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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Shaka Smart was named the head basketball coach of |
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The University of Texas at Austin on April 2, 2015, and his arrival |
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signals the start of an exciting new era for the Longhorns; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Mr. Smart proved |
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himself a gifted athlete at a young age; he lettered in basketball |
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for three years at Oregon High School, and he went on to play for |
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four years as a point guard at Kenyon College, becoming the school's |
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single-season and career assists leader and being selected for the |
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All-Conference Team and the USA Today All-USA Academic Team; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Smart began his coaching career as an assistant |
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at California University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and was |
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subsequently appointed the director of basketball operations at the |
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University of Dayton; he later served as an assistant coach at the |
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University of Akron, Clemson University, and the University of |
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Florida before being hired as head coach at Virginia Commonwealth |
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University in 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, During his six-year tenure at VCU, he instituted the |
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team's "havoc" style of play, characterized by full-court pressure |
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and transition offense; he compiled a stellar record of 163 wins and |
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56 losses and guided the team to a .700 or better winning percentage |
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in each of his seasons at the helm; moreover, the squad rose to |
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national prominence by clinching the 2010 College Basketball |
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Invitational championship and advancing to the 2011 NCAA Division I |
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Final Four after entering the tournament as a number 11 seed; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Smart is blessed with |
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the love and support of his wife of nine years, the former Maya |
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Payne, and he takes tremendous pride in their daughter, Zora Sanae; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Shaka Smart will now put his extensive experience to |
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work in guiding the UT basketball program, and the university's |
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students, alumni, and supporters are justifiably excited to welcome |
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this proven leader into the Longhorn family; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Shaka Smart as an honorary Texan and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for success in the years ahead; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Coach Smart as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Israel |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2367 was adopted by the House on May |
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21, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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