CHATTANOOGA, tenn. — One year after they were linked in the offseason coaching carousel, Texas, VCU and Chattanooga have something else in common: All three are in the NCAA Tournament with their new staffs.
Texas hired Shaka Smart away from VCU in April. VCU replaced Smart with Will Wade, a former VCU assistant who had spent the last two seasons as Chattanooga's head coach. Chattanooga hired Matt McCall, a former Florida assistant.
And everyone is happy.
Each coach is well aware of how the others are faring. Smart acknowledges he still keeps up with VCU, which could end up meeting Texas in a West Regional semifinal next week.