Shaka Smart accepted the head-coaching job at Marquette on Friday, ending days of speculation about Smart's future with the Texas Longhorns. Smart's six-year tenure in Austin was a roller coaster right up to the final hill. He followed the Longhorns' Big 12 conference tournament title -- the lone banner Smart won in six seasons there -- with a shocking upset loss to Abilene Christian in the first round of the NCAA tournament just seven days later.
With Smart now entrusted with changing his recent NCAA tourney luck in Milwaukee, Texas turns its attention to identifying his successor in what will be one of the most coveted posts in college basketball in this carousel season or any other. ESPN took a look at the potential candidates at Texas, which will be making its second high-profile change this calendar year after firing football coach Tom Herman and replacing him with Steve Sarkisian in January.
What will Shaka Smart's legacy be at Texas? How will he be remembered, and do you expect him to be more successful at Marquette?
As one source put it to me earlier this week, "It's hard to win back a fan base you've already lost." Smart recruited well to Texas and consistently had one of the more talented rosters in the Big 12, if not the country, but never turned it into the March success he had during his Final Four run at VCU. I think he would've been let go last year had the Longhorns not made the NCAA tournament, but the pandemic saved him for another year. After the loss to Abilene Christian -- and subsequent slew of names entering the transfer portal -- a parting of ways seemed like it would happen soon enough. Smart beat Texas to the punch, and now gets to start again at Marquette. The talent pool at Texas is obviously better than Marquette's, but I think the fresh start -- with slightly lower expectations -- will benefit Smart.
Is Texas now the best open job on the market? Why do you think it is or is not better than Indiana?
I think Texas is the best job on the market, and there are two big advantages Texas has over Indiana. One, the talent pool in the state is superior to pretty much anywhere else in the country right now. The next Longhorns coach will have a very fertile recruiting ground to recruit.
Second, the pressure and "fishbowl" feel is not as much of a factor at Texas. There's undoubtedly pressure in Austin, and that's why Smart felt the heat after just a few years in charge -- but the Indiana fan base is going to want to be trending toward Final Fours within the next two or three years. Texas fans might be more patient. Texas also has all the money in the world -- although Indiana paying Archie Miller's $10 million buyout shows it's no slouch in that department. One advantage Indiana has is its history and tradition. Texas has never won an NCAA tournament title and has been to one Final Four since 1947.
There will be no shortage of high-level names for this one -- let's talk top targets first.
The first name on everybody's lips will be Texas Tech coach Chris Beard, who attended Texas and started his coaching career in Austin as a student assistant under Tom Penders. His buyout to go to another Big 12 school drops to $4 million on Thursday -- and $2 million to go to any school outside the Big 12 (in case Indiana has any interest). Beard does make nearly $5 million per year, meaning Texas would have to pony up serious cash to woo him from Lubbock.
I could also see the school making overtures toward Baylor's Scott Drew. Drew was briefly linked with the vacancy at Indiana, and although he hasn't shown much interest in leaving Waco in the past, maybe Texas could convince him. Another coach in that category could be Houston's Kelvin Sampson. He decided to stay at Houston when Arkansas opened a couple of years ago, but I think he would be terrific at Texas.
And if those names pass, who's in the next tier?
I don't really see this list taking on a million different names. But Loyola Chicago's Porter Moser has to be considered after taking the Ramblers to the Sweet 16 after making a Final Four run in 2018. Moser is likely among the names at Indiana after not getting Marquette, but Texas could decide to make a run at him too. Regionally, it might not be the best fit. Arkansas' Eric Musselman could be a cheaper alternative to Beard. He would bring the requisite energy and has shown he can win -- quickly -- at multiple schools. A couple of other names to consider could be former Michigan coach John Beilein, although he hasn't really been involved in many searches this spring and seems happy with his work on the TV side, and North Texas' Grant McCasland, who has assistant coach experience in the Big 12 and has won consistently with the Mean Green -- capped by a win over Purdue in this year's NCAA tournament.
Who's your first choice if you're Texas' decision-makers and who's your Plan B?
I think Texas calls Chris Beard, and I think Beard seriously considers it -- and maybe takes the job. If Beard says no, I think Drew or Sampson should get a call. Honestly, I don't think enough big names say no, but Texas could also opt to go after a highly successful mid-major coach like Utah State's Craig Smith or UNCG's Wes Miller.