Monday night, 48 hours removed from the death of UNC legend Dean Smith, the current coach of the Tar Heels, Roy Williams, continued to remember his close friend and mentor at Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery for a special edition of his weekly radio show.

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Coach Smith’s declining health in recent years had many mentally preparing for the inevitable. But Coach Williams says when the day finally came, he still wasn’t ready.

“I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t. In a lot of ways, it’s a blessing, which most people can say when something like this happens. It’s been extremely sad, but man, do I feel blessed because that man was so important to me and my life. He gave me so many opportunities and gave me so much of his knowledge,” Coach Williams says.

Coach Smith with former assistant coach Roy Williams backing him up (Herald Sun)

Coach Smith with former assistant coach Roy Williams backing him up (Herald Sun)

Coach Smith was widely respected for his innovative approach to the game that ultimately transformed college basketball into the modern age.

His legendary teaching ability had successful coaches from across the nation flocking to Chapel Hill to extract bits of wisdom from the Dean of the ACC.

“When you’re a teacher, you try to teach anybody. I remember when Jim Calhoun and his staff wanted to come down and talk basketball. They spent a couple days with us. I remember Gregg Popovich from the San Antonio Spurs came and spent three or four weeks with us,” Coach Williams says. “So many people have those stories about writing, calling and seeing Coach Smith. He was able to share. He loved coaches and loved teachers.”

But Coach Smith’s precious time wasn’t reserved for the elite coaching circles. The Hall of Famer and gold-medal winner always took the time to make everybody feel special.

“He came into contact with so many people. He remembered most of them, which was unique and the way he was. He also shared some private things with everybody. If they asked a question, he was willing to try to help. He was never too busy for people,” Coach Smith says.

Coach Williams credits Coach Smith as the most influential person in his life, outside of his mom that is.

“Once you get past my mom, she was the angel of the world. Everything about me, she had a great part of. Once I got into college and watched North Carolina basketball, then Coach Dean Smith became my mentor. I tried to copy everything he does. Other people think I’m joking, but I’m not. I’m not an innovator, I’m a copier,” Coach Williams says.

“My goodness, why would I be stupid enough to copy somebody else when I had a chance to copy Coach Smith?”

Coach Smith forged the ‘Carolina family’ – an ideal that every member of the UNC basketball program would be loved and supported forever. That is largely carried on today by his long-time pupil, Coach Williams.

Coach Smith (center) seated with Roy Williams and Michael Jordan (Tar Heel Blog)

Coach Smith (center) seated with Roy Williams and Michael Jordan (Tar Heel Blog)

The vast congregation of former players who religiously make the trip back to Chapel Hill for summer ball each year serves as a shining example of that belief system put into action today.

The reverence and affection Coach Williams has for his idol plays out on a day-to-day basis. Even at 64 years of age, Coach Williams says there’s not a day that goes by he doesn’t ask himself if Coach Smith would be proud of his actions.

“It’s been overwhelming, and there’s still more to come. The people in here know this is true, because some of the people in here are close friends. I’m 64 years old and every day, I want to do the things that I think would make Dean Smith proud,” Coach Williams says.

Former NBA head coach George Karl, who played under Dean Smith at UNC from 1970-73, sent a short, but poignant text to Coach Williams Monday night that just about summed it up.

“He was the best.”

Yes, Dean Edwards Smith has his rightful place in the Pantheon of all-time best coaches.

But it’s how Coach Smith continually got the best out of others that will serve as the true testament to his legacy. And Chapel Hill’s ‘priceless gem’ wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Thanks to our friends at the Tar Heel Sports Network for archived audio used in this piece.