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AUSTIN – A former high school history teacher and one-time Michigan assistant will become Texas coach Shaka Smart’s top lieutenant, the school announced Friday.
Luke Yaklich, 43, will join the Longhorns as an associate head coach, replacing Darrin Horn, who earlier this year became the head coach at Northern Kentucky University.
"His background as a head coach at the high school level for many years gives him a unique perspective in terms of the way he interacts with players," Smart said. "Luke is a true teacher. That word gets thrown around a lot, but he literally was in the classroom for nearly 15 years and still thinks of himself that way.
"Luke has a phenomenal work ethic and a consistent drive to help his teams be successful," Smart said. "He's a good fit for our staff because he brings a passion and commitment to all the little things and the details that go into making a program successful. He is not in any way afraid to roll up his sleeves and do whatever is needed."
Yaklich spent the past two seasons as an assistant on Michigan coach Jon Beilein's staff. During that time the Wolverines compiled a 63-15 record and advanced to the 2018 NCAA championship game and 2019 Sweet Sixteen.
Beilein on May 13 left his longtime post at Michigan to become head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading Yaklich to seek out other opportunities.
"Throughout my coaching career, I've always aspired to continue to grow," Yaklich said. "Part of that growth process for me was to study great coaches who build their programs around a culture. I studied what coach Smart had done at VCU when I was a high school coach and continued to follow him at Texas when I began coaching in college.
“When coach Beilein accepted the Cleveland Cavaliers job and this position was open, I talked to coach Smart about what he was looking...
View the full article
Luke Yaklich, 43, will join the Longhorns as an associate head coach, replacing Darrin Horn, who earlier this year became the head coach at Northern Kentucky University.
"His background as a head coach at the high school level for many years gives him a unique perspective in terms of the way he interacts with players," Smart said. "Luke is a true teacher. That word gets thrown around a lot, but he literally was in the classroom for nearly 15 years and still thinks of himself that way.
"Luke has a phenomenal work ethic and a consistent drive to help his teams be successful," Smart said. "He's a good fit for our staff because he brings a passion and commitment to all the little things and the details that go into making a program successful. He is not in any way afraid to roll up his sleeves and do whatever is needed."
Yaklich spent the past two seasons as an assistant on Michigan coach Jon Beilein's staff. During that time the Wolverines compiled a 63-15 record and advanced to the 2018 NCAA championship game and 2019 Sweet Sixteen.
Beilein on May 13 left his longtime post at Michigan to become head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading Yaklich to seek out other opportunities.
"Throughout my coaching career, I've always aspired to continue to grow," Yaklich said. "Part of that growth process for me was to study great coaches who build their programs around a culture. I studied what coach Smart had done at VCU when I was a high school coach and continued to follow him at Texas when I began coaching in college.
“When coach Beilein accepted the Cleveland Cavaliers job and this position was open, I talked to coach Smart about what he was looking...
View the full article
