Dean Smith

About Dean Smith

Dean Edwards Smith (born February 28, 1931) is a retired head coach of men’s college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for 36 years. Smith coached from 1961 to 1997 and retired as the NCAA Division I men's basketball coach with the most wins ever with 879 wins. This record was later surpassed by Bobby Knight in 2007. Smith has the 9th highest winning percentage of any men’s college basketball coach at 77.6. During his time as head coach of North Carolina, the team won two national titles and appeared in 11 Final Fours.

Smith is also known for running a clean program and having a high graduation rate for his players with 96.6% players going on to graduate. While at North Carolina, Smith helped promote desegregation by recruiting the University’s first African American scholarship basketball player Charlie Scott and pushing for equal treatment for African Americans by local businesses. Smith coached and worked with numerous individuals at North Carolina that went on to achieve notable success in basketball, as either players or coaches or both. Smith retired as head coach from North Carolina in 1997 saying that he was not able to give the team the same level of enthusiasm that he had given it for years. Since retirement, Smith has used his influence to help out in various charitable ventures and political activities.

Smith was born in Emporia, Kansas, on February 28, 1931. Both of his parents were public school teachers. Smith's father, Alfred, coached the Emporia High Spartans basketball team to the 1934 state title in Kansas. This 1934 team was notable for having the first African-American basketball player in Kansas tournament history. While at Topeka High School, Smith lettered in basketball all four years and was named all-state in basketball as a senior. Smith's interest in sports was not limited only to basketball. Smith also played quarterback for his high school football team and catcher for the high school baseball team.