KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 13: Texas Longhorns senior coach Shaka Smart showers hook … [+]
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Marquette is poised to name Texas ’Shaka Smart as its new men’s basketball coach, several sources confirmed Friday.
Smart, 43, is leaving Texas after six controversial seasons in which he led the Longhorns to three NCAA Tournaments but failed to win a game. No. 3 Texas was captured by No. 14 Abilene Christian in the first round this year.
In six seasons, Texas went Smart 109-86, 52-56 in the Big 12.
He had a purchase of $ 7.3 million, and Marquette may have to pay some off.
Prior to joining Texas, he spent six seasons at VCU, leading the Rams to the Four Finals in 2011.
Smart replaces Steve Wojciechowski, who was fired a week ago. Marquette went 13-14 this season, 8-11 in the Big East, and lost to Georgetown in the first round of the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden.
Associate head coach Marquette Dwayne Killings also left to take over Albany.
Smart is to become the fifth African-American head coach in the Big East 11-team awaiting DePaul’s hiring. The four usual Black East coaches are Mike Anderson (St. John’s), Ed Cooley (Providence) Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) and LaVall Jordan (Butler).