Dean Smith gives one last gift and life lesson to all of his former players
College basketball coaching legend Dean Smith left a lasting mark when he retired from the game in 1997 after 44 years on the bench, which included 36 at the helm of University of North Carolina’s men’s basketball program (1961-1997) and four as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels (1958-1961).
Most people around the nation remember Coach Smith for winning 879 games with 254 losses that include two NCAA Championships (1982 and 1993), 11 Final Four appearances, and four National Coach of the Year honors. But Dean Smith’s legacy goes beyond the hardwood courts, he was a champion to his players behind closed doors giving one more lasting memory by sending each of his lettermen players over the years $200 for one last dinner on him.
The report came out on Thursday that some 180 players were given a check for $200 with a note from Coach Smith stating “enjoy a dinner out compliments of Coach Dean Smith.” The checks totaling roughly $36,000 were distributed via Coach Smith’s trust by Miller, McNeish, and Breedlove, a Charlotte based law firm.
Coach Smith not only built the Tar Heel basketball program up but helped establish the Atlantic Coast Conference as a basketball power still recognized today. From the mid 1960’s Coach Smith helped integrate the men’s basketball team and university as a whole giving shooting guard Charlie Scott a scholarship making him the first African-American scholarship athlete for the Tar Heels sports program.
Chapel Hill would also never be the same because of Coach Smith. The Hall of Fame coach leveraged his on the court success to open up businesses previously denying service to African-Americans. Coach Smith opposed the Vietnam War, nuclear weapon expansion, and was a fixture among local black and white churches in the Chapel Hill area later becoming a spokesperson for Devout Democrats.
Smith retired with the most wins in NCAA men’s basketball only to be later passed by Bob Knight (Army, Indiana and Texas Tech), Mike Krzyzewski (Army and Duke), and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse).
Among the players who laced up the high-tops for Coach Smith included Doug Moe, Larry Brown, Billy Cunningham, Robert McAdoo, George Karl, Bobby Jones, Mitch Kupchak, Walter Davis, Phil Ford, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Brad Doherty, Kenny Smith, Rick Fox, Pete Chilcutt, Hubert Davis, George Lynch, Eric Montross, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and his most famous letterman, Michael Jordan.
Coach Smith passed away on February 7, 2015 at the age of 83 from He retired as coach of the Tar Heels on October 9, 1997 due to early complications of a neurocognitive disorder.
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: triangleoffense.com; Coach Dean Smith is greeted by the UNC faithful.