Shaka Smart Introductory Press Conference
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bcherry168
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This is a very impressive young man. This is going to be a lot of fun, I think.
Another great hire by Patterson.
Another great hire by Patterson.
Epictetus
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I'm just glad we did not overwhelm him with a ton of glass and steel, splash and pomp and lush press conference surroundings.
I'm much happier it was a laid back almost clutsy podium and microphone with rickety audio.
Much more relaxed and appropriate.
Actually I mean that as sincerely as the sarcasm. But the facility was ... kinda strange. Is that where all this stuff takes place?
I'm much happier it was a laid back almost clutsy podium and microphone with rickety audio.
Much more relaxed and appropriate.
Actually I mean that as sincerely as the sarcasm. But the facility was ... kinda strange. Is that where all this stuff takes place?
Matt Cotcher
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No. That was in the Erwin Center's basement & is the only/nicest room capable of handling that many folks, TV cameras, etc.
Football stuff is in Bellmont/DKR.
bcherry168
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primal defense
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Excellent hire! Shaka is young enough to coach here for 25 years and build up a legacy like Coach K. This is an article from Virginia paper.
VCU should thank Shaka Smart for remarkable run before he left for Texas
The glow of a most improbable postseason still white hot, Shaka Smart could have bailed on VCU weeks after steering the Rams to the 2011 Final Four. He could have exited in 2012, ’13 or ’14, too.
North Carolina State, Illinois, UCLA, Wake Forest and Marquette inquired. And certainly others that remained in the shadows.
So anyone who labels Smart’s acceptance of Texas’ offer Thursday as that of a self-centered, callously ambitious, money-hungry coach hasn’t been paying attention.
Sure, the Longhorns are lavishing Smart with a salary and resources that few programs can exceed. And yes, Smart has a far better chance of returning to the Final Four with Texas than he did at VCU.
Which is precisely what he earned after a remarkable six-season run with the Rams. Six seasons! That’s two more than Jeff Capel III gave VCU before heading to Oklahoma and double the tenure of Anthony Grant, who exited for Alabama.
Not to fault those gentlemen. Like all of us, they weighed the personal and professional and acted accordingly.
Smart did the same while declining most overtures and embracing Texas’.
An intellectual at heart with an honors degree in history from Kenyon College, he understood that sustaining 2011’s success was his truest challenge. He appreciated the fans who packed the Siegel Center and the administrators who invested in his program with not only pay bumps but also facility enhancements, the latter most evident in a $25 million practice palace that’s under construction.
Moreover, Smart and his family came to love Richmond and the players he coached. He was loyal to the city, to those young men and to the school that afforded him his first head-coaching opportunity.
None of which obligated him to VCU for 10, 15 or 20 years. Parting is inevitable in college athletics, be it by coaching change, voluntary or otherwise, or player attrition via graduation, transfer or early exit to the pros.
Smart inherited an accomplished program in 2009. Capel’s Rams reached the 2004 NCAA tournament, falling to Wake Forest by a point. Grant’s 2007 edition dismissed Duke before losing to Pittsburgh by five, and two years later his team lost to UCLA by one.
But Smart made the program his own, building on those accomplishments and recruiting athletes who fit the full-court, pressure defense he prefers and learned, in part, from Billy Donovan at Florida. In only his second season, VCU became the first, and to this day only, team to win five NCAA tournament games to reach the Final Four.
The Rams were relegated to a play-in game, where they bested Southern California. Then came a series of upsets: Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas, before a national semifinal loss to Butler.
One-hit wonder? Hardly. Starting with 2011, VCU has earned a state-record five consecutive NCAA tournament bids, advancing in three of those years.
Think of the college basketball coaches who have graced our state: Terry Holland and Jeff Jones at Virginia. Jim Larranaga at George Mason. Paul Webb, Tom Young, Oliver Purnell, Jeff Capel Jr. and Blaine Taylor at Old Dominion. Dick Tarrant, John Beilein, Jerry Wainwright and Chris Mooney at Richmond. Charlie Moir, Bill Foster and Seth Greenberg at Virginia Tech. J.D. Barnett at VCU, and Lou Campanelli and Lefty Driesell at James Madison.
None went to five straight NCAA tournaments. Smart did and averaged 27 victories a year.
Rick Barnes, Smart’s predecessor at Texas, took the Longhorns to 16 NCAAs in 17 years and was turfed last week for his efforts — he quickly landed at Tennessee. So suffice to say, Smart is entering a new realm of expectations, not to mention competition in a Big 12 Conference that saw seven of its 10 teams qualify for the NCAA this season.
Similarly, the Rams’ new coach will find VCU far different than when Capel, Grant and Smart arrived. None had previous head-coaching experience, but none was taking over a program basking in five consecutive NCAAs and a Final Four.
During a teleconference with reporters Friday, Rams athletic director Ed McLaughlin said big-whistle credentials are not essential, but in the same response he called VCU a “nationally elite program.†The elite, or those who aspire to such, rarely hire rookies.
McLaughlin went to VCU in 2012 after six years as Niagara’s athletic director. He has never hired a men’s basketball coach, so handicapping his proverbial short list — surely he was prepared for this day — is difficult.
McLaughlin said continuing the Rams’ high-octane pace of play is important to players, donors and fans and that his search will be “quick and thorough.†Already attending the Final Four in Indianapolis, he’s positioned for a weekend of one-stop shopping with the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention also in town.
Names: Rice’s Mike Rhoades, 12-20 in one year there and 197-76 in 10 at Division III Randolph-Macon, Chattanooga’s Will Wade, 40-25 in two seasons, and Radord's Mike Jones, 63-70 in four years, were assistants to Smart on the Rams’ Final Four team. Grant was recently fired after six years and a 117-85 record at Alabama. They know VCU.
Elsewhere: Former Duke All-American Bobby Hurley led Buffalo to its first NCAA tournament this season, his second with the school, and his brother, Danny, coaches Rhode Island, an Atlantic 10 rival of VCU’s. Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford understands the A-10 from three seasons at Massachusetts, and despite five NCAA bids in seven years with the Cowboys, he has been under fire.
Louisiana Tech’s Michael White, whose father, Kevin, is Duke’s athletic director, is 101-40 in four years. North Carolina Central’s LeVelle Moton has no experience beyond the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but the Eagles’ 46-2 league record the last three seasons is beyond sterling.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch and USA Today report that current VCU assistant Jeremy Ballard and Mount St. Mary's head coach Jamion Christian, a former VCU and William and Mary assistant, are serious candidates.
Naturally, McLaughlin offered no clues Friday, but suffice to say he’ll have no shortage of candidates, many of whom I imagine would surprise us all. McLaughlin did joke that without unlimited text messages, he’d owe his cell provider about $3 million.
For that interest, he and VCU faithful can thank Shaka Smart.
David Teel can be reached at 757-247-4636 or by email at dteel@dailypress.com. For more from Teel, read his blog at dailypress.com/teeltime and follow him at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP.
http://touch.dailypress.com/#section/3035/article/p2p-83216654/
VCU should thank Shaka Smart for remarkable run before he left for Texas
The glow of a most improbable postseason still white hot, Shaka Smart could have bailed on VCU weeks after steering the Rams to the 2011 Final Four. He could have exited in 2012, ’13 or ’14, too.
North Carolina State, Illinois, UCLA, Wake Forest and Marquette inquired. And certainly others that remained in the shadows.
So anyone who labels Smart’s acceptance of Texas’ offer Thursday as that of a self-centered, callously ambitious, money-hungry coach hasn’t been paying attention.
Sure, the Longhorns are lavishing Smart with a salary and resources that few programs can exceed. And yes, Smart has a far better chance of returning to the Final Four with Texas than he did at VCU.
Which is precisely what he earned after a remarkable six-season run with the Rams. Six seasons! That’s two more than Jeff Capel III gave VCU before heading to Oklahoma and double the tenure of Anthony Grant, who exited for Alabama.
Not to fault those gentlemen. Like all of us, they weighed the personal and professional and acted accordingly.
Smart did the same while declining most overtures and embracing Texas’.
An intellectual at heart with an honors degree in history from Kenyon College, he understood that sustaining 2011’s success was his truest challenge. He appreciated the fans who packed the Siegel Center and the administrators who invested in his program with not only pay bumps but also facility enhancements, the latter most evident in a $25 million practice palace that’s under construction.
Moreover, Smart and his family came to love Richmond and the players he coached. He was loyal to the city, to those young men and to the school that afforded him his first head-coaching opportunity.
None of which obligated him to VCU for 10, 15 or 20 years. Parting is inevitable in college athletics, be it by coaching change, voluntary or otherwise, or player attrition via graduation, transfer or early exit to the pros.
Smart inherited an accomplished program in 2009. Capel’s Rams reached the 2004 NCAA tournament, falling to Wake Forest by a point. Grant’s 2007 edition dismissed Duke before losing to Pittsburgh by five, and two years later his team lost to UCLA by one.
But Smart made the program his own, building on those accomplishments and recruiting athletes who fit the full-court, pressure defense he prefers and learned, in part, from Billy Donovan at Florida. In only his second season, VCU became the first, and to this day only, team to win five NCAA tournament games to reach the Final Four.
The Rams were relegated to a play-in game, where they bested Southern California. Then came a series of upsets: Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas, before a national semifinal loss to Butler.
One-hit wonder? Hardly. Starting with 2011, VCU has earned a state-record five consecutive NCAA tournament bids, advancing in three of those years.
Think of the college basketball coaches who have graced our state: Terry Holland and Jeff Jones at Virginia. Jim Larranaga at George Mason. Paul Webb, Tom Young, Oliver Purnell, Jeff Capel Jr. and Blaine Taylor at Old Dominion. Dick Tarrant, John Beilein, Jerry Wainwright and Chris Mooney at Richmond. Charlie Moir, Bill Foster and Seth Greenberg at Virginia Tech. J.D. Barnett at VCU, and Lou Campanelli and Lefty Driesell at James Madison.
None went to five straight NCAA tournaments. Smart did and averaged 27 victories a year.
Rick Barnes, Smart’s predecessor at Texas, took the Longhorns to 16 NCAAs in 17 years and was turfed last week for his efforts — he quickly landed at Tennessee. So suffice to say, Smart is entering a new realm of expectations, not to mention competition in a Big 12 Conference that saw seven of its 10 teams qualify for the NCAA this season.
Similarly, the Rams’ new coach will find VCU far different than when Capel, Grant and Smart arrived. None had previous head-coaching experience, but none was taking over a program basking in five consecutive NCAAs and a Final Four.
During a teleconference with reporters Friday, Rams athletic director Ed McLaughlin said big-whistle credentials are not essential, but in the same response he called VCU a “nationally elite program.†The elite, or those who aspire to such, rarely hire rookies.
McLaughlin went to VCU in 2012 after six years as Niagara’s athletic director. He has never hired a men’s basketball coach, so handicapping his proverbial short list — surely he was prepared for this day — is difficult.
McLaughlin said continuing the Rams’ high-octane pace of play is important to players, donors and fans and that his search will be “quick and thorough.†Already attending the Final Four in Indianapolis, he’s positioned for a weekend of one-stop shopping with the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention also in town.
Names: Rice’s Mike Rhoades, 12-20 in one year there and 197-76 in 10 at Division III Randolph-Macon, Chattanooga’s Will Wade, 40-25 in two seasons, and Radord's Mike Jones, 63-70 in four years, were assistants to Smart on the Rams’ Final Four team. Grant was recently fired after six years and a 117-85 record at Alabama. They know VCU.
Elsewhere: Former Duke All-American Bobby Hurley led Buffalo to its first NCAA tournament this season, his second with the school, and his brother, Danny, coaches Rhode Island, an Atlantic 10 rival of VCU’s. Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford understands the A-10 from three seasons at Massachusetts, and despite five NCAA bids in seven years with the Cowboys, he has been under fire.
Louisiana Tech’s Michael White, whose father, Kevin, is Duke’s athletic director, is 101-40 in four years. North Carolina Central’s LeVelle Moton has no experience beyond the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but the Eagles’ 46-2 league record the last three seasons is beyond sterling.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch and USA Today report that current VCU assistant Jeremy Ballard and Mount St. Mary's head coach Jamion Christian, a former VCU and William and Mary assistant, are serious candidates.
Naturally, McLaughlin offered no clues Friday, but suffice to say he’ll have no shortage of candidates, many of whom I imagine would surprise us all. McLaughlin did joke that without unlimited text messages, he’d owe his cell provider about $3 million.
For that interest, he and VCU faithful can thank Shaka Smart.
David Teel can be reached at 757-247-4636 or by email at dteel@dailypress.com. For more from Teel, read his blog at dailypress.com/teeltime and follow him at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP.
http://touch.dailypress.com/#section/3035/article/p2p-83216654/
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primal defense
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Chuck Carlton: Shaka Smart ready to tap into ‘unbelievable potential’ at Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Even Shaka Smart had difficulty envisioning himself coaching at a school other than Virginia Commonwealth.
He had turned down schools with national championship banners in the rafters and waiting checkbooks, such as UCLA and Maryland, among others. Somehow, Smart found himself in Austin for the first time at a Friday news conference explaining why Texas was the right situation that took him away from a place where he was adored.
“I don’t want to take away from any of the programs, but there’s only one University of Texas,†Smart said. “This is an extremely special place. From a long, long way away that was loud and clear.
“There’s unbelievable potential here.â€
Texas invested a lot in hiring Smart, 37, as the replacement for Rick Barnes. Athletic director Steve Patterson said Smart will receive a seven-year contract that averages about $3 million with the first six years of the contract guaranteed — longer than the deal received by football coach Charlie Strong. Texas will also pay Smart’s $500,000 buyout, Patterson said, as well as play a home-and-home with VCU.
Patterson acknowledged trepidation when he flew to Richmond on Thursday, even though the two had talked for several days.
“I’ve been surprised at the goal-line a few times,†Patterson said. This time, he had a deal and landed Smart, who had been hot property ever since he took VCU to the Final Four in 2011.
Smart now has to prove that his high intensity, pressure system can translate outside the mid-major environment of VCU.
“It translated a few years ago in San Antonio,†Smart said, drawing applause for the reference to VCU’s regional win over Texas conference rival Kansas.
“We’re always going to be aggressive. We’re going to be highly competitive. We’re always going to that team if the ball’s on the floor, we’re going to get it. There are certain core components that won’t change.â€
At the same time, Smart is willing to adapt his Havoc system.
He acknowledged that Texas has more bigger inside players that he’s used to. Smart wants them touching the ball.
Smart’s final minutes at VCU were spent breaking the news to his players. His press conference Friday was delayed by 30 minutes as he talked to the current group of Longhorns.
As much as Barnes was respected for taking Texas to 16 NCAA Tournaments in 17 years, even his players acknowledged it was time for a change.
Smart is clearly a player’s coach. Barnes? Not so much at the end.
“I think that was needed,†center Prince Ibeh, acknowledging a communication breakdown between Barnes and some of his players. “Barnes was a little more old school in his methods and the things he did. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I think a fresh start could be good for everybody,â€
One immediate project for Smart will be meeting with talented sophomore point guard Isaiah Taylor, who is mulling an NBA draft decision. Ibeh put the odds at 50-50. So what scouting report will Ibeh give Taylor on the new coach?
“I’ll say I like him a lot,†Ibeh said, “and everyone on the team should be excited about him and the fresh start we have.â€
In ways large and small, Smart won the press conference.
He talked about competing for championships and called Patterson “a visionary.†Asked about being the first African-American men’s basketball coach at Texas, Smart said: “I take it very seriously.†He praised Strong, who he knew from his time as an assistant to Billy Donovan at Florida.
“I embrace that football is as big as it is,†Smart said.
At the same time, he also took time in small gesture to talk to former players from the Tom Penders era like Reggie Freeman, Chico Vasquez and Kris Clack.
“I need you all to get back here,†Smart told them.
Freeman, for one, like what he heard from the invitation to the style of play to Smart’s relative youth.
“Nothing bad about Rick,’ Freeman said, “but he understands these guys more.â€
http://newsok.com/chuck-carlton-shaka-smart-ready-to-tap-into-unbelievable-potential-at-texas/article/feed/821742/?page=2
AUSTIN, Texas — Even Shaka Smart had difficulty envisioning himself coaching at a school other than Virginia Commonwealth.
He had turned down schools with national championship banners in the rafters and waiting checkbooks, such as UCLA and Maryland, among others. Somehow, Smart found himself in Austin for the first time at a Friday news conference explaining why Texas was the right situation that took him away from a place where he was adored.
“I don’t want to take away from any of the programs, but there’s only one University of Texas,†Smart said. “This is an extremely special place. From a long, long way away that was loud and clear.
“There’s unbelievable potential here.â€
Texas invested a lot in hiring Smart, 37, as the replacement for Rick Barnes. Athletic director Steve Patterson said Smart will receive a seven-year contract that averages about $3 million with the first six years of the contract guaranteed — longer than the deal received by football coach Charlie Strong. Texas will also pay Smart’s $500,000 buyout, Patterson said, as well as play a home-and-home with VCU.
Patterson acknowledged trepidation when he flew to Richmond on Thursday, even though the two had talked for several days.
“I’ve been surprised at the goal-line a few times,†Patterson said. This time, he had a deal and landed Smart, who had been hot property ever since he took VCU to the Final Four in 2011.
Smart now has to prove that his high intensity, pressure system can translate outside the mid-major environment of VCU.
“It translated a few years ago in San Antonio,†Smart said, drawing applause for the reference to VCU’s regional win over Texas conference rival Kansas.
“We’re always going to be aggressive. We’re going to be highly competitive. We’re always going to that team if the ball’s on the floor, we’re going to get it. There are certain core components that won’t change.â€
At the same time, Smart is willing to adapt his Havoc system.
He acknowledged that Texas has more bigger inside players that he’s used to. Smart wants them touching the ball.
Smart’s final minutes at VCU were spent breaking the news to his players. His press conference Friday was delayed by 30 minutes as he talked to the current group of Longhorns.
As much as Barnes was respected for taking Texas to 16 NCAA Tournaments in 17 years, even his players acknowledged it was time for a change.
Smart is clearly a player’s coach. Barnes? Not so much at the end.
“I think that was needed,†center Prince Ibeh, acknowledging a communication breakdown between Barnes and some of his players. “Barnes was a little more old school in his methods and the things he did. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I think a fresh start could be good for everybody,â€
One immediate project for Smart will be meeting with talented sophomore point guard Isaiah Taylor, who is mulling an NBA draft decision. Ibeh put the odds at 50-50. So what scouting report will Ibeh give Taylor on the new coach?
“I’ll say I like him a lot,†Ibeh said, “and everyone on the team should be excited about him and the fresh start we have.â€
In ways large and small, Smart won the press conference.
He talked about competing for championships and called Patterson “a visionary.†Asked about being the first African-American men’s basketball coach at Texas, Smart said: “I take it very seriously.†He praised Strong, who he knew from his time as an assistant to Billy Donovan at Florida.
“I embrace that football is as big as it is,†Smart said.
At the same time, he also took time in small gesture to talk to former players from the Tom Penders era like Reggie Freeman, Chico Vasquez and Kris Clack.
“I need you all to get back here,†Smart told them.
Freeman, for one, like what he heard from the invitation to the style of play to Smart’s relative youth.
“Nothing bad about Rick,’ Freeman said, “but he understands these guys more.â€
http://newsok.com/chuck-carlton-shaka-smart-ready-to-tap-into-unbelievable-potential-at-texas/article/feed/821742/?page=2
primal defense
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UT fans desperately seeking 'Strong-Smart' shirts
AUSTIN -- Within minutes of the University of Texas announcing its new head men's basketball coach, Longhorn fans lit up the phone lines at the University Co-op looking for T-shirts.
"As soon as we got the announcement, our customers started calling. They want their Smart and Strong t-shirts," said Leslie Smith, marketing vice president at the University Co-op.
The customers are looking for shirts with the names of both UT's football and basketball coaches, Shaka Smart and Charlie Strong.
Smith says merchandise sales are tied closely to how well UT sports teams are doing at the time.
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2015/04/03/ut-fans-desperately-seeking-strong-smart-shirts/25279353/
AUSTIN -- Within minutes of the University of Texas announcing its new head men's basketball coach, Longhorn fans lit up the phone lines at the University Co-op looking for T-shirts.
"As soon as we got the announcement, our customers started calling. They want their Smart and Strong t-shirts," said Leslie Smith, marketing vice president at the University Co-op.
The customers are looking for shirts with the names of both UT's football and basketball coaches, Shaka Smart and Charlie Strong.
Smith says merchandise sales are tied closely to how well UT sports teams are doing at the time.
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2015/04/03/ut-fans-desperately-seeking-strong-smart-shirts/25279353/
utisdabomb12
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utisdabomb12
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Former South Carolina and Western Kentucky head coach Darrin Horn has accepted an assistant coaching position on Shaka Smart's staff at Texas, a source told Scout on Monday.
Smart was hired away from VCU on Thursday. Horn joins a staff at Texas that also includes Mike Morrell, who came from VCU with Smart.
In nine years as a head coach, Horn held a record of 171-112. His best season was in 2007-08 when he led Western Kentucky to the Sweet 16. Horn has spent the past two years working for ESPN as a college basketball analyst.
Prior to becoming a head coach, Horn was an assistant at Marquette under Tom Crean, as well as Morehead State and Western Kentucky, where he played.
Former South Carolina and Western Kentucky head coach Darrin Horn has accepted an assistant coaching position on Shaka Smart's staff at Texas, a source told Scout on Monday.
Smart was hired away from VCU on Thursday. Horn joins a staff at Texas that also includes Mike Morrell, who came from VCU with Smart.
In nine years as a head coach, Horn held a record of 171-112. His best season was in 2007-08 when he led Western Kentucky to the Sweet 16. Horn has spent the past two years working for ESPN as a college basketball analyst.
Prior to becoming a head coach, Horn was an assistant at Marquette under Tom Crean, as well as Morehead State and Western Kentucky, where he played.
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utisdabomb12
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Woah, love the Darrin Horn hire.
primal defense
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BOZICH | Darrin Horn primed to join Shaka Smart at Texas
INDIANAPOLIS (WDRB) – Former Western Kentucky player and coach Darrin Horn is primed to return to coaching this week as an assistant on the staff that Shaka Smart is assembling at the University of Texas, a source said Monday.
Horn, 42, won nearly 70 percent of his games during five seasons as the head coach at WKU. His fifth Western team finished 29-7, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2008 NCAA Tournament before losing to UCLA in the West Regional semifinals.
After that season, Horn left for South Carolina. His four-season record with the Gamecocks was 60-63. He was fired with three seasons remaining on his contract in 2012. Horn's 2010 South Carolina team was the first to defeat top-ranked Kentucky.
Horn has lived in Lexington, his hometown, the last three seasons, while working as a TV analyst and part-time radio host. He worked for the SEC Network this season.
Texas hired Smart to replace Rick Barnes, who will now coach Tennessee. Horn and Smart have been friends for several years.
Smart has been one of the top coaching candidates in the country since he led Virginia Commonwealth to the 2011 Final Four in Houston.
An official announcement on Horn joining the Texas staff is expected later this week.
Two of Horn's WKU recruits, Courtney Lee and Jeremy Evans, made the NBA. He also helped develop Dwyane Wade, Steve Novak and Travis Diener on Tom Crean's staff at Marquette.
At WKU, Horn was an academic all-American who started for the Hilltoppers' 1993 team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Copyright 2015 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved
http://www.wdrb.com/story/28732278/bozich-darrin-horn-primed-to-join-shaka-smart-at-texas
INDIANAPOLIS (WDRB) – Former Western Kentucky player and coach Darrin Horn is primed to return to coaching this week as an assistant on the staff that Shaka Smart is assembling at the University of Texas, a source said Monday.
Horn, 42, won nearly 70 percent of his games during five seasons as the head coach at WKU. His fifth Western team finished 29-7, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2008 NCAA Tournament before losing to UCLA in the West Regional semifinals.
After that season, Horn left for South Carolina. His four-season record with the Gamecocks was 60-63. He was fired with three seasons remaining on his contract in 2012. Horn's 2010 South Carolina team was the first to defeat top-ranked Kentucky.
Horn has lived in Lexington, his hometown, the last three seasons, while working as a TV analyst and part-time radio host. He worked for the SEC Network this season.
Texas hired Smart to replace Rick Barnes, who will now coach Tennessee. Horn and Smart have been friends for several years.
Smart has been one of the top coaching candidates in the country since he led Virginia Commonwealth to the 2011 Final Four in Houston.
An official announcement on Horn joining the Texas staff is expected later this week.
Two of Horn's WKU recruits, Courtney Lee and Jeremy Evans, made the NBA. He also helped develop Dwyane Wade, Steve Novak and Travis Diener on Tom Crean's staff at Marquette.
At WKU, Horn was an academic all-American who started for the Hilltoppers' 1993 team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Copyright 2015 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved
http://www.wdrb.com/story/28732278/bozich-darrin-horn-primed-to-join-shaka-smart-at-texas
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Texas coach Shaka Smart on Bevo, OU, the national title game and more
New Texas men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart discussed his new gig Monday on The Dan Patrick Show. Some of the highlights:
Patrick: What quality basketball trait must players have to play for you?
Smart: If I had to pick one it would be competitiveness. We want to compete on every single play. We want to be the more aggressive team. Particularly with the way the game is officiated now, the more aggressive team certainly has a huge advantage.
Patrick: I want a picture of you on top of Bevo. Is that possible?
Smart: I have a lot of stuff I need to do, but I can definitely work on that.
Patrick: How much of a concern is working at a football school?
Smart: I worked at two quote unquote football schools as an assistant coach, first Clemson and then Florida. I had the opportunity to be a part of programs that had major success in a school where football was definitely the prominent sport. If you look at Texas and the athletic department here, there’s been over 50 national championships among the different sports. …The success of football, the interest in football, the intensity of the way people feel about football, that’s actually going to be a positive for us in the basketball program.
Patrick: Do you already hate Oklahoma?
Smart: No, but I certainly can learn.
Patrick: Who wins tonight’s NCAA title game?
Smart: I would say Wisconsin. Similar to the semifinal game, Wisconsin has the revenge factor, and they’re just playing with a level of ease and looseness, but also aggressiveness and confidence.
http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/texas-coach-shaka-smart-on-bevo-ou-the-national-title-game-and-more.html/
New Texas men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart discussed his new gig Monday on The Dan Patrick Show. Some of the highlights:
Patrick: What quality basketball trait must players have to play for you?
Smart: If I had to pick one it would be competitiveness. We want to compete on every single play. We want to be the more aggressive team. Particularly with the way the game is officiated now, the more aggressive team certainly has a huge advantage.
Patrick: I want a picture of you on top of Bevo. Is that possible?
Smart: I have a lot of stuff I need to do, but I can definitely work on that.
Patrick: How much of a concern is working at a football school?
Smart: I worked at two quote unquote football schools as an assistant coach, first Clemson and then Florida. I had the opportunity to be a part of programs that had major success in a school where football was definitely the prominent sport. If you look at Texas and the athletic department here, there’s been over 50 national championships among the different sports. …The success of football, the interest in football, the intensity of the way people feel about football, that’s actually going to be a positive for us in the basketball program.
Patrick: Do you already hate Oklahoma?
Smart: No, but I certainly can learn.
Patrick: Who wins tonight’s NCAA title game?
Smart: I would say Wisconsin. Similar to the semifinal game, Wisconsin has the revenge factor, and they’re just playing with a level of ease and looseness, but also aggressiveness and confidence.
http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/texas-coach-shaka-smart-on-bevo-ou-the-national-title-game-and-more.html/
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Longhorns need same attitude, confidence as Shaka Smart's VCU teams to revive dormant program
No player and no moment quite symbolized Shaka Smart’s run at Virginia Commonwealth better than guard Joey Rodriguez and his pregame meeting against Kansas.
Generously listed at 5-10, Rodriguez was the heart and soul of a team that had improbably reached the regional final against top seed Kansas in 2011. During the officials’ talk with captains from both teams, one of the hulking Morris twins, Marcus or Markieff, told Rodriguez that VCU’s nice little run was about to end.
“That was a mistake, saying that to Joey,†Smart said, recalling VCU’s program-making 71-61 win to reach the Final Four. “He thought he was 8-foot tall. His belief in himself carried over to all his teammates.â€
As Smart travels to Texas and a new challenge, transplanting some of VCU’s confidence and attitude wouldn’t hurt.
For all the credentials and rave scouting reviews of its players, Texas needs to play with that Havoc kind of edge.
While Texas certainly played hard in Rick Barnes’ final seasons, the Longhorns also looked confused at times. Blown leads and missed opportunities became a Texas trademark.
The Longhorns went 2-8 against the upper division of the Big 12 this season, including a late-season win over Baylor in which the Bears controlled most of the game. It was a team far closer to missing the tournament than making a long run.
Too often, Texas basketball seemed to follow the definition of insanity often attributed to Einstein: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The blown 10-point lead to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament was unexpected only if you hadn’t followed Texas all season.
The challenge facing Smart starts but doesn’t end there.
Texas really hasn’t been a contender in the Big 12 for a while, outside of a second-place finish in 2011. Programs such as Iowa State, Oklahoma and Baylor have been far more likely to challenge Kansas.
One common theme from the last few years under Barnes was that players left early, either for the NBA or as transfers. And the ones who stayed didn’t show the expected development.
Players who had not left for a long Easter weekend seemed enthused after meeting with Smart and hearing the energetic, focused approach at his news conference, but the true test will be workouts and practice.
Smart said he’s willing to alter his system some to reflect talent and personnel. Other aspects, such as effort, are non-negotiable.
As anyone who has watched VCU play knows, it’s not an easy system, befitting a coach who had his players go through SEAL training. Things will clearly be different from the Barnes era, which qualifies as a good thing.
Players and fans need to get used to it. Smart isn’t going anywhere, not with a seven-year contract and the first six years guaranteed at about $3 million per year.
He already seems focused on the new job after his time at VCU.
Texas associate athletic director Arthur Johnson offered Smart a chance to fly to Richmond this weekend to take care of any loose ends.
“I’m not going back to Richmond,†Smart said. “I’m here to stay.â€
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/columnists/chuck-carlton/20150404-carlton-longhorns-need-same-attitude-confidence-as-shaka-smart-s-vcu-teams-to-revive-dormant-program.ece
No player and no moment quite symbolized Shaka Smart’s run at Virginia Commonwealth better than guard Joey Rodriguez and his pregame meeting against Kansas.
Generously listed at 5-10, Rodriguez was the heart and soul of a team that had improbably reached the regional final against top seed Kansas in 2011. During the officials’ talk with captains from both teams, one of the hulking Morris twins, Marcus or Markieff, told Rodriguez that VCU’s nice little run was about to end.
“That was a mistake, saying that to Joey,†Smart said, recalling VCU’s program-making 71-61 win to reach the Final Four. “He thought he was 8-foot tall. His belief in himself carried over to all his teammates.â€
As Smart travels to Texas and a new challenge, transplanting some of VCU’s confidence and attitude wouldn’t hurt.
For all the credentials and rave scouting reviews of its players, Texas needs to play with that Havoc kind of edge.
While Texas certainly played hard in Rick Barnes’ final seasons, the Longhorns also looked confused at times. Blown leads and missed opportunities became a Texas trademark.
The Longhorns went 2-8 against the upper division of the Big 12 this season, including a late-season win over Baylor in which the Bears controlled most of the game. It was a team far closer to missing the tournament than making a long run.
Too often, Texas basketball seemed to follow the definition of insanity often attributed to Einstein: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The blown 10-point lead to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament was unexpected only if you hadn’t followed Texas all season.
The challenge facing Smart starts but doesn’t end there.
Texas really hasn’t been a contender in the Big 12 for a while, outside of a second-place finish in 2011. Programs such as Iowa State, Oklahoma and Baylor have been far more likely to challenge Kansas.
One common theme from the last few years under Barnes was that players left early, either for the NBA or as transfers. And the ones who stayed didn’t show the expected development.
Players who had not left for a long Easter weekend seemed enthused after meeting with Smart and hearing the energetic, focused approach at his news conference, but the true test will be workouts and practice.
Smart said he’s willing to alter his system some to reflect talent and personnel. Other aspects, such as effort, are non-negotiable.
As anyone who has watched VCU play knows, it’s not an easy system, befitting a coach who had his players go through SEAL training. Things will clearly be different from the Barnes era, which qualifies as a good thing.
Players and fans need to get used to it. Smart isn’t going anywhere, not with a seven-year contract and the first six years guaranteed at about $3 million per year.
He already seems focused on the new job after his time at VCU.
Texas associate athletic director Arthur Johnson offered Smart a chance to fly to Richmond this weekend to take care of any loose ends.
“I’m not going back to Richmond,†Smart said. “I’m here to stay.â€
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/columnists/chuck-carlton/20150404-carlton-longhorns-need-same-attitude-confidence-as-shaka-smart-s-vcu-teams-to-revive-dormant-program.ece
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