DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710100905

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.                 LENGTH:  402 lines

DEAN LEAVES CAROLINA BLUE AFTER 879 WINS AND 2 NATIONAL TITLES, SMITH CALLS IT A CAREER.

For the last eight years it had been something of a ritual for University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith and his longtime assistant Bill Guthridge.

When the basketball season ended they packed up their golf clubs and headed to Florida to unwind with close friends.

At some point, an emotionally drained Smith would tell Guthridge to get ready to take over the team the next season because it was time for him to retire.

Guthridge would nod, wink and chuckle. Then for the next few months he worked to get Smith's battery recharged for a new season.

That's how it went again last April, after the Tar Heels made it to the Final Four for the 11th time under Smith and lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Arizona.

It was an especially draining season for Smith, whose team lost its first three ACC games before coming back to win the regular-season, the ACC tournament, and to give Smith enough victories to become the winningest coach in major college basketball history.

``I thought we'd get his battery recharged and he'd be back, just like the previous years,'' Guthridge said.

But this time the battery didn't recharge for the man who in the last 36 years made North Carolina the NCAA's most successful and envied program.

Even though the Tar Heels were being picked by some to win another national championship, Smith failed to get excited. Last Thursday, Smith told UNC athletic director Dick Baddour that he was ``80 percent sure'' he wanted to retire.

Smith, 66, made it official Thursday at a news conference in the huge Dean E. Smith Center, named in his honor.

An appreciative applause erupted from a packed audience that included representatives of most of the nation's major media outlets, former Smith players and just fans.

Smith took a deep breath, exhaled and exchanged nods with some members of the audience before making his statement.

``I have decided to resign as head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina,'' Smith said with tears in his eyes.

Guthridge, 60, who has spent more than half his life assisting Smith, was immediately named the new head coach. Baddour said he would recommend a multi-year contract.

Guthridge, who a few months ago said he didn't want to be the one to replace Smith, learned of Smith's decision on Tuesday.

``It has never been a goal of mine to be head coach at the University of North Carolina,'' Guthridge said. ``But I wasn't ready to go out at this time. I think the timing of the situation and all points considered, that's why I am the head coach. I am fired up and ready to go.''

Guthridge said it had been his wish that Smith would fulfill his current contract, which ran through 2001, so they could ``ride off into the sunset together.''

``We are all disappointed that (Smith) is not going to be the head coach this year, but he certainly has the right to retire and go into something else,'' Guthridge said.

News of Smith's impending retirement leaked out late Wednesday when UNC officials scheduled a press conference for ``a major basketball announcement.'' Just as quickly, rumors sprouted that Smith was in ill health or was angry at Baddour or UNC chancellor Michael Hooker.

Smith denied all of the rumors, saying he got along well with both of his bosses and that he was in good health.

So, why quit? And why now, only 10 days before the start of preseason practice?

``I enjoy basketball. I enjoy coaching basketball,'' he said. ``It is the out-of-season things I haven't been able to handle very well.''

Smith talked of wanting to spend more time with his family, especially on weekends with his grandchildren. And he admitted he simply did not have the enthusiasm he once had.

``I have always said when I couldn't give this team enthusiasm that I would get out,'' he said. ``That is honestly the way I feel.''

Smith said when he made in-home visits to recruits last month that he believed he would coach again this season. Still, he advised recruits to base their decision on playing for North Carolina and not for Dean Smith.

``My only guilt is, as I've said, that some team, some day, would have to be my last team,'' Smith said.

Smith broke down and wept when he revealed his plans to his players in a closed locker-room meeting on Wednesday.

``I looked in their faces and I just couldn't handle that,'' Smith said. ``But I still believe it is best for them.''

Smith did not disclose plans for the future, other than he will remain in Chapel Hill and would like to continue teaching basketball, possibly as a class at the university, and at clinics throughout the nation.

``He can do whatever he wants,'' UNC chancellor Michael Hooker said. ``He is the paragon of integrity and I don't think any person has done as much for a university as Dean Smith has done for Carolina.''

Smith said he felt like ``the luckiest guy in the world - to be in Chapel Hill, to be at the University of North Carolina with this faculty and this student body.''

Several of Smith's former players, including Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown and 76er Scott Williams, attended the conference. Also attending was Georgetown coach John Thompson, an assistant coach under Smith when the United States won the Olympic gold medal in 1976.

Another assistant on that Olympic team was Guthridge. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Smith wipes away a tear during Thursday's press conference. Smith

also broke down when he told his players Wednesday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS/file photo

Smith hugs point guard Jimmy Black after winning the 1982 NCAA

title, the first of two for Smith at UNC. The Tar Heels also won in

1993. UNC reached 11 Final Fours under Smith.

ASSOCIATED PRESS/file photo

``My only guilt is, as I've said, that some team, some day, would

have to be my last team.'' - Dean Smith at Thursday's press

conference.

Graphic

DEAN'S LIST

Dean Smith's year-by-year record

Season LPct

1961-62 89.471

1962-63 156.714

1963-64 1212.500

1964-65 159.625

1965-66 1611.593

1966-67-y 266.813

1967-68-y 284.875

1968-69-y 275.844

1969-70 189.667

1970-71 266.813

1971-72-y 265.839

1972-73 258.758

1973-74 226.786

1974-75 238.742

1975-76 254.862

1976-77-y 285.848

1977-78 238.742

1978-79 236.793

1979-80 218.724

1980-81-y 298.784

1981-82-x 322.941

1982-83 288.778

1983-84 283.903

1984-85 279.750

1985-86 286.824

1986-87 324.889

1987-88 277.794

1988-89 298.784

1989-90 2113.618

1990-91-y 296.829

1991-92 2310.697

1992-93-x 344.895

1993-94 287.800

1994-95-y 286.823

1995-96 2111.656

1996-97-y 287.800

Totals 879254.776

x-National Champions

y-Final Four

Most coaching victories

The winningest coaches at NCAA Div. I schools (years in

parentheses):

879: Dean Smith (36), North Carolina, 1962-97

876: Adolph Rupp (41), Kentucky, 1931-52, 1954-72

772: Jim Phelan (43), Mount St. Mary's (Md.), 1954-present.

767: Henry Iba (41), Northwest Missouri State, 1930-33;

Colorado, 1934; Oklahoma State, 1935-70

759: Ed Diddle (42), Western Kentucky, 1923-64

746: Phog Allen (48), Baker, 1906-08; Kansas 1908-09; Haskell,

1909; Central Missouri State, 1913-19; Kansas 1920-56

Most NCAA tournament wins

65: Dean Smith, North Carolina

47: John Wooden, UCLA

40: Bob Knight, Indiana

39: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

39: Denny Crum, Louisville

35: John Thompson, Georgetown

31: Jerry Tarkanian, Long Beach State, UNLV, Fresno State

30: Adolph Rupp, Kentucky

27: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse

26: Guy Lewis, Houston

Smith's milestone victories

No. 1: Dec. 2, 1961, Chapel Hill, N.C., UNC beats Virginia 80-46

in Smith's head coaching debut.

No. 90: March 11, 1967, Greensboro, N.C., UNC beats Duke 82-73

for the first of 13 ACC titles under Smith.

No. 91: March 17, 1967, College Park, Md., UNC beats Princeton

78-70 for the first of 65 NCAA Tournament victories under Smith.

No. 92: March 18, 1967, College Park, Md., UNC beats Boston

College 96-80 for the first of 10 NCAA regional titles under Smith.

No. 100: Jan. 3, 1968, Chapel Hill, N.C., UNC beats Wake Forest

74-62.

No. 191: March 27, 1971, New York, UNC beats Georgia 84-66 to

win the NIT championship.

No. 200: Jan. 8, 1972, Chapel Hill, N.C., UNC beats Furman

118-66.

No. 300: Jan. 25, 1976, Chapel Hill, N.C., UNC beats Maryland

95-93, OT.

No. 400: Feb. 1, 1980, Charlotte, N.C., UNC beat The Citadel

51-40.

No. 468: March 29, 1982, New Orleans, UNC beats Georgetown 63-62

to capture the NCAA Championship.

No. 500: Dec. 3, 1983, Stanford, Calif., UNC beats Stanford

88-75.

No. 600: Feb. 11, 1987, Chapel Hill, N.C., UNC beats Wake Forest

94-85.

No. 700: Jan. 9, 1991, Chapel Hill, N.C., UNC beats Maryland

105-73.

No. 768: March 13, 1993, Charlotte, N.C., UNC beats Virginia

74-56 in the ACC Tournament semifinals. Smith passes Henry Iba to

become second on the all-time win list.

No. 774: April 5, 1993, New Orleans, UNC beats Michigan 77-71 to

win the NCAA Championship.

No. 800: March 12, 1994, Charlotte, N.C., UNC beats Wake Forest

86-84 in overtime in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

No. 875: March 9, 1997, Greensboro, N.C., UNC beats North

Carolina State 64-54 for Smith's 13th ACC title and assures a 23rd

consecutive NCAA appearance.

No. 879: March 23, 1997, Syracuse, N.Y., UNC beats Louisville

97-74 to advance to Smith's 11th Final Four as he earns his final

coaching victory.

Smith vs. NCAA WL

Alabama 43

Ala.-Birmingham 10

Alaska-Anchorage 10

Arizona 13

Arizona St. 10

Arkansas 33

Auburn 10

Bethune-Cookman 10

Boston College 21

Boston U. 20

Bowling Green 10

Bradley 10

Brigham Young 30

Brown 10

Butler 20

California 30

Central Florida 20

Cincinnati 60

Citadel 100

Clemson 6813

Colorado 30

Colorado St. 11

Columbia 10

Connecticut 10

Cornell 30

Creighton 10

Dartmouth 40

Davidson 20

Dayton 01

DePaul 30

Detroit 30

Drake 01

Duk 5935

Duquesne 10

East Carolina 10

East Tenn. St. 50

Eastern Michigan 10

Fairfield 10

Florida 11

Florida St. 205

Florida Southern 10

Fordham 40

Furman 142

George Washington 10

Georgetown 31

Georgia 52

Georgia St. 10

Georgia Tech 4013

Harvard 20

Hawaii 40

Hawaii Loa 10

Hawaii Pacific 10

Houston 51

Howard 30

Illinois 20

Indiana 45

Iona 20

Iowa 02

Iowa St. 20

Jacksonville 60

James Madison 30

Kansas 22

Kansas St. 30

Kent 20

Kentucky 133

La Salle 20

Liberty 10

LSU 60

Louisville 51

Loyola Marymount 10

Manhattan 11

Marquette 21

Marshall 20

Maryland 6221

Massachusetts 31

Mercer 40

Miami 20

Miami, Ohio 31

Michigan 32

Michigan St. 30

Middle Tenn. St. 20

Minnesota 11

Mississippi St. 10

Missouri 44

Murray St. 10

Nebraska 10

Nevada 20

New Mexico St. 10

New Orleans 10

NYU 22

Niagara 10

N.C. State 6030

N.C.-Asheville 20

North Texas 10

Northeastern 10

Northwestern 20

Notre Dame 113

Ohio U. 10

Ohio St. 61

Oklahoma 20

Old Dominion 40

Oral Roberts 30

Oregon 30

Oregon St. 30

Penn 21

Penn St. 30

Pepperdine 20

Pittsburgh 70

Princeton 52

Providence 21

Purdue 52

Rhode Island 10

Rice 30

Richmond 50

Rochester 10

Rutgers 60

St. Bonaventure 10

St. John's 12

St. Joseph's 20

St. Thomas, Fla. 30

San Diego St. 20

San Francisco 01

Santa Clara 20

Seton Hall 30

South Carolina 2010

South Florida 60

Southern Cal 30

Southern Methodist 21

Southern U. 10

SW Louisiana 10

SW Missouri St. 10

Stanford 70

Stetson 30

Syracuse 32

Temple 21

Tn.-Chattanooga 30

Texas 21

Texas A&M 01

Texas-Pan American 10

Texas Tech 21

Towson St. 30

Tulane 100

Tulsa 11

UCLA 42

UNLV 20

Utah 61

Vanderbilt 43

Vermont 10

Villanova 64

Virginia 6617

VMI 30

Virginia Tech 152

Wake Forest 6628

Washington 10

Weber St. 10

West Virginia 01

Western Kentucky 10

Wichita St. 10

William & Mary 61

Yale 40

Smith's year-by-year record

Graphic

SMITH NOTES

CLINTON ON DEAN: President Clinton telephoned Smith Thursday to

wish him well. They talked for about five minutes. Smith thanked

Clinton and told him he had just finished a round of golf with

Michael Jordan. Smith said Jordan claimed the best round he'd play

all year was in Las Vegas with Clinton.

ESPN SPECIAL: ESPN will present ``Dean Smith: Legend in Blue,'' a

30-minute special on the former UNC coach tonight at 7:30 p.m.

PILOT ONLINE: Join a TalkNet discussion on Dean Smith's career

and its effect on North Carolina basketball, the ACC and the entire

sport. Read opinions and give your own: Was it the right time for

Smith to go? How will UNC fare without him? The link is on the

Sports page at www.pilotonline.com

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