Dean Smith Began Historic Coaching Career 59 Years Ago Today

Posted Aug 3, 2020
On August 3, 1961, North Carolina lost a Hall of Fame coach and gained another. Following a major recruiting scandal and rumors of point shaving, UNC Chancellor William Aycock forced coach Frank McGuire to resign and subsequently replaced him with his top assistant — Dean Smith. "It took me about 15 minutes to decide," Aycock said regarding UNC's coaching search. (Inside Carolina)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - UNC Basketball Lands Beckham Black Visit, Watches Recruits at Peach Jam
Top-ranked 2027 basketball recruit Beckham Black has scheduled a visit to UNC. Can coach Michael Malone land a program-changing commitment right out of the gate?...
Fri Jul 17, 2026

Chansky’s Notebook: The Cost of Business
UNC has released its salary structure for the 2026-27 men’s basketball season, and now it has to be a game of wait and see. Michael...
Fri Jul 17, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - What 5-in-5 Means for UNC Basketball
The NCAA’s new "5-in-5" eligibility model could fundamentally change how college basketball programs recruit, develop players, and construct their rosters. What does the opportunity to...
Fri Jul 17, 2026

Caleb Wilson dazzling again, but won’t play in Chicago Bulls’ final Summer League game
High draft picks are typically done after two NBA Summer League games, but Caleb Wilson isn’t like most high draft picks. He wanted to keep...
Fri Jul 17, 2026