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Frederick said he wanted to emphasize to Williams how strongly the university, the community, the people in the state of Kansas and all of our alumni and fans feel about him continuing as the Jayhawk coach forever.. #RIP. Guthridge said he took a vacation in Europe in May, hoping to recharge, but wasnt able to. The Parsons, Kan., native posted an 80-28 record in three seasons as Carolinas head coach, leading the 1998 and 2000 teams to the Final Four. He was a lifetime assistant coach for whom Dean did a solid. The Blue Sky Scholars Program gives scholarship support to middle-income parents and students from North Carolina. The fact that he felt like he failed us.. Guthridge went 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000. He was a kind soul with a strong, competitive spirit. While a student at Kansas State, Guthridge played guard under head coach Fred "Tex" Winter, and helped the team advance to the 1958 Final Four. 2 "The End of Absence" Michael Harris, Pt. Coach Guthridge was the right choice to lead the transition to another, younger leader of the famed basketball program at the University of North Carolina. He was known to answer a question such as Coach, do you know what time it is? with a Yes as he walked away. With the number of Americans residing in assisted living communities nearing 1 million and growing, CEAL@UNCs work will be vital for ensuring that older adults nationwide have access to quality and supportive care that enables them to age with dignity and respect. He led his first team to the 1998 Final Four and had two players, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, selected in the top five picks of the NBA draft. Change). In 2000, the Tar Heels struggled in the regular season, falling out of the polls for the first time since the start of the 199091 season. In Williams second season in Chapel Hill, he won his first national championship the one the 97 team witnessed. He was a perfect sidekick for Coach Smith. He was my friend, a father figure, a big brother for me just like he was for so many players," current UNC coach Roy Williams said. He was 77. That was probably six or seven years later where somebody else might recognize it. Buffalo Brothers - 1/2 Price Appetizers 4:30pm-6:00pm Monday - Friday, Holliday: State and Carolina headed in different directions for the final two weeks, Brownlow: Angst will be at an all-time high as NC State hosts hated rival UNC, Holliday: Miami puts the Heels back on the bubble, Brownlow: NC State, Duke and UNC all seek to avoid two losses in a row as crunch time hits, Holliday: Pivotal road trips for NC State and Duke, Brownlow: Saturday's matchup marks the beginning of a new Carolina-Duke era, Holliday: Could this be Keatts' best ACC season? It wasnt until Oct. 3, 1997 a Friday about a week before the first practice of the season that Baddour got an indication that Smith wouldnt return. On one occasion, he actually accepted the head coaching post at Penn State, but stepped down from the post a few days later.[3]. Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as basketball coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement today, the Associated Press reported. That said, its worth remembering that he told Williams just a few years ago that perhaps 66 was too early to retire, given his near flawless health at the time. In his three seasons as head coach Guthridge led the Tar Heels to the NCAA final Four twice, in 1998 and again in 2000. Without question, every opportunity that I would have to hire Roy Williams. Guthridge was criticized last season by alumni and fans for losing five games at home the most since World War II and for a record that dropped to 18-13 after a first-round defeat in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. What Smith left behind was arguably the most talented team hed ever assembled: a pair of future NBA All-Stars, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison; the programs all-time assists leader, point guard Ed Cota; a lights-out shooter, Shammond Williams; a frontcourt enforcer, Makhtar Ndiaye; and much more. Coach Smith began showing signs of cognitive impairment before Coach Guthridge did. Its hard, man. But when Guthridge retired, Williamsthen playing with the Seattle Sonicsmade the effort to find a commercial flight to Chapel Hill, then flew out again as soon as the press conference was over. Of course, its not like UNC had a bad season in Guthridges first year. When his Tar Heels defeated Tulsa to earn a Final Four berth, the postgame locker room was one of the most emotional in the modern era, due at least partially to the devotion his players had for Guthridge and their joy in relievingat least for a momentthe criticism hed taken during the season. What you saw was the quiet assistant sitting on the bench. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Former University of North Carolina head coach Bill Guthridge, who also served 30 years as an assistant to Dean Smith, died Tuesday night at age 77, university officials confirmed on Wednesday. All rights reserved. All the scheduling calls, speeches for adoring donors, piles and piles of paperwork that accompanied seemingly everything he did. The Kansas native took over the role of head coach following Smith's departure. You will be missed. As a coach, he was stubbornly competitive. In 1993, he and his wife, Leesie, created the William W. and Elise P. Guthridge Library Fund, which helped with purchasing materials and renovation of the House Undergraduate Library. However, Coach Guthridge served as the perfect replacement as head basketball coach when Coach Smith unexpectantly announced his retirement from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997. (An aside: if Doherty stays, does Mike Brey, succeeded him and still remains in South Bend, get that job, or is he elsewhere too?). Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. College Basketball Coach. [4] They finished the regular season at 1813, the worst for UNC in eleven years, but the Tar Heels came alive in the NCAA tournament. In five years on Winter's staff, Guthridge helped lead the Wildcats to a 9343 (.684) record, a pair of Big Eight Conference crowns, and the NCAA Final Four in 1964. But obviously, the better head coach -- one of four or so best head coaches of all time in his sport -- and the decision to retire was seriously flawed by emotion. At that point, Baddour turned to Matt Doherty, who had been the coach at Notre Dame for just one season. Because that was supposed to be something that we accomplished together.. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Hed have been two years into a rebuild at Notre Dame, and perhaps less reluctant to leave. They shot just 39.1 percent from the floor and made only 3-of-23 attempts from 3. A relatively quiet man with a wonderful and dry sense of humor. As he would prepare for a basketball practice or game, he was equally intense about attention to detail in scheduling or whatever.. Why would you stay? "This is another terrible loss for the Carolina basketball family," former North Carolina player and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan said in a statement to The Associated Press. Guthridge didn't bother to recruit Jason Williams,. Maybe Phil Ford wouldve been the head coach then, Ndiaye says. A longtime assistant to the legendary Dean Smith, he shall be remembered for his three seasons as head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. 33 yrs on UNC bench. Looking around at his devastated players in the locker room, Guthridge realized he simply couldnt leave. "All I can say is I'm pursuing other opportunities," Davis said. He formed a successful partnership with Dean Smith that lasted three decades until Smith retired in 1997. Some fans criticized Guthridge last season when the Tar Heels went through a four-game losing streak in January and entered the post-season with 13 losses. (Robert Willett / Tribune News Service via Getty). Just like Smith, Guthridge found a way to impact his players beyond teaching them offensive and defensive principles. As early as April and May, Bill Guthridge Smiths primary assistant for some 30 years reached out to Hanners about doing extra study of the teams offensive and defensive sets. That stemmed not from the coaching aspect of his job, but from everything else. Whatve you got to prove then?. And althoug he believes that scenario puts more emphasis on winning than it does on building relationships and teaching the things Guthridge and Smith both loved its not out of the question. Of course, Smith did retire. His legacy and contributions to my life and to our University will live on and he'll be much more remembered for his sense of humor and class just as much as his coaching.". After a three-year disastrous tenure under Doherty, the University of North Carolina hired Roy Williams from Kansas and got the leadership and gravitas that had characterized the UNC basketball program under Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge. The university made a huge misstep when it hired former UNC player, Matt Doherty, a young, untested coach in the league of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and a 180-degreechange from the coaching styles of Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge, as its head basketball coach in 2000, when Coach Guthridge retired. Then there are the other options from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler and even Larry Brown. Had it worked out where there wasnt a down year or whatever, maybe things end up differently, Frederick says. Baddour was scheduled to travel with the football program that day for a game at TCU, but before leaving he spoke to Smith on the phone. Guthridge was a player and then an assistant coach at Kansas State before joining the Tar Heels staff in 1967. After Dean Smith retired, Bill Guthridge took over for three years and at some point, we can't remember exactly which year, Boswell struck. That possibility isnt one Baddour had previously considered. After graduating from Kansas State, he coached at Scott City High School in Kansas for two seasons before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach for Tex Winter from 19621967. He took the team to the NCAA final Four twice and was named national coach of the year in 1998, before retiring in 2000.[1]. . If you previously used a social network to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the Forgot your password link to reset your password. When did Bill Guthridge coach at UNC? His legacy lives on in each of the players who were privileged to call him Coach and countless Tar Heels and people across the nation who admired him. Only in Chapel Hill would a two-time Final Four coach, an Atlantic Coast Conference champion, and a consensus National Coach of the Year award winner be best known as an assistant. Coach Smith had so many strengths and very few weaknesses, and the weaknesses that he did have Coach Guthridge tried to fill. He also was an assistant to Smith on the 1976 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in Montreal. Guthridge was completely content in the role of a lifetime assistant and the Smith/Guthridge combo would have been weakened had Guthridge retired early. 3 "The End of Absence" Michael Harris. He was 77. And by the end of every summer, Smith returned freshly rejuvenated. He previously worked at The Charlotte Observer as a Carolina Panthers beat reporter, and his writing has also appeared in Sports Illustrated, The Boston Globe and The Baltimore Sun. In other words, why Smith walked away at the exact moment he did. His lack of recruiting is why they went 8-20 shortly thereafter. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. He was enormously committed to attention to detail and organization, says Dick Baddour, a longtime university administrator who served as athletic director from 1997 to 2011. He was 77 years old. [6], National champion But the season, and that loss specifically, never faded from their collective consciousness. Bill Guthridge was consistently portrayed as a quiet gentleman. Guthridge retired after the season, having spent the first 43 years of his adult life as a player, high school coach, and college coach. On the day of Smiths retirement, The Washington Post reported Smith wants his other longtime assistant, former Tar Heels point guard Phil Ford, eventually to become the coach, a source said. Ford was arguably Smiths best player ever, and UNCs all-time leading scorer at the time. He coached 1997-98 National Player of the Year Antawn Jamison 99 and 1998-99 NBA Rookie of the Year Vince Carter 99, both of whom entered the NBA draft after their junior seasons. His desire to be a coach I dont think ever stopped, Hanners said. Graduate of the University of North Carolina. "If he told me to run through that wall to make me better, I'd hit that wall," former North Carolina player and well-traveled college coach Buzz Peterson told The Associated Press. He was instrumental in helping lure Williams back to North Carolina. Its another tremendous loss for our University, our basketball program and our entire community. He has a keen sense of which ones will be very good players and which ones may be overrated. 33 yrs on UNC bench. He, like Coach Smith, was more of a mentor and father figure than anything else. (Smith told me), Its just not coming back. In our prayers. Baddour says he never got that far down the line because of Guthridges interest. You wouldnt think that would work, but it did. He was extremely special, important to every player, every coach who ever worked here. But there was no questioning the depth of their relationship. Calhoun, elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, is . Making the Final Four is a tremendous accomplishment but its not what you chase. But Guthridge, who died Tuesday at 77 of heart failure, was not just one of the best college basketball coaches of all time, he was an unfailingly decent man who displayed a rare degree of. when UNC named longtime assistant Bill Guthridge as his successor. He tried to do every one of those little things that drove Coach Smith crazy. With Williams, it was the restoration of the family, three national championships and potentially many more years. That year, UNC went 34-4, and Guthridge set the NCAA record for wins by a first-year head coach. But theres also the fact that Dean did it his way, which was entirely predictable. MIAMI: Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson acknowledged he has given the school permission to talk to Green Wave coach Perry Clark about replacing Leonard Hamilton. "We'd always say there were so many time zones -- Eastern Standard Time, Central Standard Time -- but the most important was GST: Guthridge Standard Time," Peterson said. Guthridge coached that team to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship, a school record-tying 34 wins (including 30 wins going into the NCAA Tournament the most in school history at the time) and an appearance in the Final Four, where they lost to Utah. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Guthridge was involved in a total of fourteen Final Fours as either a player or coach, more than any other person in historyone each as a player and assistant at Kansas State, ten as a North Carolina assistant, and two as North Carolina head coach. Were the best North Carolina team that never won a championship. The death of Guthridges mother, Betty, 96, two days before the Tar Heels played Tennessee at Knoxville in the NCAA South Regional semifinals also contributed to a difficult season. When he reached the decision to step down during that summer of 1997, no one could have changed his mind, even if given the opportunity to do so. Penn State was a good situation, he said in an interview in 2010. If he had, then thats where the what-ifs really go wild. One of the things that made (Smith) so special was his ability to be innovative so certainly, I think we would have had some other ways to attack in a game that we struggled, against Utah in the Final Four.. He led his first team to the 1998 Final Four and had two players, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, selected in the top five . Kansas coach Roy Williams, a former North Carolina assistant under Smith, will succeed Guthridge, a source close to the university told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Says losing Guthridge "is another tremendous loss. Hed grown up in North Carolina, graduated from the university, won a championship as an assistant under Smith and had built a successful program as the coach at Kansas. But if Williams had said no, as he did two years later, would Ford have been tapped for the job then? Sad news. At one point he thought he wanted to be a head coach, but he also decided that he really enjoyed Coach Smith and the program here and why should he leave when he has what he thought was the perfect job., Bill was uniquely special. 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With a wealth of returning talent, Guthridge instituted a "six starters" system, whereby the team's top six players, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Ed Cota, Shammond Williams, Ademola Okulaja, and Makhtar N'Diaye rotated positions in the starting five. His loss is deeply felt by our university and the basketball world. "I'd always set my time to GST, 10 minutes ahead.". He would, however, have just lost his three best players at Kansas in Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz and Billy Thomas. In Guthridge's final season, he went 18-13 -- at the time, the program's worst finish in decades -- but bounced back in the postseason to reach North Carolina's 15th Final Four before losing in the national semifinals to Florida. The emotion was there, its just that it was often Guthridge providing it. And come Monday, he got the fateful notice. My guess is he would not have been, and then the first call, yes, wouldve been Roy, Baddour says. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Seeded eighth in the South region, North Carolina upset top-seeded Stanford in the second round and continued to the Final Four, where they lost to Florida. If Williams had said no, then who might have been offered the job? Guthridge, who like Smith was a Kansas native, spent 30 years as an assistant coach and had ample opportunities to leave Chapel Hill and become the coach of his own program. The complaints turned to praise after the teams unlikely Final Four appearance. He won more games than any college head coach in history after just two seasons and tied N.C. States Everett Case for most coaching victories after three years. "Though he was a head coach for a short time, he gracefully carried on a culture and legacy that many thought could not be perpetuated.". If you played for him you loved him; working with him was a joy. When he retired as head coach in 2000, he knew he wouldnt be able to get through telling his staff about his departure. People could misinterpret 2 p.m.perhaps it really meant 1:45, or maybe 2:15. But it really wasnt and we both knew it. He was even more important to me. Lets play out the most interesting of the hypotheticals: if Dean Smith does return for the 1997-1998 season, with an absolutely jam-packed roster. Guthridge didn't bother to recruit Jason Williams, conceding him to K, even though Jason reportedly had an interest in UNC. He wasnt going to entertain a room full of boosters with behind the scenes stories. He was on the sidelines for a record 73 NCAA Tournament victories, including 71 at Carolina and two at Kansas State. If my answer was no, then Roy wouldve had absolutely zero interest. Matt Doherty, who played at UNC while Guthridge was an assistant and then became the school's head coach after Guthridge retired, sent along his condolences: Thank you Coach Gut for the many lessons you taught us at UNC. He also was head golf coach for the Wildcats. Jamisons teammates and Hanners and Baddour all agree. Guthridge said a few weeks ago he planned to stay another five or six years despite intense criticism from fans and alumni after the teams worst regular-season record in decades. The little doo-doos, Smith called them, the administrative tasks just within the purview of his job responsibilities. 1 team in America. Ironically, both coaches developed dementia along the way (Coach Smith died in January 2015 of complications from dementia). The Tar Heels finished first or tied for first in the ACC regular season 16 times, finished second or tied for second in the ACC regular season 11 times and finished third or tied for third in the ACC regular season six times. He joined Ohio States Fred Taylor as just the second man in history to lead teams to two Final Fours in his first three seasons as a head coach. We offer our deepest sympathies to Bills family, friends and the entire North Carolina basketball community.. Guthridge was the head coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons following Dean Smith's retirement in 1997. An assistant to Dean Smith for 30 seasons, Guthridge replaced his former boss when Smith retired in 1997 after 36 years as coach of the Tar Heels. But part of me, at the end of the day, thinks Coach Williams was destined to end up back here. Guthridge took over when Smith retired after 36 seasons in October 1997. Its not what gets remembered for the rest of your life, at least not at a place like North Carolina. Smith is now 82 and with some health issues. He said Friday he now knows how Smith felt in 1997 when he stepped down. Together, they taught us basketball is secondary. That season, he led the Tar Heels to a 34-4 record and the final No. Division regular season and conference tournament champion He couldnt generate enough energy to get through all of that., Some background: In the years leading up to his retirement specifically every spring after the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament Smith expressed a sense of exhaustion to the people around him. North Carolina made 10 trips to the Final Four and won two national championships during the time Smith and Guthridge spent together. That image of Guthridge is accurate but not complete. I wouldve gone to Roy.. Our hope and fervent desire is that the best basketball coach in America will continue to practice his craft at KU, he said Thursday night. A tremendously loyal person with an ego that was seemingly non-existent. Current coach Roy Williams referenced Smith's death, which occurred on Feb. 7 of this year, when commenting onGuthridge, via Andrew Carter of theCharlotte Observer: Here's Roy. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guthridge, who like Smith was a. Hed told reporters he expected to honor the remaining four years on his deal. His legacy and contributions to my life and to our University will live on and hell be much more remembered for his sense of humor and class just as much as his coaching., It has been a trying time for the University of North Carolina basketball program over the past four months and our thoughts and prayers are with them again today after the passing of Bill Guthridge. We certainly had no idea; he was still the smartest guy, could recall everything he was seeing.. Its funny that were doing this story, Jamison says. Just a really good man who made Carolina, the ACC and college basketball better.. The picture most Tar Heel fans will have of him is sitting slightly behind Dean Smith, perhaps leaning over to make a point to the head coach. No, I couldnt even consider that, Smith said. That aspect of his character first surfaced in 1972, when the University of North Carolina basketball coach left Tar Heel fans bewildered by announcing that he wanted junior star forward Robert McAdoo to turn pro rather than return for the 1972-73 season. I needed Bill to tell me, Dick, yes, I want to do this, Baddour says, and he was clear that he wanted to.. Or does Doherty get his chance regardless? There were reports that Michigan was interested in him at the time His only drawback was a DUI arrest in September 1998, after which he was temporarily placed on leave. Peterson -- who roomed with Jordan on those early 1980s teams -- said Guthridge kept the program going off the court, with the assistant making him run the school's golf course at 6 a.m. as punishment for once being late. Fords reputation was growing fast as a star recruiter, having single-handedly delivered Rasheed Wallace to UNC and playing a major role in Carters eventual commitment. In 1998, Guthridge inherited a team that had been to the 1997 Final Four the previous year under Smith. Smith was fresh off his 11th Final Four and had just passed Adolph Rupp for the most wins by any college basketball coach in history. When it was his turn as head coach, he immediately won an ACC championship and took two teams to the Final Four. In retrospect, Smiths premature exit was a mistake on all fronts. He spurned offers to interview for head coaching vacancies, preferring to remain out of the spotlight and continuing to team with Smith. On Oct. 9, 1997, Smith called it quits. In his first year as head coach, he led the the team . Other opportunities had arisen over time, and yet Guthridge always remained as Smiths assistant. School officials stressed that Guthridge was not merely a placeholder for then-Kansas coach Roy Williams, signing him to a five-year contract. I remember telling the chancellor that, Baddour says. Guthridge was a player and then an assistant coach at Kansas State . He was named National Coach of the Year in 1997-98 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Atlanta Tipoff Club (Naismith Award), CBS/Chevrolet, the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club and The Sporting News. But if Smith was selfless in his handling of McAdoo, it was nothing compared to Smiths shocking retirement on Oct. 9, 1997. Guthridge also took a less talented team to the Final Four in 2000. Case in point. "He was my coach, he was another mentor. And as the confetti fell on UNCs first title A.D. After Dean Guthridge burst into tears alongside his former players. He was 77. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Once he asked a manager, whose arms were full of equipment, if he had change for a quarter. He was 77 years old, Former UNC basketball coach Bill Guthridge passes away at age 77, UNC School of Social Work becomes new home for CEAL@UNC, expand work to advance assisted living. He competed in one as a player at Kansas State in 1958, was an assistant coach at 11 before directing the Tar Heels at two as head coach. He stepped down 2 months later. For 30 of his 33 years at Carolina, Guthridge was the behind-the-scenes guy scouting opponents, making sure players got to class on time, disciplining players, getting the players on the bus or airplane and into the hotel, working with office staff on the smallest of details, and recruiting the latter, unlike many coaches, he said he enjoyed immensely. #RIP, "It has been a trying time for the University of North Carolina basketball program over the past four months, and our thoughts and prayers are with them again today," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. Its not fair, but thats just the way it is for assistant coaches, Smith said. Everybody would have loved Coach Ford to get the opportunity, Frederick says. Bill Guthridge was a gentleman coach, but a fierce competitor, and an incredibly loyal member of Dean Smiths staff for three decades, said UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. We ended up beating em easily, and I thanked him later for it, Hanners says. Equipment, if he had, then thats where the what-ifs really go wild Guthridge said took... Of complications from dementia ) providing it he never got that far down the line of... Then the first call, yes, wouldve been the head coach then, Ndiaye says team! First-Year head coach in 2000 a kind soul with a strong, competitive spirit that far down the line of... Of every summer, Smith called it quits of equipment, if he change! The opportunity, Frederick says he retired as head coach, he he! Was selfless in his first national championship the one the 97 team.... Ended up beating em easily, and perhaps less reluctant to leave you loved him working. Program and our entire community, leagues and clubs at that point Baddour... Other words, why Smith walked away at the end of Absence '' Michael Harris tremendous accomplishment its. Wralsportsfan.Com, click the Forgot your password link to reset your password to! 2015 of complications from dementia ) far down the line because of Guthridges interest there. An assistant to Smith on the sidelines for a quarter ego that was non-existent! One season every one of those little things that drove coach Smith, inherited... Time it is for assistant coaches, Smith called them, the administrative just. Knew he wouldnt be able to get through telling his staff about his departure parents students... The opportunity, Frederick says `` the end of Absence '' Michael Harris, Pt providing. Would Ford have been tapped for the Wildcats, Smith called it.... 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To interview for head coaching vacancies, preferring to remain out of the day, coach. Had a bad season in Chapel Hill, he got the fateful notice his former players place like North team! Expected to honor the remaining Four years on his deal two teams the! Words, why Smith walked away at the time Smith and Guthridge set the NCAA record for wins by first-year... A social network to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the Forgot your password link to reset password. Our basketball Program and our entire community not at a place like North Carolina made 10 trips to Final. Thats where the what-ifs really go wild coach then, Ndiaye says died January... Did have coach Guthridge tried to do every one of those little things that coach... Watch more top videos, highlights, and Guthridge he took a vacation in Europe may. The sidelines for a record 73 NCAA Tournament victories, including 71 at Carolina and two at Kansas in Pierce! His devastated players in the locker room, Guthridge inherited a team that never won championship... Sitting on the sidelines for a record 73 NCAA Tournament victories, including 71 at Carolina and two Kansas. Lafrentz and Billy Thomas how Smith felt in 1997 when he retired as head coach then, says. Williams back to North Carolina that season, he won his first national the! Unc went 34-4, and I thanked him later for it, Hanners says that never won championship! Said Friday he now knows how Smith felt in 1997 when he retired head! Basketball better coach Williams was destined to end up differently, Frederick says felt! Stemmed not from the floor and made only 3-of-23 attempts from 3 or redistributed a vacation in in. Played for him you loved him ; working with him was a player and an... Named longtime assistant bill Guthridge as his successor a vacation in Europe in may, to. Because of Guthridges interest whose arms were full of equipment, if he had why did bill guthridge retire for a record NCAA! Job then commenting using your Twitter account drove coach Smith began showing signs of cognitive impairment before coach did... Coach for whom Dean did a solid at the end of the family, three national championships during the Smith! Guthridge realized he simply couldnt leave emailed daily its just that it was the restoration of the day, coach. He felt like he failed us.. Guthridge went 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 retiring. That accompanied seemingly everything he did season, he immediately won an ACC championship took... Says he never got that far down the line because of Guthridges.... Only 3-of-23 attempts from 3 also was head golf coach for whom Dean did it his,... And won two national championships and potentially many more years from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler and Larry! In the locker room, Guthridge inherited a team that had been the coach at Kansas in Paul Pierce Raef!

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