Carolina's Dream Team
Posted on May 5, 1997So much has been written about the best coach, who also happens to be the winningest coach in the history of college basketball, that it is hard to comment on Coach Dean Smith without being repetitive. Beyond the graduation rate of his former players (now at roughly 98 percent), particularly impressive are: 1) 33 consecutive years finishing no lower than third in the ACC, 2) 27 consecutive years of 20 or more victories, and 3) 23 consecutive years of NCAA post-season tournament play. However, perhaps too little notice has been given to the supportive environment that has surrounded Carolina basketball these 36 years.
It is in this environment that Coach Smith has performed with such remarkable success. While the nation may be most aware of the number of wins, he will always be proudest of the graduation rate of his players, since Coach Smith correctly views himself first and foremost as a teacher. A private person, Coach Smith cherishes the special relationships he has with his former players.
More than anyone, Coach Smith has set the standard for what is often described as “Carolina class.” And by his personal example, he has prompted many to alter their attitudes or behavior to model the way “Coach Smith does it.”
My work as a member of the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics provided me an intimate look at college sports and reaffirmed my long-held view that we at Carolina are uniquely fortunate to enjoy such a comprehensive and successful athletics program. It is unlikely that any college or university has the combination of outstanding facilities, generous financial support, successful teams, dedicated coaches and alumni commitment to winning within the rules. Further, those qualities that make the University so attractive to all prospective students — the beauty of our campus, the quality and reputation of our faculty, the history and traditions of our institution — are also attractions for student athletes.
From the 1957 NCAA basketball championship until 1980, Carolina did not win another NCAA championship in any sport. Since 1980, Carolina has won at least one national championship each year. Carolina won the first Sears Directors Cup for overall excellence in athletics based on the success of all of our sports. Carolina won the coveted Carmichael Cup for total athletics program success in all sports 14 of the 25 years of the award and nine out of the last 10 years until the ACC discontinued the award in 1986.
While our habit of winning is widely known, we may not hear as much about the quality and tenure of our coaches and senior administrators within the athletic department. It is particularly impressive that the athletics department has enjoyed such highly regarded and stable leadership. John Swofford ’71, who has served as athletic director since 1980, joined the athletics department in 1976. His executive associate athletic director, Dick Baddour ’65, has worked at the University since 1967 and in the athletics department for 11 years . In addition, nearly each of the associate and assistant athletic directors have over a decade of service at Carolina, and a majority or our 27 head coaches have been at Carolina for at least a decade.
So we salute and celebrate the success of Carolina basketball and particularly Coach Smith’s amazing achievements. And we should also take pride in our entire athletics program of which basketball is such a visible example. And as alumni we should be proud that we, too, have made contributions not only financial or as fans, but by reaffirming the values that are consistent with Carolina and our athletics program.
Just as Coach Smith constantly reaffirms to his players that basketball is a team sport, our basketball program has enjoyed the strong support of a team that is much larger than the outstanding coaching staff, office staff, managers, players and former players. Carolina students, faculty and staff, UNC alumni and fans have all contributed much to Carolina basketball.
North Carolina’s state motto is “To be rather than to seem.” As alumni, we have come to expect an athletic program of which we can be proud — on the court or field, in the classroom and in the community. We celebrate wins, but we also celebrate graduation rates. Most of all, we celebrate values, character, sportsmanship, hard work, team work, individual perseverance and more, for that is the Carolina way. And happily, for 36 years and hopefully for many, many more, that has been Coach Smith’s way!
Yours at Carolina,
Douglas S. Dibbert ’70
