Dean Smith

Dean Smith, born on February 28, 1931, in Emporia, Kansas, was a legendary American basketball coach. Renowned for his tenure at the University of North Carolina, Smith guided the Tar Heels for 36 years, retiring in 1997 as one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history. Under his leadership, North Carolina secured two NCAA championships and numerous conference titles. Beyond the court, Smith was a trailblazer, advocating for civil rights and breaking racial barriers in collegiate sports. His coaching philosophy, known for emphasizing teamwork and player development, left an enduring impact on the sport. Dean Smith passed away on February 7, 2015.

Here are some of his career achievements:

• Won the National Invitation Tournament of 1971
• Aided his team to win 13 ACC Tournaments: 1967-1969, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997
• Led the team to win 17 ACC regular seasons: 1967-1969, 1971, 1972, 1976-1979, 1982-1985, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995  
• Entitled as the ACC Coach of the Year eight times: 1967, 1968, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1993
• Entitled as the National Coach of the Year four times: 1977, 1979, 1982, 1993
• Head Coach of the national team of the United States that bagged a gold medal in the Olympic Games of 1976
• During his 36 years of a coaching career, Smith has credited 879 wins to his teams
• Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the then President Barack Obama in 2013