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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:51 a.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2009

CBKB: VCU official: Rams to hire Gators assistant coach

By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia Commonwealth University official says the school has picked Florida assistant coach Shaka Smart to be its new men's basketball coach.

The official familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that Smart has not yet signed a contract, but an announcement is planned for Thursday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has yet to be made.

The 32-year-old Smart was an assistant to Billy Donovan at Florida last season and will become the second consecutive Donovan assistant to take over the Rams.

Anthony Grant, Donovan's right-hand man for 10 years at Florida, spent the last three seasons as VCU's head coach. He was hired last week to coach at Alabama.