Shaka Smart and wife make 'major gift' to Marquette University

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Shaka Smart has already done a lot to lift spirits on the campus of Marquette University.

Monday, Feb. 7, we learned that the first year basketball coach and his wife are doing even more.

Shaka Smart's Golden Eagles have performed beyond expectations, moving into the nation's top 25 after a hot streak in January. 

On Monday, the university announced that Smart and his wife, Maya, have made a "major gift" to help Black students cover emergency expenses. 

The statement doesn't say how big the gift is, but it says the money will help support students with food and safety needs, with travel emergencies or other problems. 

Marquette President Michael Lovell calls the gift a "true blessing."

Maya Smart says they're happy to shine a light on the needs of students with bright futures who "just need a little help."