WRAL: NC State interested in VCU’s Smart

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NC State interested in Shaka Smart

NC State has an eye on VCU head coach Shaka Smart.
Multiple sources told WRAL on Saturday that Smart is a coach of interest for NC State. He was recently contacted by either the Parker search firm or by an NC State intermidiary to gauge his interest in coaching the Wolfpack.

NC State director of athletics Debbie Yow would not comment on the search.

The longer VCU wins, the longer it will be before Smart turns his attention to his future. VCU beat Florida State to advance to the Southwest region finals against Kansas. That’s the deepest NCAA run in VCU school history.

Multiple schools have an interest in hiring Smart. The 33-year old coach is in his second year at VCU, his first head coaching position. He has a 53-20 record at VCU finishing fourth and fifth in the Colonial Conference. The Rams received an at-large bid to this year’s NCAA tournament after losing to Old Dominion in the Colonial tournament finals.

Smart’s salary at VCU is a reported $325,000 but school officials are already working on a new contract that would boost his salary significantly.

Prior to VCU, Smart was an assistant for Billy Donovan at Florida. He has also been an assistant at Clemson, Akron and Dayton.

Smart played point guard at Kenyon College in Ohio where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history.

One thing that SFN would like to note — NC State could be ‘interested’ in, and gathering information on, A LOT a lot of coaches. Since Debbie Yow has the NC State side buttoned up tighter than a [insert whimsical quip here], we only know of coaches getting ‘interest’ if those coaches (or their representatives) leak information.

Additionally, even if information gets leaked from the coaches’ side doesn’t mean that information is accurate. For example, in NC State’s last coaching search in 2006, LSU’s John Brady tried to use the media to attach himself to the search to maneuver for a raise &/or contract extension. It was bush-league…and, it was fun to see him ultimately get fired. Of course, there are other coaches who pull this type of stuff all of the time.

We are not saying that is what is happening with Smart right now…but, I’m not convinced that just because this information has trickled into the public that Smart has catapulted to the top of any legitimate list of Yow’s.

As evidenced by some of the conversation in this thread, most Wolfpackers appear to be more attracted to Smart’s predecessor at VCU, Anthony Grant (who is now at Alabama). You may remember that Grant had been identified/hired by Florida to replace Billy Donovan a few years ago when Donovan did had his change of heart with the Orlando Magic.

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121 Responses to WRAL: NC State interested in VCU’s Smart

  1. Par Shooter 03/26/2011 at 10:57 PM #

    Looks like maybe I guessed correctly.

  2. Wolfguy 03/26/2011 at 11:40 PM #

    SO Smart’s recruiting practices are questionable and his current boos (UNC alum) will pass that along so UNC uses it against us?

  3. werncstate 03/26/2011 at 11:58 PM #

    Smart is a candidate at Missouri. Does NC State = Missouri? If so guess State must be a skanky job.

  4. tvopack 03/27/2011 at 12:16 AM #

    We’re screwed by the media. They have no source so they rely on the forums like this to guess who NC State is interested. I think we should stop speculating.

  5. Wufpacker 03/27/2011 at 12:37 AM #

    Interesting. I’ll leave my own comments/opinions out, but just wanted to direct everyone’s attention to this since it seems to be rather timely. Enjoy?

    http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/14862942/building-up-smart-just-to-tear-him-down-later

  6. Astral Rain 03/27/2011 at 1:48 AM #

    For those mentioning this guy’s history degree- there was a coach of semi-recent vintage who had a similar GPA and academic background. We didn’t like him much.

    I’d be ok with this hire, but I’m just saying. There’s other B listers I’d want more- such as Randy Bennett. The CAA isn’t weaksauce, it’s probably about as good as the A-10, and is a pretty tough mid-major.

  7. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 03/27/2011 at 6:46 AM #

    “I REALLY hope that we are not considering a 33 year old coach based on one tournament run.”

    Don’t worry that won’t happen. If Smart is selected his tournament run will only be one consideration. You can Google Smart/NC State and see that his name was being floated long before the run started.

    What I don’t want to see is State hire a coach that has been around for 10 years and has never made a tournament run.

  8. Gene 03/27/2011 at 7:53 AM #

    Food for thought, Billy Donnovan only had two years of head coaching experience, when he got the Florida job.

  9. mak4dpak 03/27/2011 at 7:59 AM #

    Again forgot to mention that Randy Bennett of Saint Marys, has been left out the NCAA tournament on several ocassions, with 20 plus wins, and even the WAC conference championship this year, so if he coached in the ACC, that wouldn’t happen. Just sayin!

  10. rawolf 03/27/2011 at 9:07 AM #

    I hate to say it but it is happening again. Everyone is turning us down. I dont feel even Smart would want this job. I feel we will get some nobody and hope for the best and we will be doing this all over again in 5 years. Even my son who is a big state fan for all of his 16 years of life has said, Dad nobody want to coach at state to much pressure for one person to handle. I am starting to belive it. Hell I have hoped for 18 years whats another 18 anyway.

  11. ADVENTUROO 03/27/2011 at 9:19 AM #

    OK,

    Just a little history here….and this is NOT a pro or con comment about Shaka Smart.

    There was an English Literature major who’s first job (which paid the least of his three offers) was to coach the Freshmen team at his alma mater, Rutgers.

    He then spent one year at Johns Hopkins where he said he started two general surgeons, an ortopeadist, an OB/GYN, and a heart surgeon. They were 10 W – 9L.

    Later on at Bucknell, his first year was the best and after three years, his record was 33W – 42L. But, he got an offer to go to Iona…..a REALLY well known National BB power.

    After 5 years, he was 94 W & 45 L and went to the NCAA twice…making it to the second round (if was a much smaller field) back then….so this was an Elite Eight appearance.

    He often quoted great writers and philosophers in his press conferences and the sports writers never picked up the REAL intent of his comments. It became a standing joke with him that they never understood the subtlety of his comments.

    He was a “game” coach because there were no films of the Freshmen team so you hung on in the first half and then you made adjustments and hoped to win. His strategies have been quoted by sports writers and commentators and his “Survive & Advance” line should have been copyrighted.

    BTW, he was 34 when he came to NCSU, compared to SS being 33…and Brad Stevens and Mark Few are also about the same age.

    Smart obviously has to be a candidate that is being considered….as are others.

    AND, remember, NCSU WAS a PLUM JOB back then. Norm Sloan only left because Willis Casey called his bluff. He wanted more MONEY (and Valvano followed THAT tradition….to his detriment) and Norm left him a great talent pool…Bailey, Whittenburg, Lowe, Gannon….and a few trees like McQueen and Charles.

    SO, I would increase MY donation to the WPC and also start giving to the Alumni Association again if DY made such a hire today…..

    Give the lady some space and let her handle this. She has all the moxey that Willis Casey had….maybe more….and we have the equivalent of Charlie Bryant running the WPC in Bobby Purcell.

    The cast of characters is in place….now lets let them do their job.

    I think that we need to start a support group….”NO NEWS IS MAKING US CRAZY” Anonymous….we have some charter members here and they need our support and affection as their screens just go blank when they put in N88MF and get “Owner has blocked flight tracking information” messages.

  12. Ed89 03/27/2011 at 9:47 AM #

    Roo,
    Good post. However, listening to DY’s statements, and the job qualifications listed, Smart doesn’t even qualify. He doesn’t have 5 years Head Coaching experience. Not saying I agree or disagree, but just sayin…

  13. Par Shooter 03/27/2011 at 9:58 AM #

    After reading that article I assume that D**** would think much more of a Smart hire than the Lowe hire. I’m with him on that. Go get this guy.

  14. choppack1 03/27/2011 at 10:16 AM #

    Obviously, if Yow had her druthers, she would find a coach who has proven that he can win at the major conference level. In theory, you’re less likely to experience growing pains with a hire like this.

    Of course, the bad news is that most of these guys are schools that can afford to match what we throw at them -OR while they’ve won, they haven’t done much else than reach that level Sendek reached in his last 5 years (see Stallings and Turgeon).

    So – if the guys who have won big aren’t interested – that leaves you w/ a Turgeon or Stallings…or someone like Gregg Marshall or Shaka Smart.

  15. packplantpath 03/27/2011 at 10:40 AM #

    Oh dear god am I tired of hearing people blather about the experience of Coach K when he started @ Duke, the experience of Donovan @ Florida, the experience of Valvano when he came to us.

    Sorry, all that is complete nonsense. Yes, the “next great coach” will almost always be an unknown coming up the ranks. I suggest looking at the coaches that fail instead of the ones that succeed. I may change your perspective on what we should be doing and why we are going about our search the way we are.

  16. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 03/27/2011 at 10:51 AM #

    For those that think that the “Departmental Required Skills Minimum of five (5) years of successful NCAA Division 1 level or professional coaching experience required” provision would eliminate a less experienced coach you are incorrect.

    Yow leads the department and can change this requirement or can determine that said coach’s experience as an assistant and 9-0 national tournament post season record is equal to that of someone that has been a coach for 5 years.

    I was once told, universities can do whatever they want. This is pretty much true until a newspaper reporter attacks. There is know elected public oversight of these little governments that are much larger than many cities in NC.

  17. PackerInRussia 03/27/2011 at 11:30 AM #

    Terrible coaches and legends in the making had exactly the same amount of experience after 2 years. So, I think we can throw that bit of info out the window.

  18. JeremyH 03/27/2011 at 11:52 AM #

    I think the quote from Miller’s dad is a indirect message from someone else to state fans to be quiet.

  19. WhalerCane 03/27/2011 at 12:11 PM #

    I’ve seen enough. Not just a flash in the pan. Brad Stephens definately not coming. Hire the man if you can ASAP.

  20. albunde6 03/27/2011 at 12:48 PM #

    It is obvious that we all will have opinions about who should be next coach and what qualities he should possess. My desire for a Trugeon or Stallings is based on our situation. They compete in a major confrence. Second they are not the dominant team in said confrence. To compete under these circumstances you have to out coach and out hustle the opponent. Those are qualities that are necessary for success at State. Third, knowing you are the “red headed step child” in the acc should narrow seach to a coach who has a chip on his shoulder. Fourth, I don’t want someone who has jumped ship ever 3 years for the next better thing.

    The fact is we can not out spend the majors, so we have to out think and out hustle. I feel that is wrong to draw the search out unless you had a hard commitment from a Miller or Stevens, etc. Would have preferred a quick decisive move for one of these two as opposed to this situation of flirting with Barnes, Miller or whomever DY is waiting on. If her decision does not work after 3 or 4 years, then drop the hammer and go again.

    We have done a terrible job of managing our assets in the past, hope DY will not misuse our resources.

  21. eas 03/27/2011 at 12:50 PM #

    This is the most quiet I can ever remember a coaching search being. Literally no major updates from the media or significant possibilities. This is what was planned all along, so good job on that part. I just hope it isn’t quite for the opposite reason……that being everyone we were shooting for has opted out and we are on plan B or C.

    Monday morning should be interesting. I think we will start getting more media attention very soon on why nothing is being said. They will be fishing no doubt but this week has to show some developments.

    Come on DY, make us proud and make the hire that can put us back on track!

  22. albunde6 03/27/2011 at 12:53 PM #

    Do we have information on GA Tech? TN? etc. Worried, could we be after the same name?

  23. Howler 03/27/2011 at 1:03 PM #

    Ed Hardin of the Greensboro News and Record wrote an indecipherable column today. He says that we are being rejected publicly again indicated some sort of fiasco, but his main source at State doesn’t know anything to tell him, so he has to check out the State blogs to see who we are interested in, and that DY won’t return his calls. Glad he took time out from rooting for the Holes to give us insight on our coaching search.

  25. WestCoast 03/27/2011 at 1:10 PM #

    No one knows anything, that’s apparent. Totally different than five or so years ago when everyone on here was tracking private jets and talking about meeting candidates at the airport! Nothing’s 100% certain until the press conference/press release. At this point, I have no idea where we’re heading, but I trust our next hire won’t back into the job.

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