Former North Carolina Coach Dean Smith Dies

College basketball has recently lost a Hall of Fame coach in Dean Smith. Smith died on February 7th at the age of 83. Smith was one of the most innovative coaches of his time and won two National Championships with the North Carolina Tar Heels where he coached from 1961-1997.

Through his final years, Smith suffered with dementia and was never fully aware of his surroundings.

“Of all people, for it to happen to him is beyond cruel,” said Duke Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski in an interview with the Washington Post. “You’re talking about the person who had the sharpest mind and the most remarkable memory of anyone I’ve ever met. It’s just not fair.”

Smith leaves behind a legacy of being the fourth most winningest coach in Division 1 basketball history with 879 total wins, all coming with the Tar Heels. He also recorded a higher winning percentage than all Division 1 coaches with more wins than him.

The first National championship he won came in a thriller in 1982, where the team finished with an outstanding record of 32-2. The team included many basketball legends including James Worthy and Chicago great Michael Jordan.

“Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith” said Jordan in a statement according to ESPN.com. “He was more than a coach — he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father.

Dean Smith didn’t only have an influence on the players he coached, but also on the fans that were able to witness his creativity on the court, as shown by a tribute from the Tarheel’s rival Pittsburgh. In the first game after his death, they called for a moment of silence and the student section unveiled a banner in Smith’s name.

“Although he coached before my time, watching highlights of his teams are incredible” said Urbana Senior Nick Romito, “He will be truly missed by college basketball nation”