CHAPEL HILL–Carolina basketball legend Dean Smith will deservedly be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom Nov. 20. And UNC head basketball coach Roy Williams recently talked with WNCN about his mentor, the man who has inspired him more than any other, and his health.

Coach Williams gave an update on Smith’s ongoing battle with dementia, saying Coach is definitely struggling, but that he still has his bright moments. And Coach Williams says he has seen the crippling disease strike his family as well.

“Coach is struggling. There is no question about that. He’ll still have some good moments, but it’s a very cruel disease. My sister got it at 50 and she was dead at 60, so I’ve been through it myself,” Coach Williams says.

Tragically, Coach Williams says it is hit or miss whether Smith recognizes him, and this speaks to the cruel nature of progressive dementia.

“It depends. Sometimes he does, and sometimes he doesn’t [recognize me]. It’s just the memory loss, and the things that you have are cruel,” Coach Williams says.

Back in his prime, Smith was renowned for his remarkable memory. Coach Williams recalls some of those strokes of genius.

“You’re talking about the guy who had the best memory of anyone I’ve known in my entire life. He could see a guy in the airport and five years later, the guy could say I remember meeting you in the airport, and Coach said yeah, you were going to St. Louis, and I was going to New York,” Coach Williams says.

It is still unknown whether Coach Smith will be making the trip up to the White House to accept the Medal of Freedom in person on Nov. 20.

 

 

 

 

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: All On Nike
Don’t blame Nike for the black uniforms. It’s part of the deal. Among the reactions to Carolina’s dismal showing against Kentucky in Las Vegas was dislike for the black unis with the light blue names and numerals. Although Roy Williams pledged to never don them again if his team lost, the once-a-year outfit is all […]
Chansky's Notebook: Pretty Good Coach
And, by the way, the Carolina women are 7-0 and killing it. Courtney Banghart knew what she was getting into when she accepted the head coaching job of the Lady Tar Heels. In her third season, she fully understands that men’s basketball is the 900-pound gorilla in the room and will always be. But she […]
On Air Today: Courtney Banghart of UNC Women's Basketball
With the 2021-22 season tipping off next week, head coach of UNC women's basketball Courtney Banghart joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell. She details her plans coming into her third season with the program, including the excitement around her talented freshman class and transfer additions.
Source: UNC Basketball's Andrew Platek Enters Transfer Portal
In a college basketball offseason with unprecedented levels of player movement, UNC was hardly immune. Months after the departures of Walker Kessler and Sterling Manley among others, sources indicate one more Tar Heel has entered his name into the transfer portal: guard Andrew Platek. North Carolina G Andrew Platek (SR) has entered the transfer portal. […]
Heels To Be Featured In Three 'Big Mondays'
Carolina will be tipping off in three 'Big Monday' ESPN games this coming season.
'Welcome to the SHIRE': New UNC Program Uses AI to Study Medical Data, Without Violating Patient Privacy
A new AI-based program called the SHIRE is enabling UNC researchers to analyze mountains of medical data - without privacy violations.
Virginia Transfer Gabby White, Daughter of UNC Assistant Joanne Aluka-White, Commits to Tar Heels
Virginia guard Gabby White, who spent her freshman season with the Cavaliers, announced her commitment to join UNC out of the transfer portal Tuesday morning. View this post on Instagram White has strong local connections. A star at Seaforth High School in Pittsboro, White scored more than 1,900 career points and grabbed more than 1,100 […]
When UNC Didn't Offer a Class About the Art Market, a Student Created It Herself
There is always an interesting class to take at UNC-Chapel Hill, but not one exclusively focused on the business side of the art world.
Atlanta Dream Select UNC's Indya Nivar in 2nd Round of WNBA Draft
The Atlanta Dream selected former UNC standout Indya Nivar with the 28th pick in the second round of the WNBA Draft Monday night. League HER. Indya is headed to Atlanta! pic.twitter.com/sa5gaRDYy8 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) April 14, 2026 Originally from Apex, Nivar was named the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and the […]
5-Star Commit Dylan Mingo Will Not Join UNC Men's Basketball
Five-star guard prospect Dylan Mingo, who pledged to join the UNC men’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season, will not come to Chapel Hill after all. Mingo, a 6-foot-5 guard from Long Island who ESPN rated as the No. 9 overall player in his recruiting class, originally committed to UNC on Feb. 17, less than […]
›