VCU is working on a contract extension with Shaka Smart, according to Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel. This should end any speculation that the fourth-year head coach would leave the school for another job.
Shaka Smart, VCU working on contract extension, according to report
Shaka Smart and VCU are working on a contract which would keep the head coach at the school, according to reports. Smart has been named as a candidate for a number of vacancies, including UCLA and Minnesota.
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Thamel dashed the hopes of UCLA fans with his tweet:
Sorry, UCLA. VCU is working on an contract extension to keep Shaka Smart. Should have an agreement soon.
— Pete Thamel(@SIPeteThamel) March 26, 2013
Many believed Smart to be a candidate for the UCLA job once Ben Howland was officially fired on Monday. There was also speculation that Minnesota would pursue Smart as well, with current Golden Gophers’ athletic director Norwood Teague a former colleague of Smart’s at VCU.
However if reports hold up, Smart will remain in Richmond, Va., where he has built a perennial NCAA Tournament team at VCU. In four years at the school Smart has won 111 games, and taken the Rams to the NCAA Tourney in each of the past three seasons.
And while Smart led VCU to the Final Four in 2011, his best coaching job may have actually come this past season. In its first year in the Atlantic 10, VCU finished 27-9 overall and second in both the conference’s regular season standings and postseason tournament.
VCU’s 2013 season ended on Saturday, with a NCAA Tournament third-round loss to Michigan.
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