CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Legendary University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith has passed away at the age of 83.
Smith passed away Saturday night.
“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,” the Smith 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 was the head coach of the Tar Heels from 1961 to 1997, retiring as the winningest coach in college basketball.
He led the Tar Heels to national championships in 1982 and 1993, to 13 ACC Tournament titles, 11 Final Fours, and an NIT championship, and directed the United States Olympic Team to a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Games.
In 36 seasons at UNC, Smith's teams had a record of 879-254.
He set the record for winning more games than any Division I men’s coach in history, surpassing Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp with his 877th victory over Colorado in the 1997 NCAA Tournament. He finished his career by leading UNC to the Final Four in four of his final seven seasons.
Statements regarding the passing of Dean Smith:
-President Obama on Smith:
Last night, America lost not just a coaching legend but a gentleman and a citizen. When he retired, Dean Smith had won more games than any other college basketball coach in history. 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.
But more importantly, Coach Smith showed us something that I've seen again and again on the court – that basketball can tell us a lot more about who you are than a jumpshot alone ever could. He graduated more than 96 percent of his players and taught his teams to point to the teammate who passed them the ball after a basket. He pushed forward the Civil Rights movement, recruiting the first black scholarship athlete to North Carolina and helping to integrate a restaurant and a neighborhood in Chapel Hill. And in his final years, Coach Smith showed us how to fight an illness with courage and dignity. For all of that, I couldn't have been prouder to honor Coach Smith with Medal of Freedom in 2013.
Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to his wife Linnea, to his family, and to his fans all across North Carolina and the country.
-Gov. Pat McCrory:
"Ann and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Coach Smith. Coach Smith is a legend on and off the court and his life will leave a lasting legacy at Chapel Hill and across the state and nation. May the skies shine Carolina Blue in your honor Coach."
-UNC coach Roy Williams:
“It’s such a great loss for North Carolina – our state, the University, of course the Tar Heel basketball program, but really the entire basketball world. We lost one of our greatest ambassadors for college basketball for the way in which a program should be run. We lost a man of the highest integrity who did so many things off the court to help make the world a better place to live in.
He set the standard for loyalty and concern for every one of his players, not just the games won or lost.
He was the greatest there ever was on the court but far, far better off the court with people. His concern for people will be the legacy I will remember most.
He was a mentor to so many people; he was my mentor. He gave me a chance but, more importantly, he shared with me his knowledge, which is the greatest gift you can give someone.
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. When I came back to Carolina, the driving force was to make him proud and I still think that today.
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.”
-Michael Jordan:
“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. My heart goes out to Linnea and their kids. We’ve lost a great man who had an incredible impact on his players, his staff and the entire UNC family.”
-Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski
"I am incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Dean Smith. 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 teacher and tactician.
While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues.
However, his greatest gift was his unique ability to teach what it takes to become a good man. That was easy for him to do because he was a great man himself.
All of his players benefited greatly from his basketball teachings, but even more from his ability to help mold men of integrity, honor and purpose.
Those teachings, specifically, will live forever in those he touched.
We offer our deepest sympathies – and gratitude for sharing his incredible life with us for so long – to Linnea, his children and the entire North Carolina family."
-Senator Richard Burr:
“Dean Smith's accomplishments as coach, mentor, and teacher made him a legend in our state, and far beyond Tobacco Road. Brooke and I are deeply saddened to hear of his passing, but he left his indelible mark on this state. Under his stewardship, UNC became the formidable college basketball powerhouse that it is today. While he was a winning coach, he also encouraged his players to excel in the classroom and taught well beyond the locker room. He and his family are in my prayers today.”
-Senator Tom Tillis: "Today, the state of North Carolina sadly lost one of its most influential figures, Dean Smith, who leaves behind an incredible legacy. Coach Smith's leadership as the head coach of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill basketball team was legendary, and his role as a teacher and mentor will continue to make a profound impact on many lives for years to come."
More reaction to the death of retired UNC coach Dean Smith
Quotes and reaction to the death of retired Hall of Fame North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith:
___
"Everything that I've done as a basketball coach, that's the thought process, that I wanted to make Coach Smith proud. When I came back (to North Carolina) 12 years ago, there were some problems and I told him one night, I said, 'I really do want to do this the right way. I want you to be proud of what I do.' He said, 'I'm already proud.' Last night, that was still driving me, and it will do it the rest of the time that I'm a coach." — North Carolina coach Roy Williams
___
"We lost a basketball pioneer for sure. He's touched so many guy's lives. He touched one of the greatest, if not the greatest to ever touch the floor — Michael Jordan. The list goes on and on. But more than that, guys who didn't even play for UNC or never even walked that campus, what he meant to our game means a lot. Obviously, the game wouldn't be what it is today without his presence, his influence and everything he did for our sport. He's gone but he will definitely never be forgotten. His name will live on his basketball history for sure." — LeBron James.
___
"Dean was a great friend and a great coach. I will miss him dearly. He was devoted to me and I to him and I will forever be grateful for our friendship." — Bill Guthridge, a 30-year assistant to Smith and his successor in 1997.
___
"I was very blessed and fortunate to have had him in my life. I'll be able to sit down and tell my grandchildren I played for Dean Smith, which is really cool." — former UNC point guard Phil Ford, who played for Smith from 1974-78.
___
"He was all about relationships. He always used to talk about that he couldn't coach us unless he knew us. He would take time to spend time with us and get to know us. That was the great thing." — UNC assistant coach Hubert Davis, who played for Smith from 1988-92.
___
"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 one of the greatest coaches of all-time, but a true innovator of the game. Dean was a father figure to many, many young coaches and taught a lot of us what it means to build a program, not just a team. ... Dean's influence, however, went far beyond basketball coaching. His work with desegregation and women's rights showed what an equally incredible person he was. What he means to the people of North Carolina is immeasurable." — former Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun.
___
"He was more like a father to me than a coach. In fact, it feels like I'm losing a father. I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for Coach Smith. My heart goes out to his family." — former UNC player Antawn Jamison, who played on Smith's final two teams.
___
"Sometimes the word legend is used with too little thought. In this instance, it almost seems inadequate. He was basketball royalty, and we have lost one of the greats in Dean Smith." — John Swofford, ACC commissioner and former UNC athletic director.
___
"His influence on my life didn't end when I left Chapel Hill, as he was a trusted and valuable advisor to me when I became a player, then an executive in the NBA. He had a hugely positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young men who were lucky enough to call him Coach, and I was blessed to be among them." — Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, who played for Smith from 1972-76.
___
"All of his players benefited greatly from his basketball teachings, but even more from his ability to help mold men of integrity, honor and purpose. Those teachings, specifically, will live forever in those he touched." — Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
___
"Dean Smith was the most innovative and player-loved coach of his time." — Kentucky coach John Calipari on Twitter.
___
"Sending my prayers and deepest sympathies to Dean Smith's family. May we celebrate the gift we all were given with his life." — former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt on Twitter.
___
"He was a special man. ... Any good university or basketball program or anything needs a leader and coach Smith was the leader of North Carolina and I'm just thrilled that I played for him and knew him." — Rutgers assistant coach Mike O'Koren, who played for Smith from 1976-80.
___
"Dean Smith was a gentleman and one of the greatest coaches and innovators in the game. He was ahead of his time and he will be missed greatly!" — former St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca.
___
"Dean Smith had an influence on all of us to be better in our coaching careers. He displayed great integrity, honesty and was someone we looked up to. He will truly be missed in the basketball community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family." — former Purdue coach Gene Keady.
___
"He was just a great bench coach. It was a constant effort to prepare for hours for his team because he adjusted so well. You really had to go to great depths to prepare because his system was so sound and he had the players to execute it." — former Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall.
___
"Dean Smith defined the word coach. His work went beyond building championship teams. Basketball has lost a pioneer. #RIPDeanSmith" — former women's tennis player Billie Jean King on Twitter.
WSOC
