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

Seth Trimble Finishing Takes Tar Heels Up Another Notch
UNC needs Seth Trimble to consistently serve as the team's third scorer. He doesn't have to be third in scoring every game. He simply must...
Mon Feb 2, 2026

Video: IC Podcast - UNC Basketball Aims to Avoid Letdown vs. Syracuse
Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley from Inside Carolina preview UNC Basketball's ACC matchup against Syracuse with an eye toward the struggles of the Orange and...
Mon Feb 2, 2026

From Duke fan to UNC: Derek Dixon's rise to starting point guard
Around two years ago, Derek Dixon was on the porch of his home in Virginia following a workout, sitting with his sister, Kayla, when his...
Mon Feb 2, 2026

UNC Men's Basketball Rises Again in AP Top 25 Poll
UNC jumped two spots to No. 14 in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll after rolling to a 91-75 victory at Georgia Tech...
Mon Feb 2, 2026