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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Shaka Smart was named the head basketball coach of |
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| 6 | 7 | | The University of Texas at Austin on April 2, 2015, and his arrival |
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| 7 | 8 | | signals the start of an exciting new era for the Longhorns; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Mr. Smart proved |
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| 9 | 10 | | himself a gifted athlete at a young age; he lettered in basketball |
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| 10 | 11 | | for three years at Oregon High School, and he went on to play for |
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| 11 | 12 | | four years as a point guard at Kenyon College, becoming the school's |
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| 12 | 13 | | single-season and career assists leader and being selected for the |
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| 13 | 14 | | All-Conference Team and the USA Today All-USA Academic Team; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Smart began his coaching career as an assistant |
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| 15 | 16 | | at California University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and was |
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| 16 | 17 | | subsequently appointed the director of basketball operations at the |
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| 17 | 18 | | University of Dayton; he later served as an assistant coach at the |
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| 18 | 19 | | University of Akron, Clemson University, and the University of |
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| 19 | 20 | | Florida before being hired as head coach at Virginia Commonwealth |
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| 20 | 21 | | University in 2009; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, During his six-year tenure at VCU, he instituted the |
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| 22 | 23 | | team's "havoc" style of play, characterized by full-court pressure |
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| 23 | 24 | | and transition offense; he compiled a stellar record of 163 wins and |
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| 24 | 25 | | 56 losses and guided the team to a .700 or better winning percentage |
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| 25 | 26 | | in each of his seasons at the helm; moreover, the squad rose to |
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| 26 | 27 | | national prominence by clinching the 2010 College Basketball |
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| 27 | 28 | | Invitational championship and advancing to the 2011 NCAA Division I |
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| 28 | 29 | | Final Four after entering the tournament as a number 11 seed; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Smart is blessed with |
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| 30 | 31 | | the love and support of his wife of nine years, the former Maya |
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| 31 | 32 | | Payne, and he takes tremendous pride in their daughter, Zora Sanae; |
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| 32 | 33 | | and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Shaka Smart will now put his extensive experience to |
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| 34 | 35 | | work in guiding the UT basketball program, and the university's |
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| 35 | 36 | | students, alumni, and supporters are justifiably excited to welcome |
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| 36 | 37 | | this proven leader into the Longhorn family; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby recognize Shaka Smart as an honorary Texan and |
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| 39 | 40 | | extend to him sincere best wishes for success in the years ahead; |
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| 40 | 41 | | and, be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for Coach Smart as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 43 | 44 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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