VCU to hire Chattanooga’s Will Wade to replace Shaka Smart

VCU will hire Chattanooga's Will Wade to replace Shaka Smart as head coach.

VCU will hire Chattanooga’s Will Wade to replace Shaka Smart as head coach, the school announced on Tuesday.

Wade, 32, spent only two years as Chattanooga’s coach, leading the Mocs to a 40-25 record during that time. At VCU he will replace Shaka Smart, who signed a seven-year contract to become the head coach at Texas last week.

Before being hired at Chattanooga, Wade served as an assistant under Smart at VCU from 2009-13. During that period, the Rams won the CBI, then earned three consecutive NCAA Tournaments bids, reaching the Final Four in 2011. 

• THAMEL: After thrilling tournament, critical off-season ahead for college hoops

Wade modeled his Chattanooga defenses after Smart's "Havoc" scheme, naming his version "Chaos." At 32, Wade ranks among the youngest coaches in Division I.

VCU will introduce Wade during a press conference at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

- Alex Putterman