BTN.com staff, BTN.com staff, February 8, 2015
Legendary North Carolina men's basketball coach Dean Smith had no Big Ten ties, but his impact on the game is impossible to ignore.
The two-time national champion and coach of the Tar Heels from 1961-1997 died Saturday night at the age of 83.
The retired coach died "peacefully" at his North Carolina home, according to a statement from Smith's family on Sunday. He was with his wife and five children.
In addition to his accolades at North Carolina, Smith was also an Olympic gold medal winner (1976), basketball Hall of Famer and a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree.
Several Big Ten coaches and teams took to Twitter to remember Smith.
See the tweets below.
Tom Crean on the late Dean Smith: (1/2) ?He was always gracious…The bottom line is that guy had such a way of making you?"
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) February 8, 2015
Tom Crean cont?d: (2/2) ?…accountable to your teammates and never letting selfishness exist.?
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) February 8, 2015
"Dean Smith was a true innovator. He did things before others, which is a sign of a true genius." — Fran McCaffery
— Iowa Men?s Basketball (@IowaHoops) February 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/CoachTurgeon/status/564462976300630016
https://twitter.com/CoachTurgeon/status/564463117036306432
https://twitter.com/CoachTurgeon/status/564463275585179649
RIP Coach Dean Smith. A true Icon of our game and a great role model for all coaches. It was an honor to compete against his teams.
— Chris Collins (@coach_collins) February 8, 2015
Our thoughts go to Dean Smith's family and the @UNC_Basketball program today. College basketball lost a legend today.
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) February 8, 2015
#RHoops extends condolences to the family & friends of Dean Smith. We benefit from his positive effect on others daily through Coach O'Koren
— Rutgers Men?s Basketball ? (@RutgersMBB) February 8, 2015
