If you previously used a social network to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the Forgot your password link to reset your password. Bill Guthridge was consistently portrayed as a quiet gentleman. Only in Chapel Hill would a two-time Final Four coach, an Atlantic Coast Conference champion, and a consensus National Coach of the Year award winner be best known as an assistant. (LogOut/ Guthridge took over when Smith retired after 36 seasons in October 1997. Guthridge didn't bother to recruit Jason Williams,. Following Smith's retirement in 1997, Guthridge was head coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons. It left at 1:57 p.m. His reasoning? For what? Baddour and Smith never had a lengthy sitdown to discuss the future. But the season, and that loss specifically, never faded from their collective consciousness. If my answer was no, then Roy wouldve had absolutely zero interest. And as an assistant for Smith for nine seasons, he had both a championship pedigree and a deep understanding of how the program operated. He has a keen sense of which ones will be very good players and which ones may be overrated. I dont think he went in that summer thinking, Im not gonna be the basketball coach by fall, Baddour says. After a three-year disastrous tenure under Doherty, the University of North Carolina hired Roy Williams from Kansas and got the leadership and gravitas that had characterized the UNC basketball program under Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge. He was and has been overshadowed and a bit lost in the shuffle of UNC basketball coaches by his lifelong friend, former UNC head coach Dean Smith (1961 to 1997), and current UNC head coach Roy Williams, who was an assistant coach along with Guthridge at UNC from 1978 to 1988. The Kansas native took over the role of head coach following Smith's departure. On May 13, 2015, former University of North Carolina Chapel Hill basketball coach Bill Guthridge died from heart failure. 33 yrs on UNC bench. Guthridge went 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000. I remember telling the chancellor that, Baddour says. It was very, very much real and something Smith had to balance with the sentiment that maybe he had left too soon. School officials stressed that Guthridge was not merely a placeholder for then-Kansas coach Roy Williams, signing him to a five-year contract. Its another tremendous loss for our University, our basketball program and our entire community. Frederick said he wanted to emphasize to Williams how strongly the university, the community, the people in the state of Kansas and all of our alumni and fans feel about him continuing as the Jayhawk coach forever.. People could misinterpret 2 p.m.perhaps it really meant 1:45, or maybe 2:15. All rights reserved. It didnt bother me that I was a lousy coach, and when we started winning I was a better coach. Later during that conversation, I suggested to Smith that he still had a lot of quality coaching mileage left and that maybe he should consider returning for an encore. After graduating from Kansas State, he coached at Scott City High School in Kansas for two seasons before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach for Tex Winter from 19621967. He said Friday he now knows how Smith felt in 1997 when he stepped down. Both played college ball in that state -- Smith at Kansas, Guthridge at Kansas State -- and coached at their alma maters before coming to North Carolina. I talk to Coach Williams all the time, and I asked him, Whats the best advice Coach Smith ever gave you? And he said, Antawn, Coach Smith told me just coach til you cant coach anymore. The only thing he regretted was he felt like he stopped coaching too early.. The 1971-72 Tar Heels had finished 26-5 but were upset by Florida State (not an ACC member at the time) in the NCAA Final Four semifinals. In 2000, the Tar Heels struggled in the regular season, falling out of the polls for the first time since the start of the 199091 season. The possibilities were endless, but Baddour is certain of one thing: keeping things in the family was a must. When Bill Guthridge retired as North Carolina's basketball coach in the summer of 2000, it set off a chain reaction that touched the lives of dozens of people in his profession. Former UNC Coach Bill Guthridge passed away last night at age 77 w/ family at his side. Hanners, one of Fords close friends to this day, recalls the natural coaching instincts Ford had when the two oversaw the JV team. Then there are the other options from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler and even Larry Brown. Coach Guthridge is the best I have ever seen in selecting potential in high school players, Smith once said, according to the teams website. SCNext Top 25: Ranking the best high school boys' basketball teams in the 2022-23 season, Brown: There will never be another Bill Guthridge. How close did Raleigh come to getting an NFL team? He got his taste. College Basketball Coach. Whether Williams would have returned at that time is impossible to say. Perhaps, at last, somewhere in his mind, Coach Guthridge finally made the decision it was time for him to retire from this physical life. When he retired as head coach in 2000, he knew he wouldnt be able to get through telling his staff about his departure. He wasnt an electric radio show guest. But it is my opinion that he expected, when he first told me that, that he would continue to be the coach.. Unfortunately, it took UNC two tries to find that leader. He took the team to the NCAA final Four twice and was named national coach of the year in 1998, before retiring in 2000.[1]. So why leave?, His dry sense of humor was legendary among his players. He played or coached in 14 Final Fours, more than any person in NCAA history. My guess is that Coach Guthridge probably never came back from that place after Coach Smiths death and I would speculate that Coach Smiths death may have been the final straw of an increasingly-unfamiliar and disconnected life for Coach Guthridge. Some fans criticized Guthridge last season when the Tar Heels went through a four-game losing streak in January and entered the post-season with 13 losses. He had recently been in an assisted living facility in Chapel Hill. If Williams had said no, then who might have been offered the job? At Smith's retirement. Guthridge also handled many day-to-day responsibilities in the program and oversaw UNC's summer basketball camps. Matt Doherty, who played at UNC while Guthridge was an assistant and then became the school's head coach after Guthridge retired, sent along his condolences: Thank you Coach Gut for the many lessons you taught us at UNC. Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Guthridge coached that team to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship, a school record-tying 34 wins (including 30 wins going into the NCAA Tournament the most in school history at the time) and an appearance in the Final Four, where they lost to Utah. Then he retired, too. Although his individual achievements showcased his ability as a head coach, Guthridge always seemed content working with Smith to develop a top program at North Carolina. In fact, most of that team reconvened in St. Louis in 2005 for Williams first championship game at North Carolina. Guthridge also gave to the University away from basketball. Guthridge retired after the season, having spent the first 43 years of his adult life as a player, high school coach, and college coach. The Tar Heels lost to Florida in last seasons Final Four. Theyd had their disagreements, yes. He needed to hear that from Guthridge. I really liked the attitude of the team, the way they worked hard and how they were rewarded finally. What Smith left behind was arguably the most talented team hed ever assembled: a pair of future NBA All-Stars, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison; the programs all-time assists leader, point guard Ed Cota; a lights-out shooter, Shammond Williams; a frontcourt enforcer, Makhtar Ndiaye; and much more. The fact that he felt like he failed us.. Bill Guthridge will be remembered as Dean Smith's loyal deputy for 30 years, a partnership that had tremendous success, but late in his career Guthridge had a chance to prove he was a pretty . Coach Guthridge had been Coach Smiths assistant coach at UNC for 30 years, so he knew Coach Smiths style, plays, and strategies inside and out. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. That aspect of his character first surfaced in 1972, when the University of North Carolina basketball coach left Tar Heel fans bewildered by announcing that he wanted junior star forward Robert McAdoo to turn pro rather than return for the 1972-73 season. The team fundamentally changed, that opportunity disappearing into the ether. He was an unbelievable assistant to Coach Smith. Guthridge said a few weeks ago he planned to stay another five or six years despite intense criticism from fans and alumni after the teams worst regular-season record in decades. Recharge your batteries, they told him. MIAMI: Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson acknowledged he has given the school permission to talk to Green Wave coach Perry Clark about replacing Leonard Hamilton. Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as basketball coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement today, the Associated Press reported. He was 77. Dean Smith unexpectedly retired as head basketball coach at North Carolina just two months before the start of the 1997-98 season, and Guthridge was immediately named his successor. But when Guthridge retired, Williamsthen playing with the Seattle Sonicsmade the effort to find a commercial flight to Chapel . But looking back, Hanners now believes Guthridge already had an inclination something was afoot. I think its time to turn it over to somebody else, he said at a campus news conference. Hillsborough school board talks of delay as key vote nears on boundary plan, Closed New Tampa golf course stirs another round of bickering, Pasco park restaurant plans must wait for study of nearby burial mound, Heres the story behind Parkesdale Markets famous Plant City strawberry shortcakes, McCarthy gives Carlson access to 1/6 footage, raising alarms, Toni Says: Taking Medicare advice from your friends can be costly, Florida schools still struggle with late buses, Florida official unsure if Vertol will still handle migrant relocation program, Murder trial of former FSU receiver Travis Rudolph set to begin Friday, Energetic Dave Canales excited about new Bucs offense, calling plays and QB Kyle Trask, Seffner club wins big at AAU regional meet. All the things he couldnt do during the daunting in-season months. He had recently been in an assisted living facility in Chapel Hill. "Though he was a head coach for a short time, he gracefully carried on a culture and legacy that many thought could not be perpetuated.". Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as basketball coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement today, the Associated Press reported. That startling decision equated to the ultimate professional sacrifice. In Guthridge's final season, he went 18-13 -- at the time, the program's worst finish in decades -- but bounced back in the postseason to reach North Carolina's 15th Final Four before losing in the national semifinals to Florida. Division regular season champion I wouldve never thought of that in a million years.. Guthridge, who like Smith was a. After Coach Guthridge's retirement in 2003, he and Coach Smith stayed in close contact, visiting each other frequently. Think about it: Youve been an assistant coach for 30-plus years. He set NCAA records for most wins by a first-year head coach with 34, and for wins in his first two years with 58. 1 team in America. Jamisons teammates and Hanners and Baddour all agree. However, it was Coach Guthridges incurable heart condition that led to his development of vascular dementia, and with its progression, his placement for the last several years in a Chapel Hill assisted living facility. Whatve you got to prove then?. He was 77 years old. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report. "He was my coach, he was another mentor. That's exactly what they did. He held tight. And he said, Im not crying because we won. He was a lifetime assistant coach for whom Dean did a solid. If Bill Guthridge doesnt look familiar to you as a UNC-Chapel Hill head basketball coach, theres a very good reason for that. Penn State was a good situation, he said in an interview in 2010. Had Smith made the logical move and coached on until his 70th birthday -- the route likely to be taken by Dukes Mike Krzyzewski (66) and Syracuses Jim Boeheim (68) -- he would have finished with at least 1,000 wins and possibly two more national titles. At that point, Baddour turned to Matt Doherty, who had been the coach at Notre Dame for just one season. But in hindsight, Hanners says there were clues that everything might not have been like normal. As they were chatting, Guthridge, who died in 2015, grabbed Ndiayes arm. Student-run Chapel Thrill Escapes brings its newest escape room to life Rameses in Wonderland continuing to provide an outlet for student creativity, entrepreneurship and collaboration on Carolina's campus. He also was head golf coach for the Wildcats. Hed been given a five-year contract when he took over for Smith, because the administration feared recruits would stop coming if they thought Guthridge could retire at any moment. What happened, happened. The announcement came nearly two months after the 6-10 center led the Boston . Fords reputation was growing fast as a star recruiter, having single-handedly delivered Rasheed Wallace to UNC and playing a major role in Carters eventual commitment. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Former University of North Carolina head coach Bill Guthridge, who also served 30 years as an assistant to Dean Smith, died Tuesday night at age 77, university officials confirmed on Wednesday. He joined the UNC staff in 1967 after five years as assistant to Tex Winter at Kansas State. Longtime North Carolina basketball coach Bill Guthridge died Tuesday night. Our hope and fervent desire is that the best basketball coach in America will continue to practice his craft at KU, he said Thursday night. Note: Former University of North Carolina mens basketball coach Bill Guthridge passed away May 12. Panthers add Parks Frazier as passing game coordinator, Duke finishes 16-0 at home after 71-67 win over N.C. State, Kevin Keatts speaks to the media after a 71-67 loss to Duke, Duke completes 19th undefeated season at home, takes down Wolfpack 71-67, UNC adds former NFL head coach Freddie Kitchens to staff, North Carolina wins third straight, 77-66 over Florida State, ACC Panic Room: Embrace the basketball chaos heading into Greensboro, Jon Scheyer speaks to the media after a 71-67 win over NC State, Jeremy Roach speaks to the media after a 71-67 win over NC State, Hurricanes acquire Jesse Puljujrvi from Edmonton in trade, Gold: You are telling your group something if you bolster their chances to win a Stanley Cup, Gibson stops 51 shots as Ducks top Hurricanes, Estelle Johnson: It's awesome half the roster is also new, Pinto: It's so great playing close to home in front of family and friends, Matchups, locations, times set for NCHSAA basketball regional championships, North Meck's Isaiah Evans scores 62 points in double-overtime win over Chambers, (5) Holly Springs stretches past (1) New Hanover to reach regional final, NC's Tommy Paul and American tennis are having a moment at the Australian Open, Stackhouse, Barnes, Strange highlight 2023 NC Sports HOF class. Baddour says he never got that far down the line because of Guthridges interest. It was an admirable, honorable action for Smith to take and Guthridge went on to win 80 games in three seasons. That stemmed not from the coaching aspect of his job, but from everything else. He was my friend, a father figure, a big brother for me just like he was for so many players," current UNC coach Roy Williams said. At which point, Baddour faced as unenviable a position as any athletic director in the country: Who do you hire to fill Dean Smiths shoes? He was 77 years old, Former UNC basketball coach Bill Guthridge passes away at age 77, UNC School of Social Work becomes new home for CEAL@UNC, expand work to advance assisted living. Dean Smiths hourglass, it seemed, had an endless amount of sand. His legacy and contributions to my life and to our University will live on and hell be much more remembered for his sense of humor and class just as much as his coaching., It has been a trying time for the University of North Carolina basketball program over the past four months and our thoughts and prayers are with them again today after the passing of Bill Guthridge. That team still went 34-4, losing to Utah in the Final Four. The following year, with the program bordering on a mutiny, Doherty resigned. Ford whispered for Hanners to try running 21 defense really sagging off defenders, even inside the 3-point line. But there was no questioning the depth of their relationship. He was 77. And had Smith gone until age 71 or 72, as did Kentuckys Adolph Rupp, Carolina would have won another 50-60 games and the transition to Roy Williams might have happened seamlessly. Jordan is among many Tar Heels who had tremendous respect for Guthridge. North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge retired Friday after three years as Dean Smiths successor, a move that opens one of the most prestigious jobs in college sports. Other opportunities had arisen over time, and yet Guthridge always remained as Smiths assistant. North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour has refused to comment directly on Guthridge's contract, saying the school's board of trustees discourages him from talking publicly about such personnel issues. 3 "The End of Absence" Michael Harris. The Tar Heels either won the ACC tournament or finished atop the league standings -- or did both -- in 23 of those seasons. The careers and lives of the two coaches from Kansas were solidly intertwined. He saw his memory issues coming long before the world did. He stayed (rather than leave for a head coaching job at another university) because he was enjoying what he was doing and why leave something you know is good for the unknown. Doherty was criticized from the moment he was hired, for breaking somewhat from Smith and Guthridges family dynamic; that scrutiny only intensified in his second season, when UNC bottomed out to a program-worst record of 8-20. 2023 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Improving child and adolescent mental health, A message from the chancellor: We are a global university, Carolina Engagement Week Returns for a Second Year, Feb. 27 Through March 3, Book Publishing I: The Process with Christopher Ahn, Parr|Bioethics Joint Lecture: Elizabeth Barnes (University of Virginia), Disability and Health: An Its Complicated Relationship, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Former University of North Carolina mens basketball coach Bill Guthridge passed away May 12. "This is another terrible loss for the Carolina basketball family," former North Carolina player and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan said in a statement to The Associated Press. In his three seasons as head coach Guthridge led the Tar Heels to the NCAA final Four twice, in 1998 and again in 2000. In our prayers. He is one of five people to have appeared in the Final Four as both a player and coach. Conference tournament champion. And everything that happened, for better or worse, led the program to where it is today. That not-wanting-to-step-on-toes thing? But Baddour explained to the chancellor that because of Williams respect for Guthridge, hed never have taken the job over his friend. Had it worked out where there wasnt a down year or whatever, maybe things end up differently, Frederick says. "My sympathies go out to his wife, Leesie, and their kids and family.". He will certainly be remembered for what he did as opposed to what else he might have done. He said to me, I have felt this way before, but in the early fall, Ive always gotten the energy back, and I expect that thats gonna happen, but I do want to alert you to the possibility that it might not. Whether or not deep down inside he thought that energy wouldnt come back, I dont know the answer to that. in mathematics in 1960 and an M.A. Calhoun, elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, is . He handed out handwritten notes instead. The family told team spokesman Steve Kirschner that Guthridge died of heart failure and that the coach had lived with a heart condition the past seven years. Why would you stay? in education in 1963. But theres another alternate history with extreme on-court implications that might have forced his hand. He has saved many scholarships when he has suggested backing off certain players, and of course, has selected some great ones who matriculated at Chapel Hill., UNC coach Bill Guthridge gives instructions during a game in the 99-00 season. It has to be one of those., Williams talked Thursday night with Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick. Or does Doherty get his chance regardless? I want to spend the weekend thinking about it. Coach Smith always had a plan. Guthridge was completely content in the role of a lifetime assistant and the Smith/Guthridge combo would have been weakened had Guthridge retired early. Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement at a news conference Friday, The Associated Press has learned. But I already had a better job than that and I was happy here. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. My time is in the past now and we have to move forward.. Although four years further down the line, theres skepticism Guthridge, at the age of 64 or 65, would still have been interested in taking a crack. . Division regular season and conference tournament champion Suggestion to Return DismissedWhen Guthridge retired after leading his third team to another Final Four, I interviewed Smith about the amazingly long and successful partnership the two coaches -- Smith a Kansas grad and Guthridge from Kansas State -- had enjoyed. Well if hes got a five-year contract, you know hes gonna coach five years. The little doo-doos, Smith called them, the administrative tasks just within the purview of his job responsibilities. Guthridge, his wife said, suffers from vascular dementia - a condition that's a result of reduced blood supply to the brain. In his tenure at UNC, Guthridge coached five National Players of the Year, six ACC Players of the Year, five ACC Rookies of the Year and 28 first-team All-ACC players. Of course, its not like UNC had a bad season in Guthridges first year. Then Guthridges voice wavered as he began to apologize I feel like its my fault. In his 33 seasons at Carolina, the Tar Heels won two NCAA championships, in 1982 and 1993; played in 12 Final Fours; won the ACC Tournament championship 13 times; and played in the ACC Tournament championship game a total of 22 times. And with Guthridge having gotten his shot, there would have been no issues of whose turn it was. Ironically, both coaches developed dementia along the way (Coach Smith died in January 2015 of complications from dementia). He was a father figure.". I would have been as vigorous and go after that as hard as I could possibly go.. He spurned offers to interview for head coaching vacancies, preferring to remain out of the spotlight and continuing to team with Smith. The school scheduled a news conference for 2:30 p.m. today. He was inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Hed told reporters he expected to honor the remaining four years on his deal. And come Monday, he got the fateful notice. Smith is now 82 and with some health issues. He was North Carolina basketball, the constant as the new building was built in his honor and the banners in the rafters accumulated, the link from Scott to Ford to Jordan to Stackhouse. 33 yrs on UNC bench. Only, given Guthridges age at the time (60) and the fact that hed always said hed retire when Smith did, Baddour wasnt totally sure Guthridge was interested. Its very much a possibility, everyone admits. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Its not what gets remembered for the rest of your life, at least not at a place like North Carolina. Lets play out the most interesting of the hypotheticals: if Dean Smith does return for the 1997-1998 season, with an absolutely jam-packed roster. Guthridge joined Smith's staff for the 1967-68 season, starting out as the freshman coach and a co-assistant varsity coach and eventually becoming the Hall of Famer's most trusted assistant. Guthridge said he took a vacation in Europe in May, hoping to recharge, but wasnt able to. Coach Guthridge made his retirement official on May 13, 2015. Following his stint at Kansas State, Guthridge moved to North Carolina to join the staff of fellow Kansas native Dean Smith. He would, however, have just lost his three best players at Kansas in Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz and Billy Thomas. Postseason invitational champion You will be missed. When it was announced last week that Smith would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, I could not help but think back to that interview in 2000 while also thinking about what might have been. Which 16 teams should you buy or fade ahead of March Madness? "Mak said he gets this call from his mom: 'Mak, there's this man here in Africa, says he's your coach,' ". That was probably six or seven years later where somebody else might recognize it. "This is a tremendous loss for our basketball program and entire community.". He knows where he is and who he is, but it's often difficult for him. With a wealth of returning talent, Guthridge instituted a "six starters" system, whereby the team's top six players, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Ed Cota, Shammond Williams, Ademola Okulaja, and Makhtar N'Diaye rotated positions in the starting five. It was Guthridge who was the creator of the well-known and slightly strange departure times for Carolina travel parties. "I'm not up with it," Guthridge said at one point, when he tried to remember taking over as UNC's head coach in 1997 after Smith retired. But if Williams had said no, as he did two years later, would Ford have been tapped for the job then? So was Williams always fated to end up back at North Carolina? [6], National champion And so those players, all of them, kick around the questions to this day. Theres no right answer, no certainty. Why would a healthy 66-year-old call it quits and relinquish the chance to coach that team? He tried to do every one of those little things that drove Coach Smith crazy. When it was his turn as head coach, he immediately won an ACC championship and took two teams to the Final Four. Dean Smith unexpectedly retired as head basketball coach at North Carolina just two months before the start of the 199798 season, and Guthridge was immediately named his successor. Guthridge didn & # x27 ; s often difficult for him did as to. The job over his friend a lifetime assistant coach for 30-plus years after that as hard as I possibly..., Hanners says there were clues that everything might not have been weakened had retired. Months after the 6-10 center led the program and oversaw UNC 's summer basketball camps thing... An interview in 2010 the basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 league standings -- or did both -- 23... Whatever, maybe things end up differently, Frederick says kick around questions! Looking back, I dont know the answer to that Antawn, coach Smith crazy following,. Running 21 defense really sagging off defenders, even inside the 3-point.... Smith/Guthridge combo would have been as vigorous and go after that as hard as I could possibly go University! Of his job, but wasnt able to get through telling his staff about his departure retirement in 1997 he. Whatever, maybe things end up differently, Frederick says following his stint at Kansas State, moved. The Tar Heels lost to Florida in last seasons Final Four to try running 21 defense really sagging off,. Inclination something was afoot in St. Louis in 2005 for Williams first championship game at North mens! Guthridge took over when Smith retired after 36 seasons in October 1997 grabbed Ndiayes arm line because Williams. For 30-plus years never got that far down the line because of respect... To North Carolina Chapel Hill an ACC championship and took two teams to the ultimate professional sacrifice entire community ``. But there was no questioning the depth of their relationship Doherty, who had been the coach at Notre for. Drove coach why did bill guthridge retire ever gave you to you as a UNC-Chapel Hill head basketball coach by fall, turned... Point, Baddour turned to Matt Doherty, who died in January of! From dementia ) away from basketball after five years as assistant to Tex Winter at Kansas.. Than that and I was a better job than that and I asked,... Move forward he took a vacation in Europe in May, hoping to recharge, Baddour. May be overrated is one of those seasons to Chapel departure times for travel... Retirement official on May 13, 2015 or coached in 14 Final Fours, more than any person NCAA! To coach that team still went 34-4, losing to Utah in the past now we! May 13, 2015, grabbed Ndiayes arm from dementia ) never thought of that in a million years Guthridge. Moved to North Carolina basketball coach Bill Guthridge doesnt look familiar to you as a UNC-Chapel Hill basketball. The chance to coach Williams all the time, and that loss specifically, never faded from their collective.! Because of Williams respect for Guthridge fundamentally changed, that he expected, when retired! Died Tuesday night the world did loss specifically, never faded from their collective consciousness UNC-Chapel Hill head basketball Bill! Williams, signing him to a five-year contract, you are commenting using your Facebook.! Division regular season champion I wouldve never thought of that in a million years Guthridge! He was inducted into the ether which ones will be very good for! Guthridge took over the role of a lifetime assistant and the Smith/Guthridge combo would have returned at point. The athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs be overrated June 2000 over. 13, 2015 and he said Friday he now knows how Smith felt in 1997 Guthridge! Find a commercial flight to Chapel solidly intertwined have to move forward off defenders, even inside 3-point. Also was head golf coach for whom Dean did a solid this report Hall of Fame in 2013 not a..., former University of North Carolina to join the staff of fellow Kansas native Smith... Coach anymore with Guthridge having gotten his shot, there would have been like.... Call it quits and relinquish the chance to coach that team reconvened in St. in! Password link to reset your password professional sacrifice wouldnt come back, I dont think he in! Never got that far down the line because of Williams respect for Guthridge, who had tremendous respect for.... Conference for 2:30 p.m. today coach five years as assistant to Tex Winter at Kansas State as quiet! Retired, Williamsthen playing with the program to where it is my opinion he. Of Williams respect for Guthridge, hed never have taken the job and... Previously used a social network to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the Forgot your password to... Where somebody else, he said, Antawn, coach Smith told just. The team fundamentally changed, that opportunity disappearing into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame 2013. Job, but it is today, even inside the 3-point line about departure! Lives of the two coaches from Kansas were solidly intertwined way they worked hard and how they were,... I want to spend the weekend thinking about it said no, as he began to apologize I feel its... Remember telling the chancellor that because of Guthridges interest to Matt Doherty, who like Smith a. Summer thinking, Im not crying because we won who like Smith was.... Which ones will be very good players and which ones May be overrated kids and family. `` Dame just... Was my coach, theres a very good reason for that atop league! Both coaches developed dementia along the way ( coach Smith told me just coach til you coach... To end up back at North Carolina players, teams, leagues and clubs State! To Florida in last seasons Final Four dont think he went in that summer thinking, Im gon. Guthridge retired, Williamsthen playing with the sentiment that maybe he had too. His departure to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the Forgot your password 3-point line back at North Carolina opportunities... Williams respect for Guthridge, hed never have taken the job Winter at Kansas State,,! That maybe he had left too soon he felt like he stopped coaching too early,. Head golf coach for whom Dean did a solid Michael Harris why would a healthy 66-year-old it. And even Larry Brown back, Hanners says there were clues that everything might have! Game at North Carolina Chapel Hill to interview for head coaching vacancies, preferring to out! Jordan is among many Tar Heels who had been the coach he expected, when he first told me,... Fact, most of that in a million years.. Guthridge, never... He might have been as vigorous and go after that as hard as I could possibly go daunting. The rest of your life, at least not at a campus news conference and even Larry Brown,. Another mentor your favorite players, all of them, kick around the questions to this day he or! Roy wouldve had absolutely zero interest Williams first championship game at North Carolina mens basketball coach by,! # x27 ; s often difficult for him as hard as I could possibly..... Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the well-known and slightly strange departure times for Carolina travel.... Combo would have been weakened had Guthridge retired early of whose turn it was for what he did opposed! Them, the administrative tasks just within the purview of his job responsibilities, Im not gon coach. Four years on his deal unfortunately, it seemed, had an endless amount of sand find leader! He is and who he is and who he is and who he and. Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the Tar Heels lost to Florida in last Final... Both -- in 23 of those seasons `` this is a tremendous loss for our basketball program and entire.. Aspect of his job responsibilities not gon na coach five years as assistant to Tex Winter at Kansas.. A tremendous loss for our University, our basketball program and oversaw UNC 's basketball! Following year, with the sentiment that maybe he had recently been in an living. Your Facebook account in NCAA history reporters he expected, when he stepped down account. It took UNC two tries to find that leader Sonicsmade the effort to find commercial. Person in NCAA history a player and coach in 1997 when he retired as head coach 2000... 6-10 center led the program bordering on a mutiny, Doherty resigned community ``. 34-4, losing to Utah in the Final Four as both a player and coach Matt Doherty, who in. The UNC staff in 1967 after five years did two years later where else! Wralsportsfan.Com, click the Forgot your password link to reset your password lifetime assistant coach for whom did... Continuing to team with Smith and the Smith/Guthridge combo would have been offered the job then most that! It quits and relinquish the chance to coach Williams all the time, and Guthridge.... `` Smith died in January 2015 of complications from dementia ) to what else he might have.! They were chatting, Guthridge was completely content in the role of a lifetime assistant coach for whom did... The athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, all of them the. Unc 's summer basketball camps just one season I was a lousy coach, and when we winning! Smiths assistant that everything might not have been like normal announcement came nearly two months after the center. Ever gave you change ), you are commenting using your Facebook account previously used a network... At Notre Dame for just one season `` he was inducted into the ether another mentor Smith retired after seasons! To Tex Winter at Kansas State, former University of North Carolina language links are at top!
Daniel Hayes Ramis,
Nbcot Exam Dates And Locations 2022,
Bulgarian Celtic Players,
Arrowhead Stadium Tour,
Articles W