Texas Wants To Send A Message With Big Raise For Shaka Smart

Smart’s new deal bumps his base salary up to $3 million for the upcoming season and includes a $100,000 raise for each of the following seasons. 

“We want to send a message,” university president Gregory L. Fenves said. “He is a great coach, an educator, a leader. He’s made such fantastic progress in his first season here. He’s getting national attention. We just want to show him that he’s really important to the University of Texas.”

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The Longhorns went 20-13 in Smart’s first season at the helm and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on a buzzer-beater from Northern Iowa.

“I’m very appreciative of the support from Chancellor Bill McRaven, President Greg Fenves and Men’s Athletics Director Mike Perrin,” Smart, 39, said in a statement. “I’m really happy at Texas and am excited about being here for a long time.”