Texas Basketball: 5 potential candidates for Longhorns to replace Shaka Smart
Luke Yaklich
- HC experience: UIC (2020-present; 9-13)
- Assistant experience: Illinois State (2013-17), Michigan (2017-19), Texas (2019-20)
It was not that long ago that Luke Yaklich was considered one of the top assistant coaches in the country, having aided teams to NCAA Tournaments – and he should be considered for this job, as well.
The 44-year old’s career began at the high school level, where he coached four different high schools from 1999 to 2013, going 214-173 in that time – before jumping to the Div. I level to take an assistant coaching job at his alma mater in Illinois State. Success there – which included two trips to the NIT in 2015 and 2017 – earned Yaklich a spot on John Beilein’s staff at Michigan.
Yaklich’s reputation as a defensive specialist grew substantially while with the Wolverines, particularly in the wake of Michigan’s run to the National Championship game in 2018. That season, the Wolverines owned the third-most efficient defense in the nation, held teams to an eighth-best 63.3 points per game, and ranked in the top 70 in both 3P% and 2P% defense.
After finishing his time at Michigan with a 63-15 record, Yaklich spent the 2019-20 campaign under Shaka Smart at Texas. The Longhorns’ defensive identity was much of the same as Michigan’s was with Yaklich, ranking 24th in defensive efficiency, 28th in points allowed, and top 120 in 3P% and 2P% defense.
Yaklich’s time on the sidelines paid off, leading to his first collegiate head coaching gig at UIC this past season. Despite the 9-13 record, the Flames showed some of Yaklich’s defensive style, sitting 20th in the nation in 3P% and above average in 2P% defense.
Ultimately, he may be in for the long haul at Illinois Chicago – but it is definitely worth Texas’ time to take a look at a former assistant who has been lauded at every stop.
Ranking the 2021 Sweet 16 teams. dark. Next
Whoever takes the head coaching job at Texas will have their hands full, to say the least – particularly in trying to lead the Longhorns out of their dormant state in the NCAA Tournament. With Baylor and Kansas still reigning supreme in the Big 12, the hunt for a coach to catapult the Longhorns into that upper echelon should be a strenuous one – but there are, decidedly, a number of invaluable options available.