Menu

On This Date 25 Years Ago: Dean Smith Retires


On October 9, 1997, legendary North Carolina men's basketball coach shocked the college basketball world, announcing his retirement after 36 seasons. Long-time assistant would take over as the program’s head coach. Even 25 years later, UNC Basketball still honors Smith's mantra: "Play Hard. Play Smart. Play Together." (Keeping It Heel)

Related: , Basketball Recruiting

Big expectations: Inside Michael Malone’s retooling of UNC’s frontcourt
The centerpiece of UNC Basketball's rebuild is Sayon Keita, a 7-foot-1, 205-pound prospect Michael Malone scouted personally in Huelva, Spain, shortly after taking the job...

Michael Malone on first transfer portal experience: ‘I felt like I was Keanu Reeves in The Matrix’
The Tar Heels, who had a laundry list of candidates, eventually reached a deal with NBA Champion head coach Michael Malone, which was a landmark...

Scorers, shooters, and facilitators: Michael Malone’s backcourt takes shape
"When that portal opened the day I got the job, it seems like five months ago, we addressed the backcourt,” Michael Malone said at a...

Michael Malone: 'I like our front court'
Michael Malone on Alexandros Samodurov: "We call him Samo because Samodurov is a mouthful. Samo, another guy we got from Europe playing for Panathinaikos. Samo...

On This Date 25 Years Ago: Dean Smith Retires