Shaka Smart Introduced As Texas Longhorns Basketball Coach
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Shaka Smart finally received an offer he couldn't resist.
Smart was introduced as the new basketball coach at Texas on Friday, leaving Virginia Commonwealth for the Longhorns after turning down several suitors, including UCLA, since taking VCU to the NCAA Final Four in 2011.
Smart, 37, said this job was different, a "no brainer."
Smart is the first African-American men's basketball coach at Texas. Charlie Strong, the school's first African-American football coach, completed his first season in December. Smart said he did not realize he was the first for basketball until being hired Thursday.
"I take that really seriously," he said.
Smart replaced Rick Barnes, who was fired last week after 17 seasons at Texas. Barnes already has a new head coaching job at Tennessee.
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