To love Carolina Basketball is to love Dean Smith. To know college basketball is to respect Dean Smith. Though his health is beginning to fade he still represents all that is North Carolina Basketball. Happy Birthday Dean Smith.
- 879 wins in 36 years of coaching
- 77.6% winning percentage
- Most Division I 20-win seasons, with 27 consecutive 20-win seasons from 1970–1997[3] and 30 20-win seasons total.[1]
- 22 seasons with at least 25 wins
- 35 consecutive seasons with a 50% or better record.[3]
- Two national championships (1982, 1993)
- 11 Final Fours
- 17 regular-season ACC titles, plus 33 straight years finishing in the conference’s top three and 20 years in the top two
- 13 ACC tournament titles
- 27 NCAA tournament appearances, including 23 consecutive.[3]
- 96.6% graduation rate among players.[3][4]
- Recruited 26 All-Americans to play at North Carolina under him.[3]
The Tar Heels control their own destiny this week for the ACC crown. After taking a year off, I can think of no greater gift to Dean Smith than to deliver yet another ACC title to Chapel Hill.
AARON CONRAD 