Shaka Smart becoming Texas coach

— -- After parting ways with coach Rick Barnes, the Texas Longhorns opted to get Smart.

Shaka Smart has agreed to become Texas' new coach after six years with the VCU Rams, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.com.

Smart met with the VCU players Thursday night to tell them the news.

The 37-year-old coach has been a hot commodity ever since he led the Rams to an unexpected Final Four appearance in 2011. Smart has led the program to at least 26 wins in each of six seasons in Richmond, Virginia.

This season, Smart's VCU team was knocked out in the round of 64 in the NCAA tournament -- the same round in which Texas lost.

Smart replaces Barnes, who led the Longhorns to 16 NCAA tournament trips in his 17 seasons at the helm but made just one Final Four appearance.

Information from ESPN's Jeff Goodman contributed to this report.