What if he hadnt retired when he did? Smith coached from 1961 to 1997 and retired with 879 victories, which was the NCAA Division I men's basketball record at that time. Guthridge inherited a very talented team, one that he would lead back to the Final Four during the 1997-1998 season. But against the Utes, the Tar Heels fell behind quickly and were never able to catch up. "When they're excited, that's why we're in this field. Here's a look back at the coach, who retired in October 1997 as the winningest men . (Robert Willett / Tribune News Service via Getty). Dean's influence, however, went far beyond basketball coaching. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. And had Smith gone until age 71 or 72, as did Kentuckys Adolph Rupp, Carolina would have won another 50-60 games and the transition to Roy Williams might have happened seamlessly. His desire to be a coach I dont think ever stopped, Hanners said. Dean Edwards Smith (February 28, 1931 - February 7, 2015) was an American men's college basketball head coach. Its not fair, but thats just the way it is for assistant coaches, Smith said. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. (Ford) goes, Ah, you wouldve seen it sooner or later. Yeah right. [20] After winning the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina had a record of 322. Smith was active in politics, often supporting Democrats and liberal candidates. After that loss, Carter and Jamison turned pro. Smith's first major successes came in the late 1960s, when his teams won consecutive regular-season and ACC tournament championships, and went to three straight Final Fours, going all the way to the national championship game in 1968. The first is, if Guthridge hadnt wanted the job, would Williams have taken it? Because I know Coach Smiths plan long-term, at least at that time, was to prepare the team for Phil to take over.. He would, however, have just lost his three best players at Kansas in Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz and Billy Thomas. [11] Smith served under McGuire for three years until 1961, when McGuire was forced to resign by Chancellor William Aycock in the wake of a major recruiting scandal, and consequently, an NCAA mandated probation. Smith coached the last 11.5 years of his career in the arena, making him one of the few college coaches to have coached in an arena or stadium named for him. [45] In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame. I dont think he went in that summer thinking, Im not gonna be the basketball coach by fall, Baddour says. That team reached the Final Four and almost reached the title game even though Jamison and Williams missed 22 field-goal attempts in a 65-59 semifinal loss to Utah. ESPN named Smith one of the five all-time greatest American coaches of any sport. Why would you stay? Williams and Ndiaye both graduated. Smith's church served as a base for his advocacy. He was 83. 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Smith was 91 . [11] After that game, UNC would win nine of their last eleven games,[18] and Smith would subsequently go on to turn the program into a consistent success. [22] After a six-year investigation by the NCAA, Webber's association and financial dealings with Ed Martin determined that there had been a series of violations and direct payments to players and was termed "the University of Michigan basketball scandal" and resulted in Michigan pulling down all of its banners and titles from that era. In 1958, North Carolina coach Frank McGuire asked Smith to join his staff as an assistant coach. He will certainly be remembered for what he did as opposed to what else he might have done. Here's a look back at what happened that day. Smith had health issues in recent years, with the family saying in 2010 that he had a condition that was causing him to lose memory. Along the way, more than 95 percent of Smith's lettermen graduated from one of the nation's premier public universities. [13] When Aycock named Smith as head coach, he told the 30-year-old Smith that wins and losses didn't matter as much as running a clean program and representing the university well. Without question, every opportunity that I would have to hire Roy Williams. It is also widely referred to as the "Dean Dome." The people who knew him best werent surprised he went to two Final Fours in three seasons.. Why would a healthy 66-year-old call it quits and relinquish the chance to coach that team? Dean Smith was already a winner, but going into the 1981-82 season the one thing he didn't have on his resume was an NCAA basketball title. [38] A private funeral was held on February 12 at Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, with burial following at Old Chapel Hill Cemetery on the UNC campus. Smith's first national championship occurred with his 198182 team, which was composed of future NBA players such as Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins. In January 1965, in his fourth season, the Tar Heels returned to campus from a loss at Wake Forest to find an effigy of Smith hanging from a tree outside Woollen Gymnasium. (2:06). 35 consecutive seasons with a 50% or better record. During his time on the varsity basketball team, Kansas won the national championship in 1952. Politically, he was best known for promoting desegregation. They have two adult daughters, Kristen and Kelly. And I said, I cant say to you with certainty what Bills gonna do, but this is how we have to approach it. The fact that he felt like he failed us.. No, I couldnt even consider that, Smith said. Postseason invitational champion The little doo-doos, Smith called them, the administrative tasks just within the purview of his job responsibilities. Michigan did not have any timeouts remaining and trailed by two points. Then Guthridges voice wavered as he began to apologize I feel like its my fault. And then Bill can decide along the way what he wants to do.. Smith retired in October 1997 with a career record of 879-254, having . So was Williams always fated to end up back at North Carolina? Recharge your batteries, they told him. . Hed grown up in North Carolina, graduated from the university, won a championship as an assistant under Smith and had built a successful program as the coach at Kansas. Ndiaye comforted his coach, who had become a friend in time. "I'm 64 years old and everything I do with our basketball program and the way I deal with the University is driven by my desire to make Coach Smith proud. As things went, by the end of the 1999-2000 season which concluded with a surprise Final Four run, Guthridges second trip in three seasons Smiths right-hand man was finally ready to step away himself. However, this run occurred in the middle of UCLA's stretch of 10 titles in 12 years, and in fact Smith lost to UCLA's John Wooden in the 1968 title game. "Like the rest of the college basketball world, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dean Smith, who was not only one of the greatest coaches of all-time, but a true innovator of the game," the statement reads. Brownlow's Twitter Mailbag: Will NC State's title drought ever end? I needed Bill to tell me, Dick, yes, I want to do this, Baddour says, and he was clear that he wanted to.. Theres no way you could dream, Hanners says, anyone would necessarily do better.. Of course, its not like UNC had a bad season in Guthridges first year. His devotion to a humble, team-first philosophy -- the famed "Carolina Way" -- bred a fierce loyalty among the Tar Heels. He gave me a chance but, more importantly, he shared with me his knowledge, which is the greatest gift you can give someone. Hed have been two years into a rebuild at Notre Dame, and perhaps less reluctant to leave. [55] Smith's coaching tree includes: Smith was part of the coaching tree of James Naismith, by way of playing under Phog Allen at Kansas. And I think he probably had second thoughts, because at what point was it really a danger? Many of his former players and coaching staff became successful basketball coaches and executives. He went to 11 Final Fours, won two national titles, and reared a generation of players who went on to even better things elsewhere, including a young man named Michael Jordan -- and all of us from Chicago are thankful for that. As of Tuesday morning, Cocca said he has received 500 pre . [2], Smith also instituted the practice of starting all his team's seniors on the last home game of the season ("Senior Day") as a way of honoring the contributions of the substitutes as well as the stars. Hed have been a lifer, Hanners says. It's never one of his goals and certainly was never one of mine.". Whatve you got to prove then?. The death penalty makes us all murderers." Baddour and Smith never had a lengthy sitdown to discuss the future. October 20, 1997 DEAN EMERITUS A COACH FOR THE AGES, DEAN SMITH RETIRED, AS HE DID ALL ELSE, ON HIS OWN TERMS Alexander Wolff TABLE OF CONTENTS ORIGINAL LAYOUT This'll be really big news back. "[40], Smith willed a $200 check to each of the lettermen he'd coached during his 36 years at North Carolina, which included the message "Enjoy a dinner out compliments of Coach Dean Smith. The estate's trustee told ESPN that checks were sent out to about 180 ex-players.[41]. And in his final years, Coach Smith showed us how to fight an illness with courage and dignity. As they were chatting, Guthridge, who died in 2015, grabbed Ndiayes arm. But if Smith was selfless in his handling of McAdoo, it was nothing compared to Smiths shocking retirement on Oct. 9, 1997. The family has scheduled a private church service for Thursday for family, close friends, former players, coaches and team managers -- who are asked to RSVP if they want to attend.
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