, and Florida for one.
, left to become the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
team. Smart's hire made him the 10th youngest head coach in Division I. In his first season
, he led the Rams to a 27–10 season and a CBI Championship
after VCU swept Saint Louis
in the championship best of three series.
Smart's second season began with forward Larry Sanders
declaring for the 2010 NBA Draft
after his junior season. Sanders' selection by the Milwaukee Bucks
with the 15th pick made VCU the first school in the Commonwealth of Virginia
to have a player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft in consecutive years, as the Utah Jazz
had selected guard Eric Maynor
with the 20th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft
. The Rams under Smart went 23–11 in the 2010–2011 season. Smart led the Rams to their second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association
Championship Game, where they lost to Old Dominion
.
Despite not securing the automatic bid, VCU earned an at-large bid to the Southwest region of the 2011 NCAA Tournament
, but were placed in the "First Four" against USC
for a spot in the main 64-team tournament bracket. The Rams' selection into the tournament was widely criticized. His coaching strategy, positive outlook, and patience helped VCU defeat USC in the First Four, and then upset the 6th-seeded Georgetown Hoyas
and 3rd-seeded Purdue Boilermakers
to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. VCU won 72–71 against Florida State University
in overtime to earn the school's first spot in the Elite Eight
and subsequently upset the top-seeded University of Kansas
71–61 for its first Final Four appearance. But in the Final Four, the Rams lost to Butler
70-62.
On April 4, 2011, Smart agreed to an 8-year contract extension with the VCU Rams, increasing his base pay from $350,000 to $1.2 million per year, prior to any performance bonuses.
and pressing after made baskets to disrupt opponents' timing of offensive sets. In his second season, VCU led the Colonial Athletic Association in steals. Offensively, Smart-coached teams play uptempo and push the ball after misses and makes with what Smart describes as "The freedom to make plays in the open court."
. He graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon with a degree in History, researching and writing on issues related to race and the Great Migration
his junior and senior years. Smart received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and earned a master's degree in social science at California University of Pennsylvania
.
Shaka Smart developed a love for quotations at Kenyon. Smart began writing down quotes into a digital document that is now over 110 pages long.
Smart has been married to Maya Payne, a professional writer, since 2006. They are expecting their first child later in 2011.
Smart's half-brother is the writer and professor J.M. Tyree.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach, and the current head coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
Rams men's basketball program
Virginia Commonwealth University Rams men's basketball
The Virginia Commonwealth University Rams are the basketball team that represents Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. VCU currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2011 where they...
. Before accepting the job at VCU, Smart served as an assistant coach for the Akron Zips
Akron Zips men's basketball
The Akron Zips Men's Basketball team represents the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference East division. The team first played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1986 when Bob Huggins was their coach. The Zips are currently...
, Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers men's basketball
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I. The current head coach is Brad Brownell.-Team history:...
and Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Gators
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
men's basketball programs.
Playing career
In high school, Smart was a three-year starter for Oregon High SchoolOregon High School (Wisconsin)
Oregon High School is a North Central Accredited High School since 1969 located in Oregon, Wisconsin in the United States. It is part of the Oregon School District. It has a student population of 1233. It is a member of the Badger Conference...
in Wisconsin. He was a second-team All-Badger Conference pick as a senior and by the end of his career was the all-time assists leader at Oregon for a career (458), season (201) and single game (20).
After graduating from high school, Smart attended Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
, a liberal arts school in Ohio. On the ESPN program Pardon the Interruption
Pardon the Interruption
Pardon the Interruption is a sports television show that airs weekdays on various ESPN TV channels, TSN, ESPN America, XM, and Sirius satellite radio services, and as a downloadable podcast. It is hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, who discuss, and frequently argue over, the top stories...
Smart credited his personal relationship with then Head Coach Bill Brown as the reason for his decision. As a member of the Kenyon College basketball team, he was an all-conference selection as a senior and is the school's career assists leader (542). Smart was named a member of the 1999 USA TODAY All-USA Academic Team.
Assistant coach
Smart began his coaching career in 1999 as an assistant at California University of PennsylvaniaCalifornia University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
, where he also earned a Master's Degree. Afterwards, he was hired as Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
. He was then an assistant at the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
for three years, Clemson for two, and Florida for one.
VCU
VCU hired Smart to be the head coach in the spring of 2009 after the previous coach, Anthony GrantAnthony Grant
-External links:* at RollTide.com...
, left to become the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball program has a history of being among the best of the Southeastern Conference . It trails only Kentucky in basketball wins, SEC tournament titles, and SEC regular season titles in the 12-member conference. The team is coached by head coach Anthony Grant,...
team. Smart's hire made him the 10th youngest head coach in Division I. In his first season
2009–10 VCU Rams men's basketball team
The 2009–10 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2009–10 college basketball season. This was head coach Shaka Smart's first season at VCU. The Rams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association and played their home games at Stuart C. Siegel Center...
, he led the Rams to a 27–10 season and a CBI Championship
2010 College Basketball Invitational
The 2010 College Basketball Invitational is a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 2010 National Invitation Tournament. The opening round began Tuesday,...
after VCU swept Saint Louis
2009–10 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team represented Saint Louis University in the 2009–10 college basketball season. This was head coach Rick Majerus's third season at Saint Louis. The Billikens compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference and played their home games at Chaifetz Arena...
in the championship best of three series.
Smart's second season began with forward Larry Sanders
Larry Sanders (basketball)
Larry Sanders is an American basketball player drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He played power forward for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams. As a junior Sanders averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He then declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft and was...
declaring for the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
after his junior season. Sanders' selection by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
with the 15th pick made VCU the first school in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to have a player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft in consecutive years, as the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
had selected guard Eric Maynor
Eric Maynor
Eric Demarqua Maynor is an American professional basketball player at point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. He played college basketball for the VCU Rams...
with the 20th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. The Rams under Smart went 23–11 in the 2010–2011 season. Smart led the Rams to their second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
Championship Game, where they lost to Old Dominion
2010–11 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team
The 2010–11 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team represented Old Dominion University during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Monarchs, led by 10th year head coach Blaine Taylor, played their home games at Ted Constant Convocation Center and are members of the Colonial...
.
Despite not securing the automatic bid, VCU earned an at-large bid to the Southwest region of the 2011 NCAA Tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
, but were placed in the "First Four" against USC
2010–11 USC Trojans men's basketball team
The 2010–11 USC Trojans men's basketball team represented the University of Southern California during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Trojans, led by second year head coach Kevin O'Neill, played their home games at the Galen Center and were members of the Pacific-10...
for a spot in the main 64-team tournament bracket. The Rams' selection into the tournament was widely criticized. His coaching strategy, positive outlook, and patience helped VCU defeat USC in the First Four, and then upset the 6th-seeded Georgetown Hoyas
2010–11 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University in the 2010–2011 NCAA Division I basketball season. In November, the team played in and won the Charleston Classic tournament. During the February 23 game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, senior Chris Wright...
and 3rd-seeded Purdue Boilermakers
2010–11 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team represented Purdue University. The head coach was Matt Painter, in his sixth season with the Boilers...
to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. VCU won 72–71 against Florida State University
2010–11 Florida State Seminoles men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Florida State Seminoles men's basketball team represented Florida State University during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Seminoles, led by 9th year head coach Leonard Hamilton, played their home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center and are members of the...
in overtime to earn the school's first spot in the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
and subsequently upset the top-seeded University of Kansas
2010–11 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team represented the University of Kansas in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which was the Jayhawks' 113th basketball season. The head coach was Bill Self, who was serving his 8th year. The team played its home games in Allen...
71–61 for its first Final Four appearance. But in the Final Four, the Rams lost to Butler
2010–11 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Butler University in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Brad Stevens, serving his 4th year. The Bulldogs played their home games at the Hinkle Fieldhouse, which has a capacity of approximately 10,000...
70-62.
On April 4, 2011, Smart agreed to an 8-year contract extension with the VCU Rams, increasing his base pay from $350,000 to $1.2 million per year, prior to any performance bonuses.
Style of play
Smart's teams play a style of basketball known as "havoc." Smart described his "havoc" defensive philosophy during his introductory press conference as, "We are going to wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and their plan of attack." On the court, the "havoc" defensive mindset is visible through the heavy use of the full court pressFull Court Press
A full-court press is a basketball term that refers to a defensive style in which the defense applies man-to-man or zone defense to pressure the offensive team the entire length of the court before and after the inbound pass. Some presses attempt to deny the initial inbounds pass and trap ball...
and pressing after made baskets to disrupt opponents' timing of offensive sets. In his second season, VCU led the Colonial Athletic Association in steals. Offensively, Smart-coached teams play uptempo and push the ball after misses and makes with what Smart describes as "The freedom to make plays in the open court."
Personal life
Smart's given name was bestowed in honor of the famous Zulu warriorShaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
. He graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon with a degree in History, researching and writing on issues related to race and the Great Migration
Great Migration (African American)
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million blacks out of the Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest, and West from 1910 to 1970. Some historians differentiate between a Great Migration , numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration , in which 5 million or more...
his junior and senior years. Smart received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and earned a master's degree in social science at California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
.
Shaka Smart developed a love for quotations at Kenyon. Smart began writing down quotes into a digital document that is now over 110 pages long.
Smart has been married to Maya Payne, a professional writer, since 2006. They are expecting their first child later in 2011.
Smart's half-brother is the writer and professor J.M. Tyree.