Smart staying at VCU

[JTBMU7]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/04/04/shaka.smart.vcu.ap/index.html?eref=sihp

[Hards Alumni]

I'll give him credit, he is loyal.

but to a fault.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ydqjqZ_3oc&feature=player_detailpage#t=15s

[JTBMU7]

I would also say there are ZERO jobs worth leaving for right now. If NC State is the best opening out there I really don't blame him for staying.

[TheDOC816]

I would also say there are ZERO jobs worth leaving for right now. If NC State is the best opening out there I really don't blame him for staying.

+1 I think the final four run will definitely carry over to past next season at which time he will be able to throw his name in the hat if he likes

[RawdogDX]

He's losing 4 sr's that combined for 44 ppg.  I hope them being terrible doesn't hurt his prospects. 

[nyg]

He went from 325K to 1.2M a year.  Now thats a raise. 

[brewcity77]

He might be making the smart call by staying another year (pun intended). The odds of VCU making it back to the Big Dance next year are very slim considering their graduating class. They may not even be NIT material. Which means Smart's season will probably end much earlier. This year he didn't really have an opportunity at some of the jobs like Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Arkansas because VCU was playing into April. No one will forget VCU's run by this time next year, and if he's done with his season the second week of March, he will be in prime position to make a move, even if the Rams are an NIT snub. He gets the one year raise from VCU, then makes his splash next year when the market is wide open for him.

[Stuckin1977]

Regardless of where he ends up, if I were him I'd be pretty happy to be making $1.2mm at age 34

[flash]

I think he's making a big mistake staying at VCU, If he had gone somewhere else he would have gotten more money, and been at a program with much superior recruting tools than VCU.  If VCU bombs next year, its going to be a lot harder for him to find a better job. 

[GGGG]

Nc state is a complete dead-ender. They hired a desperate former coach after being turned down by their top choices. He may end up being a good hire but a good up and coming coach doesn't need to jump at the first opportunity. The ranks have plenty of such coaches who would have better off waiting.

[MUBurrow]

NC State's AD also seems like a piece of work. Why set yourself up for the fall of hating your boss or having a bad working relationship when you dont have to?

[Stuckin1977]

Not a lot of good coaching opportunities were open this off-season, either

[NYWarrior]

Not a lot of good coaching opportunities were open this off-season, either

OU, Arkansas, and to a lesser degree Tennessee and NCSU are good enough gigs to leave VCU.  The number of openings wasn't the issue --- Smart's candidacy for any opening was limited by VCU's tremendous run in March....next year he'll have plenty of time to consider other options.

[Stuckin1977]

OU, Arkansas, and to a lesser degree Tennessee and NCSU are good enough gigs to leave VCU.  The number of openings wasn't the issue --- Smart's candidacy for any opening was limited by VCU's tremendous run in March....next year he'll have plenty of time to consider other options.

Given all the off-court violations, I wouldn't consider OU and Tennessee "good enough."