Tributes to the late North Carolina coach Dean Smith are pouring in, including these from his former star, Michael Jordan, and his former rival, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Jordan, who led the Tar Heels to the 1982 NCAA title with his famous jumper in the final seconds against Georgetown, issued this statement via the Charlotte Hornets.
“Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach – he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life. My heart goes out to Linnea and their kids. We’ve lost a great man who had an incredible impact on his players, his staff and the entire UNC family.”
Also, here’s the recruiting letter Smith sent to Jordan in 1980, via Darren Rovell:
Smith went 24-14 in his career against Krzyzewski and retired as the winningest coach in men’s Division 1 college basketball history. Coach K ultimately passed him in 2010.
“I am incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Dean Smith. We have lost a man who cannot be replaced. He was one of a kind and the sport of basketball lost one of its true pillars. Dean possessed one of the greatest basketball minds, and was a magnificent teacher and tactician. While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues. However, his greatest gift was his unique ability to teach what it takes to become a good man. That was easy for him to do because he was a great man himself. All of his players benefited greatly from his basketball teachings, but even more from his ability to help mold men of integrity, honor and purpose. Those teachings, specifically, will live forever in those he touched. We offer our deepest sympathies – and gratitude for sharing his incredible life with us for so long – to Linnea, his children and the entire North Carolina family.”
