RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart is staying with the Rams after leading them on a surprising Final Four run.
The school said Monday that Smart has agreed to a new eight-year contract. Details of that deal will be released once the contract is signed.
“True to form, Coach Smart’s primary concerns were about his players, coaches and the overall support of the basketball program,” VCU athletic director Norwood Teague said in a statement.
The second-year coach led VCU from one of the “First Four” games in the NCAA Tournament to upsets of prominent programs including Georgetown, Purdue and Kansas to reach the Final Four. VCU (28-12) became only the third No. 11 seed to get that far, losing to Butler 70-62 in a national semifinal.
Haith leaves Miami for Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Miami coach Frank Haith resigned to take the Missouri job, Hurricanes officials said.
Missouri officials hadn’t confirmed the hiring. University curators were meeting Monday night in a closed session to consider Haith’s contract, and an official announcement could come as early as today.
Haith will replace Mike Anderson, who left the Tigers late last month to take over at Arkansas. Haith went 129-101 in seven seasons with the Hurricanes, including 21-15 this season, when they played in the NIT.
• Missouri starters Laurence Bowers and Kim English declared for the NBA draft but have not hired agents, meaning they can return to school next season if their NBA plans don’t work out.
New Mexico’s women’s coach retires
ALBUQUERQUE — Don Flanagan, the most successful coach in the history of the New Mexico women’s basketball program, is retiring.
Flanagan leaves the Lobos having claimed every school coaching record. In 16 seasons, he compiled a 340-168 record, his teams made NCAA Tournament appearances eight times and the Lobos won a handful of Mountain West Conference championships.
Footnotes.
Coach Gregg Marshall is staying at Wichita State. Marshall led the Shockers to the NIT title last week, beating Alabama to finish 29-8, a school record for wins in a season. He had been linked to the vacant job at North Carolina State.
• Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said he’s coming back for a sixth season and withdrew from consideration for the same job at Fresno State.
• Sydney Johnson, who led Princeton to a share of the Ivy League championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, has been hired by Fairfield.
• Towson University hired Pittsburgh assistant Pat Skerry as its new coach.
• New men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak pledged to make Utah competitive again and restore the pride it experienced under Rick Majerus.
• Oklahoma State player Darrell Williams will stand trial on rape and other felony charges alleging that he inappropriately touched two female students at a party, a Payne County judge ruled.
The Associated Press
