Sad news hit the basketball world this morning as we found out that former North Carolina coach, Dean Smith, passed away at 83. North Carolina released a statement saying he died peacefully at his home in North Carolina with his wife and five children. It's been no secret that Smith hasn't been in the best shape the past couple of years as he had a condition that was causing him to have bad memory. It's good to hear that he passed away in the company of his family, but it doesn't even come close to the sadness it brings from losing one of the best people and basketball coaches we've ever seen.
Dean Smith is one of the top coaches we've ever seen in college basketball history and will always be considered among the greats. He innovated the game with his Four Corners Time Melting offense that led to the creation of the shot clock. He was also the first coach in North Carolina basketball history, coaching there for 36 years. He finished with the most wins in NCAA history, 879-254, while leading the Tar Heels to 11 Final Fours and 2 National Championships. He won his first championship in 1982 when Michael Jordan hit a late shot in the final seconds to beat Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas, 63-62. 11 years later he beat one of the most recognizable teams in college basketball history, the Fab Five, to claim his second national championship. Smith also won 8 ACC coach of the year awards but the craziest stat is that his only losing season was when he went 8-9 in his first season, 1961-1962. Even with all the basketball accolades, the most important thing he did might have been how he dealt with social issues in the South. He was one of the first head coaches in the South to offer a scholarship to an African-American player. He also invented the "Carolina Way", unknowingly, where after a basket the scorer points to the passer, showing how humble Dean Smith teams were. Smith didn't stop on the court though, he was one of the best people outside of basketball as well. He was very active in politics, donating money to many presidential campaigns and showing support for former North Carolina Senator, John Edwards. He also helped build a full church with 600 parishioners. Also, 95% of North Carolina's lettermen graduated from North Carolina, and unbelievable high number. His wife, Linnea, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his behalf from President Barack Obama in November of 2013. While Smith did arguably more than anyone for the North Carolina basketball program, he also did a lot outside of the game to help the university, not something every coach now a days does.
Smith helped coach more than 50 players to the NBA, some all-time greats. Obviously his most impressive coaching job was Michael Jordan but he also coached guys like Vince Carter, Sam Perkins and James Worthy. He also helped a young George Karl, a name in the news a lot recently, start his coaching career; Karl now has over 1000 career wins the NBA. ESPN interviewed some of the greatest coaches of college basketball history, asking them about Dean Smith. North Carolina's head coach, Roy Williams, spent 10 years as an assistant under Smith and has said multiple times before that he believes Smith is the greatest college basketball coach of all-time. Williams told reporters "I'd like to say on behalf of all our players and coaches, past and present, that Dean Smith was the perfect picture of what a college basketball coach should have been. We love him, and we will miss him." Coach K of Duke competed against Smith for many years, as they were the beginning of the Duke vs. North Carolina rivalry. Krzyzewski said "We have lost a man who cannot be replaced. He was one of a kind, and the sport of basketball lost one of its true pillars. Dean possessed one of the greatest basketball minds and was a magnificent tactician. While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues." The greatest player he ever coached, Michael Jordan, came out with a statement as well. MJ said "Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach -- he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life." There are only great things to say about Coach Smith as he was a fantastic coach and person. It seems cliche to say but in this situation it is very fitting, he was a great coach but a better person. Smith changed the game forever and will be missed.
R.I.P. Dean Smith (1931-2015)
Dean Smith is one of the top coaches we've ever seen in college basketball history and will always be considered among the greats. He innovated the game with his Four Corners Time Melting offense that led to the creation of the shot clock. He was also the first coach in North Carolina basketball history, coaching there for 36 years. He finished with the most wins in NCAA history, 879-254, while leading the Tar Heels to 11 Final Fours and 2 National Championships. He won his first championship in 1982 when Michael Jordan hit a late shot in the final seconds to beat Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas, 63-62. 11 years later he beat one of the most recognizable teams in college basketball history, the Fab Five, to claim his second national championship. Smith also won 8 ACC coach of the year awards but the craziest stat is that his only losing season was when he went 8-9 in his first season, 1961-1962. Even with all the basketball accolades, the most important thing he did might have been how he dealt with social issues in the South. He was one of the first head coaches in the South to offer a scholarship to an African-American player. He also invented the "Carolina Way", unknowingly, where after a basket the scorer points to the passer, showing how humble Dean Smith teams were. Smith didn't stop on the court though, he was one of the best people outside of basketball as well. He was very active in politics, donating money to many presidential campaigns and showing support for former North Carolina Senator, John Edwards. He also helped build a full church with 600 parishioners. Also, 95% of North Carolina's lettermen graduated from North Carolina, and unbelievable high number. His wife, Linnea, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his behalf from President Barack Obama in November of 2013. While Smith did arguably more than anyone for the North Carolina basketball program, he also did a lot outside of the game to help the university, not something every coach now a days does.
Smith helped coach more than 50 players to the NBA, some all-time greats. Obviously his most impressive coaching job was Michael Jordan but he also coached guys like Vince Carter, Sam Perkins and James Worthy. He also helped a young George Karl, a name in the news a lot recently, start his coaching career; Karl now has over 1000 career wins the NBA. ESPN interviewed some of the greatest coaches of college basketball history, asking them about Dean Smith. North Carolina's head coach, Roy Williams, spent 10 years as an assistant under Smith and has said multiple times before that he believes Smith is the greatest college basketball coach of all-time. Williams told reporters "I'd like to say on behalf of all our players and coaches, past and present, that Dean Smith was the perfect picture of what a college basketball coach should have been. We love him, and we will miss him." Coach K of Duke competed against Smith for many years, as they were the beginning of the Duke vs. North Carolina rivalry. Krzyzewski said "We have lost a man who cannot be replaced. He was one of a kind, and the sport of basketball lost one of its true pillars. Dean possessed one of the greatest basketball minds and was a magnificent tactician. While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues." The greatest player he ever coached, Michael Jordan, came out with a statement as well. MJ said "Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach -- he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life." There are only great things to say about Coach Smith as he was a fantastic coach and person. It seems cliche to say but in this situation it is very fitting, he was a great coach but a better person. Smith changed the game forever and will be missed.
R.I.P. Dean Smith (1931-2015)
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