Former University of North Carolina Tar Heels Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dean Smith Died Saturday Night in Chapel Hill, NC at Age 83 (VIDEO Tribute to Coach Smith)(Update: Michael Jordan, “”He was My Mentor, my Teacher, my Cecond Father.”"

COLLEGE BASKETBALL HAS LOST A LEGEND, DEAN SMITH PASSES AWAY …

Dean Smith, the former legendary head men’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina died Saturday night at the age of 83. Dean Smith passed away “peacefully” at his home in Chapel Hill surrounded by his wife and five children. Smith’s family said in the statement, “We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as arrangements are made available to the public. Thank you.” It is just amazing how many people’s lives this man touched, how innovative he was within the game and just how many of the greatest players this man coached in his career. Dean Smith was a phenomenal coach, a tremendous competitor and a humble man of such incredible character. College basketball has lost a legend.

Dean Smith, Rest in Peace

North Carolina Tar Heals

Former University of North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Dean Smith died Saturday night in Chapel Hill, according to the university. He was 83 years old.

“Coach Dean Smith passed away peacefully the evening of February 7 at his home in Chapel Hill, and surrounded by his wife and five children,” the Smith family said in a statement. “We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as arrangements are made available to the public. Thank you.”

Smith was the head coach of the Tar Heels from 1961 to 1997, retiring as the winningest coach in college basketball. He led the Tar Heels to national championships in 1982 (VIDEO – UNC vs. Georgetown) and 1993 (VIDEO – NC vs. Michigan) , to 13 ACC Tournament titles, 11 Final Fours, and an NIT championship, and directed the United States Olympic Team to a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Games.

Click HERE or on pic to watch VIDEO

ESPN – Dean Smith dies at age of 83.

Dean Smith taught team work, he taught that no one person was bigger than the team. Sounds profound and easy, right? But try doing it when you have the likes of James Worthy, James Perkins, Michael Jordan and a who’s who of Carolina Blue greats. I can remember the joke of the time when Michael Jordan was at Chapel Hill, of Dean Smith’s coaching career: Who was the only person ever to hold Michael Jordan under 20 points a game. Of course the answer is, Dean Smith. Some would use this as a punch line or something to hold against Smith, I, personally think it is the sign of remarkable character and coaching. The reason was because team meant more than an individual. Passing the ball and playing defense was just as important as scoring. As Smith once told Jordan during his freshman year at UNC, if you cannot pass the ball, you cannot play. Try attempting to do that in today’s college game. Maybe that is what is wrong with college basketball today.

Smith coached the Tar Heels from 1961 to 1997, going 879-254 and retiring as the winningest coach (VIDEO) in college basketball history. North Carolina won NCAA championships in 1982 and 1993 and reached the Final Four 11 times under Smith.

“It’s such a great loss for North Carolina — our state, the University, of course the Tar Heel basketball program, but really the entire basketball world,” said current Tar Heels coach Roy Williams, who spent 10 years as an assistant under Smith. “We lost one of our greatest ambassadors for college basketball for the way in which a program should be run. We lost a man of the highest integrity who did so many things off the court to help make the world a better place to live in.

“He set the standard for loyalty and concern for every one of his players, not just the games won or lost.”

Smith coached Hall of Fame players Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo and Billy Cunningham, won 13 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles and coached the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal in 1976.

“He was the greatest there ever was on the court but far, far better off the court with people,” Williams said. “His concern for people will be the legacy I will remember most.

Coach Dean Smith Tribute Video

VIDEO – Go Heels.com

UPDATE I: Friends, players and colleagues mourn the loss of former UNC coach Dean Smith.

Following the announcement of his passing, several of his former players, friends, colleagues and even current players weighed in with their support and memories of the great coach.

UPDATE II: Reaction to the passing of former North Carolina head coach Dean Smith.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams released a statement on the passing of Smith.

“It’s such a great loss for North Carolina – our state, the University, of course the Tar Heel basketball program, but really the entire basketball world. We lost one of our greatest ambassadors for college basketball for the way in which a program should be run. We lost a man of the highest integrity who did so many things off the court to help make the world a better place to live in.

“He set the standard for loyalty and concern for every one of his players, not just the games won or lost.

“He was the greatest there ever was on the court but far, far better off the court with people. His concern for people will be the legacy I will remember most.

“He was a mentor to so many people; he was my mentor. He gave me a chance but, more importantly, he shared with me his knowledge, which is the greatest gift you can give someone.

“I’m 64 years old and everything I do with our basketball program and the way I deal with the University is driven by my desire to make Coach Smith proud. When I came back to Carolina, the driving force was to make him proud and I still think that today.

“I’d like to say on behalf of all our players and coaches, past and present, that Dean Smith was the perfect picture of what a college basketball coach should have been. We love him and we will miss him.”

Dean Smith – Sports Century

UPDATE III: North Carolina coaching icon Dean Smith passes away at 83 … If there’s a Mount Rushmore of basketball, Dean Smith is on it.”

In recent years, Smith had rarely made public appearances as he battled a progressive neurocognitive disorder that affected his memory. The last time fans saw him in the building that bears his name was during a reunion for the program’s 100th anniversary in 2010. Three years earlier, UNC alum Michael Jordan memorably kissed Smith’s head during a celebration of the school’s 1957 and 1982 national championships.

“Dean Smith is one of the great coaches in the history of sport, not just basketball,” ESPN analyst and Duke alum Jay Bilas told The Fayetteville Observer recently. “I think his legacy goes beyond just the wins and losses. He built the program there and a culture. There’s only been a few programs that have been in that rarefied air, and he set a standard that few have been able to reach, not just on the floor, with basketball, but he showed such a social conscience when it wasn’t easy to do so.

“That’s why his legacy is doing the right thing and standing for something, both in basketball and outside of that. If there’s a Mount Rushmore of basketball, Dean Smith is on it.”

UPDATE IV: Michael Jordan Comments on the death of Dea Smith … He was ‘second father’ to me.