Longtime North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith has died, the university announced this morning.
“Coach Dean Smith passed away peacefully the evening of February 7 at his home in Chapel Hill, and surrounded by his wife and five children,” Smith’s family said in a statement. “We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as arrangements are made available to the public. Thank you.”
Smith, a Naismith Hall of Fame member, coached the Tar Heels from 1961 to 1997. Along the way he helped UNC reach 11 Final Fours and won two national championships (1982 and 1993). He retired as the winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history.
During his 36-year tenure more than 50 future NBA players played under him, including Michael Jordan.
A tenacious player himself, Smith won a national title with Kansas in 1952. He is one of only two people (Bob Knight) to win college hoops’ ultimate prize as a player and a coach.
He was a larger-than-life presence at North Carolina and his loss will surely hit the campus and extended Tar Heels family hard.
But they won’t be alone. Tributes from all corners of the globe are already pouring in. And it’s easy to understand why.
Not only was Smith an unmatched basketball mind, he also did things the right way and treated people with respect.
In short: he had it all.
[Go Heels]