RICHMOND (WTVR) - It's become a rite of spring, VCU head coach Shaka Smart is the target of every top-level college basketball coaching search. In the past, schools like UCLA, North Carolina State, Illinois and Minnesota.
This year is no different.
But despite numerous internet and Twitter reports to the contrary, Smart is still VCU's head coach according to athletic director Ed McLaughlin. No other schools have officially asked McLaughlin to speak to Smart and CBS 6 Sports has learned that the two men have been meeting all this week to discuss the "nature" of the VCU program, including possible tweaks to Smart's current contract.
Other reports have also said that Smart has told his recruits he is staying at VCU:
"Shaka Smart spoke to VCU commits & their coaches yesterday & assured them he isn't going anywhere," ESPN scouting analyst Adam Finkelstein tweeted Tuesday.
A story published on WLUK-TV's website in Green Bay, Wisconsin, quoting a story from WITI-TV in Milwaukee, said that Smart would be introduced as the new head coach at Marquette, although a search of WITI's website only turned up a story that claimed Smart "might" be Marquette's coach and that "nothing is imminent".
Marquette's former coach, Buzz Williams, was formally introduced as the new coach at Virginia Tech Monday night.
Smart has become VCU's all time winningest coach with a 147-36 record in just five seasons. This was the fourth straight year the Rams have made the NCAA tournament, which is a school record. VCU lost in the round of 64 to Stephen F. Austin in overtime this past Friday.
