We congratulate and offer wishes for much success to Coach Shaka Smart and his family, who have relocated to Austin, Texas, where he just became the new basketball coach for the University of Texas Longhorns.

In the six years Coach Smart led the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, he showed his players, the Richmond community and the entire nation that discipline and hard work, coupled with genuine caring, can bring great rewards.

In addition to winning two conference championships and the College Basketball Invitational, Coach Smart took his team to the NCAA Tournament for five years straight. Much of the city remains swept up in Rams fever that began when Coach Smart’s players — a group skilled in heart and “Havoc” — made it all the way to the NCAA Final Four in 2011.

The 37-year-old Wisconsin native brought pride to his team, to VCU and to the Richmond community through his remarkable efforts in realizing dreams. The glow of his wins spilled over to bathe Richmond in a positive national spotlight. He put VCU — and Richmond — on the March Madness sports map.

Coach Smart and his wife, Maya, also have had an impact on the wider community through their service and commitment to early childhood education, particularly for children from families in need. Their philanthropic work on behalf of the Friends Association for Children attests to their selfless nature and willingness to share their talents on behalf of others. The Richmond community will sorely miss this dynamic couple.

As Texas welcomes the Smarts, we also welcome — or more accurately — welcome back Will Wade.

Coach Wade was hired by Coach Smart in 2009 as an assistant before he left for Tennessee. After two seasons with the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Moccasins, he returns to VCU to lead the Rams.

Sure Coach Wade has big Converse/Nikes/Air Jordans to fill, but his players’ style of “Chaos” and his record as the 2014 Coach of the Year in the Southern Conference offers the promise of basketball excitement yet to come.

Welcome back to Richmond, coach!