Dean Smith died at his home Saturday night. He was 83. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
Legendary former North Carolina basketball coach at age 83.
The Hall of Fame coach led the Tar Heels from 1961-97 and retired with two national championships (1982, 1993) and 879 victories, the most of any coach in the sport at the time. His coaching resume also included 11 Final Fours, 13 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles and an Olympic gold medal (1976).
But to his players and countless others, he was much more than a successful basketball coach. He was a mentor, a father figure to many of his players and North Carolina students.
Early Sunday, many current and former UNC players, as well as media and athletes in other sports, took to social medial to share their condolences and memorable stories of Smith.
Michael Jordan statement on the passing of Dean Smith.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo)
Coach K on the passing of legend Dean Smith
— Duke Basketball (@dukeblueplanet)
UNC coach Roy Williams’ statement on the death of Dean Smith:
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports)
Hate waking up to bad news. Sad day in Tar Heel family. RIP Coach Dean Smith.
— Wayne Ellington (@WayneElli22)
RIP to the legendary Coach Dean Smith. Thankful for all the things you stood for and believed in
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes)
We lost the MICHAELANGELO of coaching DEAN SMITH RIP – read story about his fabulous career
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV)
RIP to Dean Smith. So thankful for everything he did on and off the court. He will missed but never forgotten!
— Marcus Paige (@marcuspaige5)
to one of the greatest teachers our beautiful game of basketball has ever seen
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant)
R.I.P. Dean Smith! You were the greatest! Legends never die…. You will forever be in our hearts and memories!
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson)
Treat people as if they are special ~ Dean Smith
— Ivory Latta (@IvoryLatta12)
Just a sad day for basketball to lose one of the great coaches of all-time in Dean Smith.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari)
The solace I take in this news is that a younger generation is going to learn a lot Dean Smith. His civil rights record for starters.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops)
Prayers to the family of the great Dean Smith. An iconic figure in the game of basketball.
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams)
A photo posted by JR Smith (@teamswish) on
Dean Smith was the most innovative and player-loved coach of his time.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari)
Dean Smith dies at the age of 83 Basketball has loss one of the game’s true legends He will take his seat as Chairman of the Basketball Gods
— Stu Jackson (@StuJackson32)
also of note
— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones)
The only person who could keep Michael Jordan under 20 and bring young men from all over together, to be a Family. RIP Coach Smith!
— Jawad Williams (@WORLDWAD)
RIP Dean Smith
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum)
Simply a Legend, RIP Dean Smith.. Job well done..
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT)
RIP Dean Smith. Missed being at UNC with him by one year. Didn’t stop him from having a huge influence on me, big as any non-family member
— Ted Keith (@SI_TedKeith)
Thoughts and Prayers go out to the Smith family….. As well as the we lost on of the…
— Sean May (@BigMay42)
Dean Smith, coach, mentor, teacher, and a man of great character: He lived a truly remarkable life.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas)
All of basketball hurts today. Thankful to have been down part of the road this man paved. Thanks…
— Marcus Ginyard (@mg1nyard)
Stuart Scott now has his all-time best with him to talk Tar Heels hoops. RIP, Dean Smith.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen)
RIP, Dean Smith. One of the most impressive men I ever had the privilege to interview.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde)
His greatness was often referenced in career wins but most evident in character & class. RIP Dean Smith
— Dana Jacobson (@danajacobson)
Few coaches have anything other than basketball in the first paragraph of their life story. Dean Smith did. He made sports a better place.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny)
