A former assistant on Shaka Smart’s staff at Virginia Commonwealth University, Mike Morrell begins his second season as an assistant coach at The University of Texas.

The 33-year-old Morrell served as an assistant coach at VCU under Smart for the past two seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15), when the Rams posted a 52-19 (.732) overall mark, won the 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both years. He was the director of basketball operations at VCU in 2011-12 and 2012-13, when he handled the Rams’ day-to-day operations and oversaw team travel, scheduling and practice schedules.

During Morrell’s four seasons at VCU (2011-15), the Rams posted an overall record of 108-35 (.755) and made four NCAA Tournament appearances. VCU was ranked in the final Associated Press poll in 2012-13 (No. 25), 2013-14 (No. 24) and 2014-15 (No. 25), a program first.