Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images(AUSTIN, Texas) — The University of Texas extended the contract of men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart on Thursday, keeping Smart in Austin through the 2022-2023 season.
According to the University of Texas Athletics Department, Smart will receive a $100,000 pay increase to his base salary, earning him a new total of $3 million for the upcoming season. Additional pay increases were made to various performance-based incentives in Smart’s contract.
“Shaka has done a terrific job in all facets of building our basketball program,” Athletics Director Mike Perrin said in a statement.
Smart led the Longhorns to an NCAA Tournament berth in his first season in Austin, posting four wins over teams ranked in the AP Top 10.
“On the court, despite facing a lot of challenges and adversity in his first year, we showed steady progress and produced a lot of exciting moments,” Perrin said. “His outstanding recruiting, talented class of newcomers and overall development of our team in the classroom and community has been exemplary.”
“I’m excited about what Shaka’s accomplished and look forward to seeing him lead our program in the years to come,” Perrin added.
Smart, in his own statement, said he is “very appreciative of the support from Chancellor Bill McRaven, President Greg Fenves and Men’s Athletics Director Mike Perrin,” and that he is “really happy at Texas and…excited about being here for a long time.”
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