Shaka Smart Named Coordinator Of Men’s Basketball Operations

April 29, 2003

Clemson men’s basketball head coach Oliver Purnell has named Shaka Smart the coordinator of men’s basketball operations for the Tigers. Smart had worked with Purnell at Dayton since the 2001-02 season, when he joined Purnell’s staff after a two-year stint at California University of Pennsylvania. In the two seasons Smart was at Dayton, the Flyers posted a 45-17 record, and won the 2003 Atlantic 10 Tournament with a 24-6 record. In his first year at Dayton, the team competed in the NIT and recorded a 21-11 mark.

Smart played collegiate basketball at Kenyon College, 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). As a senior, he was First Team All-North Coast Conference and the NCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was also one of 20 students selected for the 1999 USA Today All-USA Academic team, and received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

After graduating from Kenyon, Smart went to California University of Pennsylvania, where he was an assistant coach for two years. California was 40-16 during his two seasons there. While at California, Smart also earned a master’s in social science.