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 - Sleeping On Samo?
UNC Basketball fans may be sleeping on Alexandros Samodurov, but should they be? With elite EuroLeague experience and standout versatility at both the four and...
Thu Sep 3, 2026

Video: IC Podcast - UNC Basketball's $20 Million Roster
Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss UNC Basketball’s $20 million roster, how it came together, why it came together, and the process...
Wed Sep 2, 2026

Caleb Wilson and a new regime: The summer that changed the Chicago Bulls
It's August 22 and Chicago Bulls fans pack the area surrounding the United Center. The team is hosting its annual Bulls Fest, and fans are...
Wed Sep 2, 2026

Antawn Jamison Returns to UNC in Teaching Role
Twenty-year-old Antawn Jamison, hesitant to speak in front of crowds and cameras, never imagined himself doing what he does now. Nearly three decades later, as...
Wed Sep 2, 2026