Shaka Smart agrees to eight-year deal to stay at VCU

[underpants]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/04/shaka-smart-agrees-to-new-eight-year-deal-with-vcu.html

Shaka Smart, the 33-year-old coach who led Virginia Commonwealth from the "First Four" to the Final Four, has agreed to terms on a new, eight-year contract to remain with the Rams, team spokesman Scott Day said Monday.

Since VCU's unexpected run during the NCAA tournament, Smart's name has come up in connection with numerous coaching vacancies. Day said Smart had been offered the North Carolina State job to replace Sidney Lowe, who resigned last month.

"He is staying" at VCU, Day said of Smart.

According to the school, Smart's base salary was $325,000 this year and he was due to make nearly twice that with performance bonuses. Details from the new deal are expected to be released later Monday.

[KamaAina]

1. Not sure about the "Smart" part

remember Mark Few? Everyone was after him when he took Gonzaga to the Elite Eight. Now? Not so much.

[underpants]

3. Mark Few is the king of a small kingdom

they get good players and make the tourney because they are the big fish.

That is not likely in the CAA with ODU and George Mason but Smart has the opportunity to do it. There is no football at VCU. U of Richmond were national champs in football two years ago - something Mooney has to deal with that Smart doesn't.

The Siegel Center is 7,500 seats- it could become a hot court to play on , a great advantage and it MADE FOR TV. And it is on campus. VCU used to play at the Coliseum (10K seats) but it was a mile from campus...and you didn't walk there and parking was a mess.

Smart can create a Gonzaga, a Butler, a Boise State (football). Plus living in Richmond on that income is not hard.

The press....they clearly marketed the program for the whole Final Four weekend ... was priceless. Plus he plays 10 deep so everyone has a chance to shine and get to the "next level". That sells to who it counts to sell to- recruits.

Being a young black coach ultra-achiever doesn't hurt with with mom and dad either.

VCU just made themselves NOT A STEPPING STONE or a retirement job. Like Tulsa or Marshall in football.

[charlie and algernon]

2. I like it

Of course it remains to be seen if he stays the full 8 years, but I like the idea of a coach sticking with his team after an incredible run like that. A young coach like him could easily have used VCU as just another stepping block up the coaching ladder in the hopes of coaching a powerhouse school. Now Smart can stay and work to cultivate a nice foundation at VCU and potentially keep them as perennial contenders.