Shaka Smart

Shaka Smart: A Rising Star in College Basketball

High School

Born in Wisconsin in 1977, Smart played point guard for three years on the Oregon Panthers. He set school records for assists in a game, season, and career. As a senior, Smart made All-Badger Conference Second Team.

College

Shaka in College

Additionally, Smart played college basketball at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He was a four-year starter and led the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1999. He was also named the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year.  Shaka Smart set school records for assists in a season (184) and career (542).  He was also named to the 1999 USA Today All-USA Academic Team.  Smart earned a prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarship and graduated magna cum laude in 1999 with a degree in history.

Coaching

Shaka Smart began his coaching career as an assistant at California University of Pennsylvania from 1999-2001. During his two seasons, the school had a 40-16 record. Smart’s first head coaching job was at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).    He coached at VCU from 2009-2015.

In 2015, Smart was hired as the head coach at the University of Texas. He led the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament in his first two seasons. However, he was fired in 2021 after the team finished with a record of 19-14.

In 2021, Smart was hired as the head coach at Marquette University. He is currently in his second season with the Golden Eagles.

Current Status 2023

Recently, Shaka Smart was named the head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball team. He is in his second season with the team. The Golden Eagles finished the 2022-2023 season with a record of 29-7 and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Michigan State. Shaka bumbly recieved the honor of Men’s AP Coach of the year.

Here are some additional details about Shaka Smart’s life and career:

• He is known for his up-tempo style of play and his ability to get the most out of his players.
• He is also known for his recruiting skills. He has been able to attract top talent to his teams at VCU and Texas.
• Smart is considered to be one of the top young coaches in college basketball. He is still under 50 years old and has already had a lot of success.
• He is sure to continue to be a successful coach for many years to come.