What’s Being Said About Dean Smith

Roy Williams, Kansas coach and former assistant coach at North Carolina:

“If you watch every move I make in the office, every move I make on the court, during practice and during games, that’s directly related to something coach Smith taught me. Everybody thinks I’m being humble, but that’s not being humble, it’s being truthful. He has been the total influence on me as to how to run a basketball program.”

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P.J. Carlesimo, Portland Trail Blazers coach and former coach of Seton Hall:

“As much as people say it’s easy to recruit at a place like Carolina, one, it wasn’t always like that. That’s evolved because of what Dean and his program stand for and what it’s done. And two, the higher up you get, the more you’re competing with the best programs in the country.

“People just assume Carolina will win 25 games ever year, win the ACC championship, get to the Final 16, maybe win the national championship. It doesn’t just happen. It’s the product of great players, great coaching, and a tremendous work ethic. It is so hard to stay on that level as long as he’s done it. It’s incredible. And it will never be appreciated until Dean decides not to coach anymore and somebody else is in there, and they say that really was amazing.”

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Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, former North Carolina star:

“He’s a very modest individual, and we all learn from that. He does what he feels is the right thing to do, and we all listen. We make our own decisions, but a lot of times his opinions are right on target. When he advised me to leave college, that’s the best move I could have made. I went back there and I finished, but the decision was the best move. I can’t think if I stayed in school my senior year where I would be.”

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Phil Ford, former All-America at North Carolina, NBA Rookie of the Year and current assistant coach for Smith:

“What people don’t understand is he’s dealt with guys that were worried about going to the Vietnam War all the way to guys who like rap music, and that’s a different type of young man. He’s very patient, and he treats everybody the same, no matter who you are, where you’re from, no matter what beliefs you hold.”

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Bill Guthridge, assistant coach to Smith for 30 years:

“From just the little bit I know about Adolph Rupp, I think he really had an inflated ego. He was always blaming his players and not himself. And Dean has never blamed the player. He always takes the losses upon himself.”

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George Karl, Seattle SuperSonics coach and former North Carolina player:

“His organization is pretty masterful. I know as a coach I can’t do it that way. If I feel the practice going the wrong way, I change. I could never be as regimented as he is. But he delivers the product. I think he’s had a fantastic season this year. I think this is best coaching job he’s ever done.”

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Karl on coveting the North Carolina coaching job when Smith retires:

“Yes, I would go very quickly. But there are many, many college coaches, along with some Carolina alumni who have college experience. I honestly think that I’ll retire before he’ll retire. But if that’s not the case, I would be honored to have an opportunity to go back there.”

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Eddie Fogler, South Carolina coach and former North Carolina guard:

“Dean Smith is the best person I’ve ever known, and there’s no one who’s even a close second.”

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Mike Krzyzewski, Duke coach:

“Whatever is written about him in a positive sense he justly deserves.”

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Vic Bubas, former Duke coach:

“The biggest tribute that I can pay to him is he has done it with humbleness. He doesn’t point to all these records, in fact, I think Dean has mellowed a lot in the last 10 to 15 years.”

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Gary Williams, Maryland coach:

“That is the greatest testament -- that he stood the test of time. ... It’s a lot of wins, but if you look at the average wins per year that’s what is amazing. A lot of those years he was coaching in the best conference in the country, that even says more about the record. It’s not like he’s ducked anybody or played a weak schedule. I think it’s great that the person who is going to break Adolph Rupp’s record is legitimate.”