The University of Texas (UT) landed Shaka Smart, quickly putting an end to their men's basketball coaching search.
According to ESPN, Smart, now formerly the coach at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), held a meeting with his team Thursday evening to break the news to them. Later that night, a VCU athletic department official told reporters Smart had accepted the job at UT.
ESPN also learned UT athletic director Steve Patterson traveled to Richmond, Va. to personally reach the agreement with Smart.
"Out of respect for Coach Smart and the University of Texas, we decline comment at this point," VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin said in a statement. "I have spoken with Coach Smart and we will have a statement tomorrow."
UT announced Sunday a mutual decision to part with coach Rick Barnes, who shortly after accepted the job at Tennessee. Smart was then considered the leading target for UT from that point on.
USA Today also learned of UT's hiring of Smart, though details of the contract were not available. He made $1.8 million per year at VCU, so it may be reasonable to expect UT to give him a raise. Smart's contract also requires him to pay a $500,000 buyout and a $250,000 payment from the school that hires him, in addition to a home-and-home series.
Though VCU was not exactly struggling when Smart took over, the Rams are in a non-Power-5 conference. Regardless, Smart led VCU to a 163-56 record in four seasons. Barnes was highly successful at UT, leading the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament in each of his 17 seasons there, though he delivered only one Final Four berth and no titles.
