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Shaka Smart Headed to Florida
This story originally published on CUTigers.com
Shaka Smart
Shaka Smart
By Roy Philpott
CUTigers.com
Posted May 31, 2008

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According to multiple sources, Clemson assistant basketball coach Shaka Smart is headed to Florida.

Smart, 31, was hired when former assistant Kevin Nickleberry left Clemson to become the head coach at Hampton two years ago.

Smart has played a key role in Clemson's rise in the ACC pecking order since his arrival- helping recruit many of Clemson's top prospects during the last two years.

The Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998 this past season and have increased their win total in each of Oliver Purnell's five years with the program.

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).

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.

He has also served as an assistant coach at Akron and Dayton in his career.

He will join a program in Florida that won back-to-back National Championships under head coach Billy Donovan in 2006 and 2007.

Former Clemson head coach Larry Shyatt is also on Donovan's staff.


Related Stories
Donovan Makes Smart Choice
 -by FightinGators.com  May 31, 2008
Preston Moves On
 -by FightinGators.com  May 31, 2008
Statement from Shaka Smart
 -by CUTigers.com  Jun 2, 2008

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