REST IN PEACE DEAN SMITH

The basketball world lost an extremely important person with the passing of legendary UNC Tar Heels basketball coach Dean Smith.  Smith was 83 years old at the time of his death.

I for one have certainly been enlightened these past few days about who Coach Smith actually was as a person.  Everyone is well aware of the immense talent Smith molded during his 36 years as head coach at UNC.  11 Final Four appearances,  two NCAA Championships and 25 first-round NBA selections are some of the things Smith accomplished on the sideline. However, to understand this legends accomplishments you must look beyond the hardwood.

Adolf Rupp is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of NCAA Basketball.  He retired the winningest coach in NCAA men's history with 876 victories. Rupp was an imposing figure to say the least.  His players revered him and opposing coaches respected him.  Frankly, NCAA Basketball nor the NBA would have developed into what we see today without Rupp ' s contributions.

Despite the greatness Rupp accomplished during his coaching career, he is also remembered as an outspoken racist.  Rupp would have likely gotten along with Donald Sterling.  Smith, on the other hand advocated for change.  He became head coach at UNC in 1961, two years prior to Martin Luther King Jr's historic speech in Washington D.C.  During this time America needed more Caucasian individuals in respectable positions of authority to take a stand.  Not only for the advancement of blacks, but for the overall development of our country.

In 1966 Smith recruited Charlie Scott to North Carolina.  Scott was the first black scholarship athlete In North Carolina history.  During the 60's the state of North Carolina was still racially divided.  Recruiting a black athlete to one of the leading institutions in the state was making a statement.

In 1982 Smith guided his UNC Tar Heels to the first of his two NCAA Championships. Michael Jordan was a freshman on that team.  Michael hit a two-point basket in the final minute to secure the 63-62 victory for UNC.  Smith's reaction to reaching the highest point of his profession was classy.  He immediately ran over to console Georgetown coach John Thompson after one of the greatest championship games played to date.

Smith was class personified.  He was an innovator in his own regard.  North Carolina tried things in the late 60's and early 70's that other head coaches had never thought of.  North Carolina was one of the first schools to utilize the point guard position to its full potential. Smith liked to run the four corners offense.

During his 36 years at UNC Smith's players maintained a 96% graduation rate.  His teams were never placed on probation for NCAA violations.  Smith ran a clean program for almost four decades.

Dean Smith was one of the elite basketball coaches in the games history.  His contributions to the sport will be felt for years to come.