GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida coach Billy Donovan has filled his coaching vacancy -- hiring former Clemson assistant Shaka Smart.

Smart replaces Lewis Preston, who left after two years to join the staff at Penn State.

The 31-year-old Smart spent the last two years at Clemson, helping the Tigers win 49 games and reach the postseason both seasons. He also worked as an assistant coach at Akron for three years, as the director of basketball operations at Dayton for two seasons and as an assistant at California University of Pennsylvania for two years.

Smart was a four-year starter and three-year captain at Kenyon College, where he holds school records for career assists (542) and
assists in a single season (184).

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)