When Shaka Smart was hired as Virginia Commonwealth University’s basketball coach in 2009, he was a little known, much traveled assistant, with a name that puzzled people.

Since then, his name and fame — and that of his signature game style, “Havoc” — spread.

Last week, Smart traded his Rams horns for the Texas Longhorns. He leaves Richmond as one of the hottest commodities in the sport, practically a household name among hoops enthusiasts.

Named after the Zulu warrior, Smart, a Wisconsin native, posted a 163-56 record at VCU that featured five straight NCAA invitations.

His Rams reached the NCAA Final Four in 2011, and won the College Basketball Insider.com (CBI) tournament in 2010.

During Smart’s six seasons, interest in VCU basketball exploded. He leaves with 66 straight Siegel Center sellouts and a fan base matched by few. The 66 straight sellouts are the fifth highest in the nation, behind only Duke, Kansas, Michigan State and Gonzaga.

There’s much more.

Smart’s 163 victories tie Brad Stevens of Butler University and Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh for most wins for the first six seasons.      

Smart’s boundless enthusiasm convinced the VCU administration and supporters to begin construction of a lavish $25 million practice facility that will open on the campus this fall.

Smart was well compensated for his exceptional work.

His starting salary at VCU was $350,000. Before he was pried away by a king’s ransom at Texas, he was earning close to $2 million per year.

Loyal almost to a fault, Smart previously turned down lucrative offers from North Carolina State, Illinois, UCLA, Minnesota and Marquette to remain the Rams coach and “father figure.”

To lure Smart, Texas opened up the bank, offering Smart about $3 million per year over the next five years and the chance to compete in the nation’s No. 1-ranked conference, the Big 12.

Smart’s “Havoc” relied on relentless high-speed pressure, and he sought the type of players he felt fit best into that system.

In seven recruiting seasons, Smart never signed a white player. Russian Amir Pischalnikov, a holdover from the Anthony Grant era, was the lone scholarship Caucasian to play under Smart.

If a cynic were to find fault with Smart, it might be in the high turnover of players.

Signees Jairus Lyles, Justin Tuoyo, Reco McCarter, D.J. Haley, Teddy Okereafor, Jay Gavin, Toby Veal, Issiah Grayson and Tray Simmons all transferred. Terrance Shannon left for personal reasons. And Heath Houston left because of medical concerns.

Smart never suffered a down season despite heavy graduation and transfer losses and an ever-toughening schedule.

In fact, his 2012 squad had a better record (29-7) than the Final Four team (28-12), despite losing four starters.

During the last season, Smart’s Rams were 26-10 and ranked among the Top 15 in the national RPI. The team won the Atlantic 10 tournament in Brooklyn and advanced to the NCAAs.

There was never a misstep.