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

UNC Basketball freshman Sayon Keita not ready to talk, but game spoke volumes vs. Wyoming
Sayon Keita, UNC’s 7-foot-1 center, did something that hasn't been done in the previous 116 seasons at Carolina, delivering an all-time performance against Wyoming. The...
Thu Nov 12, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - UNC Basketball Has a New Identity Under Michael Malone
Michael Malone is building a new identity for UNC Basketball, and through three games, the numbers are starting to tell the story. Josh Marlow and...
Thu Nov 12, 2026

Tar Heels in pros: Caleb Wilson suffers another hand injury; Ingram gets G League triple-double
Caleb Wilson suffered another hand injury Wednesday, leaving Chicago’s loss to San Antonio on a night Harrison Ingram recorded his third career G League triple-double...
Thu Nov 12, 2026

Video: Interview With UNC Forward Maximo Adams
North Carolina freshman forward Maximo Adams joins Jones Angell and Adam Lucas on the Carolina Insider Podcast to discuss his transition to college basketball, life...
Wed Nov 11, 2026