Shaka Smart of Texas has been hired as Marquette’s new head coach, the Golden Eagles announced on Friday.
Smart replaces Steve Wojciechowski, who was fired last week after seven seasons with the Golden Eagles.
“We undertook a comprehensive national search, during which we discussed our openness with a significant number of highly qualified coaches,” Marquette Athletic Director Bill School said in a statement. “Throughout the search, one individual continued to rise to the top and was Shaka. I am beyond enthusiasm for our current and future student-athletes who will have the great fortune of being guided by Shaka. He is a great game teacher. , being also a great young modeler. “
Smart said in a statement: “I am extremely excited to be in Milwaukee to start building relationships and working in the yard! ”
Texas’ top goal to replace Smart is expected to be Texas Tech coach Chris Beard, who left for Texas and was an assistant student for the Longhorns under Tom Penders. His purchase to go to another Big 12 school drops to $ 4 million on Thursday, sources told ESPN.
Smart, originally from Wisconsin, had been head coach in Texas for six seasons. The Longhorns have competed in three NCAA tournaments under Smart, but have yet to win an NCAA tournament game with him in charge. They won the Big 12 tournament earlier this month, but were then upset by 14-seed Abilene Christian in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Smart has been on the hot spot in Austin for two years, but the pandemic probably saved him after the 2019-20 season. His acquisition after this season for Texas would have been about $ 7 million.
Prior to taking the lead in Texas, Smart coached VCU, leading the Rams to five consecutive NCAA appearances, including a final in the Final Four in 2011.