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Shaka Smart is in his third year as a member of the
Akron basketball staff, and first season as
associate head coach. He coordinates the program's
recruiting effort and focuses on on-the-court
instruction.
Smart, 28, came to UA following two seasons as
coordinator of basketball operations at Dayton, and
relocated to Akron from South Carolina in June of
2003 after following head coach Oliver Purnell from
Dayton to Clemson in that spring.
In his two seasons at Dayton, the Flyers posted a
45-17 record, and won the 2003 Atlantic 10
Tournament with a 25-6 record. In his first year
with the school, the team competed in the NIT and
recorded a 21-11 mark.
Smart played collegiate basketball at Kenyon College
in Gambier, Ohio, and graduated magna cum laude in
1999 with a degree in history. A four-year starter
and three-year captain, he holds Kenyon's assist
records for a season (184) and a career (542). As a
senior, he was an All-North Coast Conference and the
NCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was also one of
20 students selected for the 1999 USA Today All-USA
Academic team, and received an NCAA postgraduate
scholarship.
After graduating from Kenyon, Smart went to
California University of Pennsylvania, where he was
an assistant coach for two years (1999-2001) and
earned a master's degree in social science.
California was 40-16 during those two seasons.
Smart is engaged to Maya Payne. |
