Report: VCU coach Shaka Smart turns down offer from Marquette

Despite earlier reports that Virginia Commonwealth head coach Shaka Smart said he had no intention of leaving the university, ESPN's Jeff Goodman is reporting that Marquette continued to court the Rams' head coach, even going so far as to offer him a "lucrative" contract.

Well, those efforts have been rejected, as Smart called the Golden Eagles on Thursday to turn down their offer, according to Goodman.

Smart has served as the Rams' bench boss for the last five seasons, leading the team to the NCAA tournament four years in a row.

Marquette will now reportedly shift its focus to other candidates, including former UCLA coach Ben Howland, Green Bay coach Brian Wardle, and Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins.