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Shaka Smart and Mike Perrin Should Connect Quickly at Texas

By Matt Johnson

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Suddenly, a Houston-based attorney named Mike Perrin has become the man in charge of University of Texas men’s athletics. And based on what Perrin, a former Longhorns’ linebacker, said during an introductory press conference Wednesday, noticeable changes within Texas’ athletic department might be more subtle than overt.

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Some of it probably sounded like relief to weary Texas fans who saw former AD Steve Patterson alienate virtually everybody in less than two years.

Fans were fed up, disillusioned, and otherwise disgusted with a man who seemed more interested in making a buck than in nurturing the nation’s wealthiest athletic program.

At his worst, Patterson seemed to forget Texas’ substantial wealth was built by a passionate fan and alumni base.  Dismissing them with aplomb probably wasn’t the best of business models.

Now, Perrin steps into the fray carrying a mission to repair Texas’ relationship with its rabid fan base.

Supporting football coach Charlie Strong is certainly a good start. Strong’s last name serves as a perfect metaphor for how the second-year coach goes about his business.

A no-nonsense coach from the old school, Strong has pledged to hold his players accountable both on and off the field.

His vision is of victories both on and off the field, and as the leader of Texas’ most visible athletic program, Strong’s convictions are a key to the health of Texas sports.

Perhaps new basketball coach Shaka Smart can continue the trend. It was a surprise to many when Smart, who became ever-elusive when it came to high profile job openings, finally left the comforts of Richmond, Va., for the bright light exposure of Austin, Tex.

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With the Smart hire, Texas figures it has lured the perfect replacement for former coach Rick Barnes.

Smart’s VCU teams played at a high tempo on offense, pressured all over the court on defense, and enjoyed a high level of success at the national level.

All of it left Texas fans drooling over the possibilities of what Longhorns basketball could become under the energetic Wisconsin native.

Patterson may have made his share of mistakes in burnt orange and white, but hiring Smart may end up being a saving grace for his legacy.

Smart appears to possess all the qualities of a big-time winner for a program that has grown apathetic in recent seasons under Barnes.

While the Longhorns made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances under Barnes, their performances on college hoops’ grandest stage often lacked fire.

In 2012, Texas squeaked into the NCAAs as an 11-seed and were dumped in the opening round by Cincinnati. In 2013, Texas took a major step backwards, finishing with an ugly 16-18 record that included a trip to the College Basketball Invitational, a tourney that’s a step below the NIT.

Then came an apparent resurgence in 2014 when a young Texas team won 24 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAAs.

With four starters returning from the previous season, 2015 was thought to be a time when the Longhorns could perhaps make a run back to the Final Four for the first time since 2003.

Alas, Texas stubbed its toe throughout the campaign and were again bounced in the first round of the tournament, this time by Butler in an ugly display that ended with the Longhorns potting a measly 48 points in defeat.

Add it all up and the writing was on the wall for Barnes, who was let go shortly thereafter.

Now Shaka Smart gets his chance to bring Texas basketball back towards the top of the Big 12.

He has talent-laden roster full of athletes at his disposal. More importantly, Smart has the kind of fire in his belly that Barnes often lacked while the Longhorns flailed about on the court.

Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns /

Texas Longhorns

The question now is whether Mike Perrin, who has openly stated his affection for Charlie Strong, can continue the same with Smart.

No coach can be completely comfortable when the man who hires them is let go before they’ve even taken the sidelines for a practice, let alone a game. And that’s the situation Shaka Smart finds himself in.

Still, it would be surprising if Perrin didn’t try to connect with Smart as fast as possible.

Once the hottest coaching commodity on the market, Smart is a gem currently obscured by the struggles of Texas football.

The coming weeks may change all that however. Expectations of Shaka Smart and his team will be high from the outset, and as football begins to fade into the background a bit in coming weeks, Perrin needs to support Smart at least as much as he supports Strong.

How long it takes Texas to become elite under the 38-year-old remains to be seen. But Smart, who has never won less than 26 games in his coaching career, looks perfectly suited to handle the pressures of Texas’ athletic department.

Now it’s up to Perrin to rally behind the new coach coach with basketball season not far away.

Next: Demetrius Jackson has a Great Opportunity Before Him

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