Dean Smith
Inducted:
1983
Stats
Born
February 28, 1931
Emporia, Kansas, U.S.
Died
February 7, 2015
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Position
Coach
College
University of Kansas (1949–1953)
Dean Smith was one of the most respected coaches in basketball history, best known for building a winning culture at the University of North Carolina. Although he did not coach in the NBA, his influence on the professional game was significant through the many players he developed for the league. Over 36 seasons,from 1961 to 1997, he mentored more than 50 future NBA/ABA players and finished with 879 career wins, which was an NCAA record at the time of his retirement.
His teams won two national championships and consistently competed at the highest level. Known for his discipline, innovative strategies, and focus on teamwork, Smith helped shape modern basketball systems that carried into the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 in recognition of his outstanding coaching career and lasting impact on the sport.
Smith's Awards & Records
- 4× National Coach of the Year (1977, 1979, 1982, 1993)
- 8× ACC Coach of the Year
- One of only three coaches to win the "Triple Crown"
- Member of the FIBA Hall of Fame (2007)
- Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013)
- Developed numerous future NBA players
NBA Position
North Carolina (1961–1997)
NBA Stats
Seasons:
10 (1967-1977)
Games Played:
742
Points:
9,217 (12.4 ppg)
Rebounds:
2,354 (3.2 rpg)
Assists:
2,533 (3.4 apg)
Field Goal %:
44.8%
Free Throw %:
84.0%
Playoff Game:
95