Shaka Smart Biography

Shaka Smart led the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams to a final-four appearance in 2011 during his second season as head coach. Smart began his coaching career in 1999 as an assistant at California after a stellar career as a point guard at Kenyon College. After coaching at California for two years he served as the director of basketball operations as Dayton from 2001 to 2003 and then served as an assistant at Akron, Clemson and Florida from 2003 to 2009. After the 2008-09 season VCU hired Smart as their new head coach and he led them to a 27 win season in his first year. After a Final Four appearance in 2011 he led them to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and posted a career high 29 wins. He has since posted a 143-49 overall record and led the Rams to a CBI Tournament Championship in 2010 and CAA Tournament Championship in 2012. In 2011 he signed a long-term contract with VCU that would bring him $1.2 million a year. 

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