
DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710100894

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS  

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.                 LENGTH:   83 lines

NEW UNC HEAD COACH GUTHRIDGE HAS PAID HIS DUES

For 30 years, Bill Guthridge sat loyally beside Dean Smith on the North Carolina bench and blended into his shadow off the court.

Before road games, Guthridge routinely climbed into the stands, a bag of popcorn in one hand and a soda in the other, and soaked in the atmosphere. On Wednesday, the night before he would succeed Smith as North Carolina's head basketball coach, Guthridge took Leesie, his wife of 28 years, to a restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. Even in this basketball-crazy area, no one recognized him.

But the days of anonymity are gone for Guthridge, who at age 60 has ended his run as college basketball's quintessential second banana. As Smith has suddenly moved off stage, the gray-haired, bespectacled Guthridge has assumed the leadership mantle he once assiduously avoided.

The choice of Guthridge assured continuity in style and substance, much to the approval of the returning players. ``You're losing Coach Smith,'' said Antawn Jamison, the junior forward, ``but Coach Guthridge is the only person who can come close to him.''

Guthridge, a devoted running enthusiast, is trimmer and taller than Smith. The similarities between the two are far more numerous, however.

``I think my philosophy and style will be almost identical to him, with hopefully the same results,'' Guthridge said.

Like Smith, Guthridge grew up in Kansas. Like Smith, he was a college mathematics major. Both Guthridge and Smith are sticklers for detail, and prone to dry humor.

Guthridge played for Kansas State under Tex Winter and later served as an assistant to Winter, now an assistant coach with the NBA's Chicago Bulls. After five years with Winter, he joined Smith at Chapel Hill before the 1967-68 season.

Over the years, Guthridge seriously considered leaving just twice - for head coaching jobs at Arkansas and Penn State. Impressed by football coach Joe Paterno, Guthridge nearly took the Penn State job in 1978, but changed his mind at the airport.

Guthridge was content to work behind the scenes to assure the clockwork precision of every aspect of the North Carolina program. On the road, while Smith immediately departed following a game, it was Guthridge who shepherded the team to the hotel or airport, and eventually back to campus.

Guthridge's teaching specialty in North Carolina's calibrated practices was shooting, but he also was the disciplinarian.

``Coach Guthridge for years has had to be the tough guy because Coach Smith was so compassionate, and to have a good organization somebody's got to lay down the law,'' said Dave Hanners, a North Carolina assistant coach.

Guthridge lamented the loss of his license to pass the buck when confronted by pesky questions from reporters. His trademark response of ``You'll have to ask Coach Smith about that,'' is no longer available.

When asked if he had any previous experience as a head coach, Guthridge said: ``I used to coach our freshman and junior varsity teams. And I've had to take over for Coach Smith a couple of times when he wasn't around at the end of the game.''

Guthridge was alluding to two occasions when Smith was ejected from games - once at Clemson and once by official Jack Manton in the early stages of a 91-63 win over Clemson at the Greensboro Coliseum in 1977. The Tar Heels didn't turn the Greensboro game into a blowout until after Guthridge replaced Smith.

Guthridge said he first met Smith when Guthridge's high school coach drove him to a game at the University of Kansas.

``Dean was playing at Kansas,'' Guthridge said. ``My sister Joanne also was a student at Kansas and she was dating him. I'm glad it didn't lead to marriage because it never would have worked out. Both of them are too strong-willed. MEMO: Landmark News Service and The New York Times contributed to this

report. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

GUTHRIDGE BIO

Age: 60

Born: Parsons, Kansas.

Education: BS in mathematics and Masters in education, Kansas

State University.

Coaching experience: Scott City (Kansas) H.S. (1960-62);

assistant, Kansas State (62-67); assistant, North Carolina

(1967-97).

His new contract with UNC: When Smith finalized his retirement

decision, Guthridge accepted the five-year contract that UNC offered

him, pending approval by the UNC Board of Trustees.