Marquette
VCU and MU hired Steve Wojciechowski. Almost exactly seven years later, Smart this time agreed to a deal.
As for his name, he was named Shaka after a 19th-century warrior king. Smart and his wife, Maya, have one daughter, Zora.
Smart is the first Black men’s head coach ever at MU
Smart is the first Black head coach in MU basketball history. He is the second Black coach ever at MU: Sharon Pettis Randolph, who died at 69 last year, was hired by athletic director Al McGuire (yes, the legendary basketball coach) to coach tennis in 1975. Frank Pelaez, the MU women's soccer coach, is a native of Colombia.
Smart played at Wisconsin’s Oregon High School
Smart grew up in Fitchburg outside of Madison and attended Oregon High School. Befitting a future coach, Oregon coach Kevin Bavery told the Wisconsin State Journal in 2011 that Smart had a magnetic personality. Smart was a heady point guard and three-year starter for the Panthers. Smart's teams were eliminated by rival Fort Atkinson in the state playoffs his junior and senior seasons. Smart played at NCAA Division III Kenyon College in Ohio, leaving as the school's all-time assists leader.
Garcia might stick around
The immediate question is if Smart can retain any of MU's talented players. As Texas coach, Smart offered 2020 McDonald's All-American Dawson Garcia a scholarship before he decided to play for the Golden Eagles. The 6-foot-11 Garcia, who averaged 13 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a freshman, and 6-7 Justin Lewis could again form a talented frontcourt. Smart is surely familiar with 6-2 guard D.J. Carton, who was one of the most sought-after recruits in the 2019 class.
One intriguing possibility: Brookfield Central's David Joplin signed with
Smart at Texas. Will Joplin seek a release from his national letter of intent and stay close to home at MU?
Smart is known for recruiting
Smart made his coaching bones by getting the most of three-star and fourstar recruits at VCU.
Once at Texas, Smart became known for finding talented big men. In 2016, he landed five-star prospect Jarrett Allen, who averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a freshman before becoming the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
Mo Bamba was another heralded recruit who spent one season at Texas before getting drafted No. 6 by the Orlando Magic. Jaxson Hayes was a surprise one-and-done college player, parlaying a Big 12 freshman of the year season into being drafted eighth overall in 2019.
Smart's last recruiting coup for Texas was convincing five-star hometown kid Greg Brown to stay in Austin, though Brown had an underwhelming season at 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Getting defensive ... for a change
Here are Texas' defensive efficiency rankings under Smart, per kenpom.com: 40th, 21st, 12th, 26th, 24th, 35th. Under Wojciechowski from 2014-21, MU finished: 69th, 88th, 165th, 182nd, 45th, 73rd, 79th.
That side of the floor is where Smart can make the biggest impact. Whether Smart goes back to his full-court “Havoc” defense from his VCU days will likely depend on MU's roster.
Pattern of baldness
Smart has mostly been known for his clean-shaven head during his coaching career. But during this pandemic-plagued season, Smart let his hair grow out.
During telecasts of Longhorns games and on social media, ESPN commentator Jay Bilas would frequently mention kicking Smart out of the “Bald Brotherhood.”
Not quite as important as the product on the court, but Smart's hairline will be an important story line to monitor.