Former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, who had a Hall of Fame career, was beloved by his players and became one of the nation’s most revered sports figures, died Saturday evening in Chapel Hill, according to a statement released by the university.
Smith, who had been in declining health the past few years, was 83.
Smith retired in October 1997 as the winningest men’s coach in NCAA Division I history, having passed former Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp.
Smith, whose UNC teams won 13 ACC championships and two NCAA titles, received many awards and accolades. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was selected national coach of the year four times and named the ACC coach of the year eight times.
In 2013, Smith was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian award – by President Obama, although Smith was unable to attend the ceremony in Washington.