Report: VCU's Shaka Smart in discussions with Texas about head coaching vacancy
VCU head coach Shaka Smart is in talks with Texas about its head coaching vacancy, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Texas officially announced Sunday that it had agreed to mutually part ways with head coach Rick Barnes after 17 seasons.
Smart has served as head coach at VCU since 2009. In that time he's compiled a 163-56 record, making the NCAA tournament five years in a row, including a trip to the Final Four in 2011.
He guided VCU to a 26-10 record this past season and a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, though the Rams failed to win a game, ousted by Ohio State in the Round of 64.
In the past five years, Smart has turned down vacancies at larger programs to remain at VCU, but a position at Texas could be too tempting to pass up.
VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that no school has requested permission to talk to Smart as of Monday evening, and there is "nothing to report at this moment."
Rothstein notes that Utah's Larry Krystkowiak and Xavier's Chris Mack would be Texas's next targets if Smart were to turn down the Longhorns' gig.