Meet Mya Payne Smart, wife of VCU head basketball coach Shaka Smart.
Shaka and Maya met in 2005 while Shaka was an assistant at Akron and Maya, an Akron native, was home and preparing to enroll at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University after earning a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Harvard University.
They dated long distance while Maya was at Northwestern, then got married on May 20th, 2006 when Maya graduated. The couple is expected their first child this year.
Maya Payne Smart, a professional writer, holds degrees from Harvard University and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is a a board member of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
To date, Smart has authored hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and websites, including CNNMoney.com, Black Enterprise, Essence, and trade and custom publications. She’s also a contributing author for Princeton Review books such as “America’s Best Value Colleges” and “120 Jobs That Won’t Chain You to Your Desk.”
In 2009, Mya launched a website called WritingCoach.com. The website offers essential information — from marketing basics to more advanced business-building strategies — that she wishes she had when she went after her first bylines. To find out more about Mya’s services, visit her website here.
Check out the video below of a recent interview with Mya.
Shaka Smart is the current head basketball coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams basketball program. Before accepting the job at VCU, Smart served as an assistant coach for the Akron Zips, Clemson Tigers and Florida Gators basketball programs.
VCU hired Smart to be the head coach in the spring of 2009. Smart’s hire made him the 10th youngest head coach in Division I.
In just his second season as head coach, Shaka led his VCU team to the 2011 NCAA final four game held today (April 2nd, 2011). Unfortunately, Shaka’s VCU Rams lost to the Butler Bulldogs.
1st Photo Source: Timesdispatch.com
2nd Photo Source: Sportsillustrated
3rd Photo Source: Youtube.com
4th photo Source: Newstimes.com
