Mr. Smart

Shaka Smart (born April 8, 1977) is an American college basketball coach, and the current head coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams men’s basketball program. Before accepting the job at VCU, Smart served as an assistant coach for the Akron Zips, Clemson Tigers and Florida Gators men’s basketball programs.

 Mr. Smart’s teams play a style of basketball known as “havoc.” Smart described his “havoc” defensive philosophy during his introductory press conference as, “We are going to wreak havoc on our opponent’s psyche and their plan of attack.” On the court, the “havoc” defensive mindset is visible through the heavy use of the full court press and pressing after made baskets to disrupt opponents’ timing of offensive sets. In his second season, VCU led the Colonial Athletic Association in steals. Offensively, Smart-coached teams play uptempo and push the ball after misses and makes with what Smart describes as “The freedom to make plays in the open court.

                                       

Shaka Smart, head coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams.

While at Kenyon College in Ohio, Smart did extensive research on race consciousness and social issues and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history. Smart received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and earned a master’s degree in social science at California University of Pennsylvania. Smart developed a love for quotations at Kenyon College and began writing down quotes in a digital document that is now over 110 pages long.