Marquette is already special to Smart
Lori Nickel
The best part about Shaka Smart’s homecoming might have been his introductory press conference Monday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center, and how the first Black head coach in men’s basketball history referred to his new position with his new employer.
“It is significant, and I take a lot of responsibility and pride in being the first Black coach,” said Smart. “Especially because it’s Doc’s school.” Smart was born in April 1977, just 27 days after the charismatic Al McGuire won the NCAA men’s basketball title at Marquette University. McGuire built this program, of course, and it’s his name that resonates still, half a century later in the broad scope of things – a fact that Smart acknowledged.
“Growing up in this part of the country, you couldn’t help but follow this basketball program,” said Smart. “And I remember listening to Al McGuire – as a broadcaster.”
But those who love this game and are from Wisconsin, like Smart, cherish other Marquette names as well. Raymonds and Wade; Majerus and Crean; Thompson and Diener, just to name a handful.
And, for Smart, who grew up in Madison, the son of a single mom who worked two jobs, who made sports his outlet and coaches his father figures, there was someone else who impressed him, influenced him, and mentored him - and that was Doc Rivers.
Most know of Rivers, the 59-year-old longtime NBA coach. Named NBA coach of the year in his debut in 1999, he later led
the Celtics to an NBA title and has won 1,850 NBA games. But we know him too as the standout who played at Marquette from 1980-83. Rivers was one of the people Smart thanked specifically, Monday.
“He was so kind to me,” said Smart. “It’s been just great to be able to stay in touch with him over the years. I try not to bug him too much, but he’s about as accomplished as any basketball coach in our game at any level – and he also does it with a level of class that’s out of this world.
Smart got to know Rivers in 2008, when Rivers’ son Austin was a star recruit who initially committed to Florida, where Smart was an assistant coach at the time. Austin ended up going to Duke – but Smart found someone to emulate in Rivers. Usually, it’s the coaches who are trying to win over the families, but in this case, it was the other way around.
“He also takes an interest in younger coaches,” said Smart. “He influenced me a lot more than he probably knows, just from the kind words he’s had and the way he’s conducted himself.
“I’m really glad to be at his university and part of his program and the same goes for all the greats, all the former players that made this program what it is.”
Smart sure was impressive Monday while outlining his mission and priorities, goals and expectations in front of by-invitation-only boosters and MU fans, who attended wearing masks and socially distancing as we all endure the 13th month of the coronavirus pandemic.
Smart looked like he felt right at home already.
Smart graduated from Oregon (Wis.) High School in 1995 and after playing four years at Kenyon College in Ohio, he never pursued any other coaching jobs in his home state, at any other level (other than the flirtation with Marquette several years ago).
Instead, he took off, to California, then Akron, Clemson and Florida, for assistant coaching jobs. Then Smart was the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth where he went to the Final Four ten years ago. And then, of course, he spent the last six years at Texas.
A week ago his season ended when the Longhorns lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Saying this was the right time to leave Texas, Smart returns home again, just shy of his 44th birthday, with his wife Maya Smart and their daughter Zora.
He has his work cut out for him at 12th and Wells. The pandemic has changed collegiate sports for a year and everyone is getting a bonus year of eligibility; that means there are 1,000 players in the NCAA transfer portal – and that number growing, Smart said. Smart will be expected to turn Marquette back into a NCAA tournament regular.
“Anytime you start at a program that has such a history like Marquette does, the first thing is to make sure you understand the history of the program,” said Smart.
Smart already understands the recruiting landscape of Wisconsin and the Midwest. He knows the high schools and the club programs. He also remains loyal to his own high school coach Kevin Bavery, who is now at Middleton High School.
“He’s really the one that helped me fall in love with basketball,” said Smart.
“He used to open the gym for me on Friday and Saturday nights. He taught me about coaching even while I was still playing. We used to talk about diagramming plays and different defenses and offenses.
“He was one of many coaches who spent the time to build a great relationship with me. That’s why I’m standing here today, because I truly believe in the power of relationships, and it’s a big reason why I coach.”
Smart looks forward to taking his daughter to Marquette women’s soccer games, and to making his Mom, Monica King, happy – just by being back home.
It’s a fresh start for Smart, but not exactly mountain-moving, not like starting over somewhere new, far away and foreign. Wisconsin is home, Milwaukee is familiar and Marquette is special. From that point of view, Smart will surely bring his own brand of high deflection defense, and his own style of ‘havoc’ offense.
But he also seems to be interested in being a steward of what has already been built at Marquette, and that includes the learning as much as he can from people like Rivers.
“A huge part of the reason that Maya and I are here is the success that has been built by past coaches and past players,” said Smart. “I want all those former players, former coaches to know, I take the responsibility very seriously of being your basketball coach.”
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