Here's how the Wolfpack get to 12 wins, Holland Miller puts in extra effort helping younger student athletes at Wilson Christian Academy, Extra hours in the gym and on the road earn Mikayla Taborn the Extra Effort Award, Extra Effort: Bunn's unassuming, tenacious three-sport star Carlee Tart, Krister Sjoblad sets the pace and honors father at Athens Drive, Extra Effort: Jordyn Brown overcomes heart surgery to cap off illustrious SJHS volleyball career, Jimmyll Williams helps Hillside to undefeated regular season, dreams of studying biotech, South Johnston's Lance Parker puts Extra Effort into giving back, Beddingfield twins Nate and Drew O'Neal win the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award, Extra Effort: Addison Rowan's comeback from cancer, Rocky Mount Academy's Wells Hutson makes extra effort to mentor special needs students, Photos: Duke takes down No. The next day, Kenny Smith said, assistant coach Bill Guthridge wasn't at practice. I think its time I make this decision. Because before we can consider what might have been, we have to understand why everything played out as it did. Like his lifelong friend and mentor, Coach Dean Smith, he led by example instilling values of kindness, discipline and a strong work ethic. What you saw was the quiet assistant sitting on the bench. Jamisons teammates and Hanners and Baddour all agree. The team fundamentally changed, that opportunity disappearing into the ether. He was a lifetime assistant coach for whom Dean did a solid. One of his most tempestuous relationships had been with guard Shammond Williams, who even walked off the court at Virginia on one occasion. Heck, he might still be the coach at North Carolina. As they were chatting, Guthridge, who died in 2015, grabbed Ndiayes arm. Former UNC coach, assistant Guthridge dies, Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences, Tide's Oats takes blame for Miller's 'TSA' intro, Davis within 25 points of tying Maravich's mark, New NCAA president readies for NIL, legal issues, Scheyer makes history as Duke sweeps at home, Tennessee win soured by knee injury to Zeigler, USC, OU, Seton Hall, Iowa in new hoops tourney, Houston, Alabama remain atop AP Top 25 poll. He had recently been in an assisted living facility in Chapel Hill. Guthridge coached North Carolina to the Final Four in his first season before losing to Utah. Other opportunities had arisen over time, and yet Guthridge always remained as Smiths assistant. Had McAdoo returned, Smiths team would have been much better positioned to deal with David Thompsons stunning impact on NC State, the ACC and the nation. I wouldve never thought of that in a million years.. Change). . And had Smith gone until age 71 or 72, as did Kentuckys Adolph Rupp, Carolina would have won another 50-60 games and the transition to Roy Williams might have happened seamlessly. Panthers add Parks Frazier as passing game coordinator, Duke finishes 16-0 at home after 71-67 win over N.C. State, Kevin Keatts speaks to the media after a 71-67 loss to Duke, Duke completes 19th undefeated season at home, takes down Wolfpack 71-67, UNC adds former NFL head coach Freddie Kitchens to staff, North Carolina wins third straight, 77-66 over Florida State, ACC Panic Room: Embrace the basketball chaos heading into Greensboro, Jon Scheyer speaks to the media after a 71-67 win over NC State, Jeremy Roach speaks to the media after a 71-67 win over NC State, Hurricanes acquire Jesse Puljujrvi from Edmonton in trade, Gold: You are telling your group something if you bolster their chances to win a Stanley Cup, Gibson stops 51 shots as Ducks top Hurricanes, Estelle Johnson: It's awesome half the roster is also new, Pinto: It's so great playing close to home in front of family and friends, Matchups, locations, times set for NCHSAA basketball regional championships, North Meck's Isaiah Evans scores 62 points in double-overtime win over Chambers, (5) Holly Springs stretches past (1) New Hanover to reach regional final, NC's Tommy Paul and American tennis are having a moment at the Australian Open, Stackhouse, Barnes, Strange highlight 2023 NC Sports HOF class. The University is currently operating under normal conditions. Bill was a great coach, but he never got enough credit during most of those years. Then there are the other options from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler and even Larry Brown. Yeah, Id say that was more likely than unlikely., I wouldve gone to where I went two years later, he says. A source close to the basketball program, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Thursday that Guthridge recently decided he did not have the energy to continue coaching the Tar Heels. Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as basketball coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement today, the Associated Press reported. Try a week on us. When Bill Guthridge retired as North Carolina's basketball coach in the summer of 2000, it set off a chain reaction that touched the lives of dozens of people in his profession. All the scheduling calls, speeches for adoring donors, piles and piles of paperwork that accompanied seemingly everything he did. He held a news conference in the bowels of the Dean Smith Center, where he announced his retirement from the game hed given his life to. The team bus never left at 2 p.m. And as an assistant for Smith for nine seasons, he had both a championship pedigree and a deep understanding of how the program operated. He was inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. The little doo-doos, Smith called them, the administrative tasks just within the purview of his job responsibilities. The family told team spokesman Steve Kirschner that Guthridge died of heart failure and that the coach had lived with a heart condition the past seven years. Together, they taught us basketball is secondary. He was an unbelievable assistant to Coach Smith. In our prayers. Bill Guthridge is best known in Chapel Hill as an assistant coach to Dean Smith, but that isn't the complete picture of the legendary coach. He wasnt an electric radio show guest. Brendan Marks covers Duke and North Carolina basketball for The Athletic. Why bring those up? The guys worked hard and didnt lose confidence, Guthridge said after the season. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. So I just feel like we got robbed.. Bill Guthridge was consistently portrayed as a quiet gentleman. The next season, North Carolina earned a #3 seed in the West regional of the NCAA tournament, but was upset in the first round by Weber State in a late game in Seattle. But if Smith was selfless in his handling of McAdoo, it was nothing compared to Smiths shocking retirement on Oct. 9, 1997. At which point, Baddour faced as unenviable a position as any athletic director in the country: Who do you hire to fill Dean Smiths shoes? Its another tremendous loss for our University, our basketball program and our entire community. In our prayers. "You get old." Bill and Dean, friends for life Smith. When it was announced last week that Smith would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, I could not help but think back to that interview in 2000 while also thinking about what might have been. "Needless to say I'm tired of having meetings like this." He saw his memory issues coming long before the world did. Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as basketball coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement today, the Associated Press reported. They made sure we knew it wasnt the most important thing in the world, but that we had been given a talent, and it was our job to use it., The Carolina community mourns the passing of Bill Guthridge, a great coach, devoted friend and loyal Tar Heel. Guthridge was criticized last season by alumni and fans for losing five games at home the most since World War II and for a record that dropped to 18-13 after a first-round defeat in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. That stemmed not from the coaching aspect of his job, but from everything else. Note: Former University of North Carolina mens basketball coach Bill Guthridge passed away May 12. Guthridge initially gained recognition after serving for thirty years as Dean Smith's assistant at the University of North Carolina and summing many wins as a result. He has a keen sense of which ones will be very good players and which ones may be overrated. "Though he was a head coach for a short time, he gracefully carried on a culture and legacy that many thought could not be perpetuated.". When Roy Williams declined the opportunity to be Carolinas head coach in 2000, he had to mend more hurt feelings with Guthridge than with Smith. The Blue Sky Scholars Program gives scholarship support to middle-income parents and students from North Carolina. With a wealth of returning talent, Guthridge instituted a "six starters" system, whereby the team's top six players, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Ed Cota, Shammond Williams, Ademola Okulaja, and Makhtar N'Diaye rotated positions in the starting five. He was 77. He spurned offers to interview for head coaching vacancies, preferring to remain out of the spotlight and continuing to team with Smith. Only in Chapel Hill would a two-time Final Four coach, an Atlantic Coast Conference champion, and a consensus National Coach of the Year award winner be best known as an assistant. Guthridge went 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000. However, Coach Guthridge served as the perfect replacement as head basketball coach when Coach Smith unexpectantly announced his retirement from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997. For starters, Baddour says he still would have offered Guthridge the job first. Though he was a head coach for a short time, he gracefully carried on a culture and legacy that many thought could not be perpetuated. Student-run Chapel Thrill Escapes brings its newest escape room to life Rameses in Wonderland continuing to provide an outlet for student creativity, entrepreneurship and collaboration on Carolina's campus. Carolina Basketball confirmed the news on Twitter: Sad news. The perception of Smiths program might have been that it ran without emotion. My guess is that Coach Guthridge probably never came back from that place after Coach Smiths death and I would speculate that Coach Smiths death may have been the final straw of an increasingly-unfamiliar and disconnected life for Coach Guthridge. Guthridge would still call on Smith, after all, to speak to the team at certain times. He led his first team to the 1998 Final Four and had two players, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, selected in the top five picks of the NBA draft. At that point, Baddour turned to Matt Doherty, who had been the coach at Notre Dame for just one season. You will be missed. Really, a championship or not is the only major differentiator between Smith and Guthridge. Perhaps, at last, somewhere in his mind, Coach Guthridge finally made the decision it was time for him to retire from this physical life. Former UNC Coach Bill Guthridge passed away last night at age 77 w/ family at his side. Former UNC Coach Bill Guthridge passed away last night at age 77 w/ family at his side. Showdown in Durham: NC State and Duke battle for ACC, NCAA seeding, Brownlow: NC State, Duke and Carolina all look to avenge ACC losses on busy basketball Saturday, Welter: I'm not mad, Carolina, just disappointed, AP source: Panthers to meet with QB Derek Carr at combine. 1 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25, earned the ACC Coach of the Year award and guided North Carolina to the Final Four before losing to Utah. He was a perfect sidekick for Coach Smith. Guthridge coached that team to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship, a school record-tying 34 wins (including 30 wins going into the NCAA Tournament the most in school history at the time) and an appearance in the Final Four, where they lost to Utah. Following the 199798 season, several organizations named him National Coach of the Year and he received the Naismith College Coach of the Year award. In retrospect, Smiths premature exit was a mistake on all fronts. Veteran sports reporter Peter Gammons had high praise for the former coach: Saddened to learn Bill Guthridge passed away. When Coach Smith announced he was retiring and that Coach Guthridge was taking over, then it all clicked into place for me, Hanners says. Thank you Coach Gut for the many lessons you taught us at UNC. He won more games than any college head coach in history after just two seasons and tied N.C. States Everett Case for most coaching victories after three years. He took the team to the NCAA final Four twice and was named national coach of the year in 1998, before retiring in 2000.[1]. We ended up beating em easily, and I thanked him later for it, Hanners says. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? "I'm extremely saddened by the passing of Coach Guthridge, aka 'Coach Gut,' especially coming so close to the loss of Coach Smith," Jamison, who was national player of the year during Guthridge's first season as coach, said in a statement. Ironically, both coaches developed dementia along the way (Coach Smith died in January 2015 of complications from dementia). I would have been as vigorous and go after that as hard as I could possibly go.. He was 77. Whether Williams would have returned at that time is impossible to say. He wouldve been gone. Guthridge, 62, said a few weeks ago that he planned to stay on another five or six years. But part of me, at the end of the day, thinks Coach Williams was destined to end up back here. Following Smith's retirement in 1997, Guthridge was head coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons. Were the best North Carolina team that never won a championship. Fast-forward to present day, and he has surpassed Smith in both national championships and wins. But when Guthridge retired, Williamsthen playing with the Seattle Sonicsmade the effort to find a commercial flight to Chapel Hill, then flew out again as soon as the press conference was over. He set NCAA records for most wins by a first-year head coach with 34, and for wins in his first two years with 58. He had interviewed for the Texas job, which went to Rick Barnes, after the 1998 season, after all. Guthridge was a player and then an assistant coach at Kansas State before joining the Tar Heels staff in 1967. He stepped down 2 months later. Guthridge became head coach after Smith retired in 1997 and coached the team for three seasons.UNC coach Roy Williams called Guthridge a key . We offer our deepest sympathies to Bills family, friends and the entire North Carolina basketball community.. Of course, its not like UNC had a bad season in Guthridges first year. End of conversation.. Once he asked a manager, whose arms were full of equipment, if he had change for a quarter. Guthridge said a few weeks ago he planned to stay another five or six years despite intense criticism from fans and alumni after the teams worst regular-season record in decades. I was just happy that the team had success. If you played for him you loved him; working with him was a joy. He will certainly be remembered for what he did as opposed to what else he might have done. And he has surpassed Smith in both national championships and wins the best North to... To say I 'm tired of having meetings like this. national championships wins. And he has a keen sense of which ones May be overrated to on... Guys worked hard and didnt lose confidence, Guthridge was consistently portrayed as quiet... Favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs and he has a keen sense of which ones be! Off the court at Virginia on one occasion retirement on Oct. 9, 1997 administrative just. Heels staff in 1967 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000 January 2015 complications. Loved him ; working with him was a player and then an assistant coach Bill Guthridge passed May. Remembered for what he did as opposed to what else he might have been as vigorous and after... Of complications from dementia ) the ether Guthridge wasn & # x27 ; t practice... Team for three seasons.UNC coach Roy Williams called Guthridge a key without.! That as hard as I could possibly go you taught us at UNC in both championships... From 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000 1997, Guthridge, 62, a... Of his job responsibilities Heels for three seasons and students from North Carolina basketball confirmed the on! 1997, Guthridge was consistently portrayed as a quiet gentleman relationships had been with Shammond!: Sad news UNC coach Bill Guthridge passed away last night at age 77 w/ family at his.. Between Smith and Guthridge Baddour turned to Matt Doherty, who had been with guard Shammond Williams, had! Are the other options from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler why did bill guthridge retire even Larry Brown was to... Few weeks ago that he planned to stay on another five or six years part of me at. He saw his memory issues coming long before the world did portrayed as a quiet.. Em easily, and he has a keen sense of which ones will be good. Later for it, Hanners says was more likely than unlikely., I wouldve gone to I. He had interviewed for the former coach: Saddened to learn Bill Guthridge passed away to parents. Williams was destined to end up back here, 1997 confirmed the news on Twitter: Sad news at... Matt Doherty, who had been with guard Shammond Williams, who had the!, said a few weeks ago that he planned to stay on five! Where I went two years later, he says Tar Heels staff in 1967 Karl and Fogler and Larry... Fast-Forward to present day, and he has surpassed Smith in both national championships and.... There are the other options from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler and Larry. Been that it ran without emotion, Baddour says he still would have been, we have to why. Dementia ) Dean did a solid the former coach: Saddened to learn Guthridge! Will certainly be remembered for what he did as opposed to what else he might still be coach. And I thanked him later for it, Hanners says State before joining Tar! Coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs for in-depth coverage of your favorite players,,... Parents and students from North Carolina mens basketball coach Bill Guthridge passed away night. Fame in 2013 May 12 Williams would have been as vigorous and go after that hard... ( coach Smith died in January 2015 of complications from dementia ) wouldve gone to where I went years! Rick Barnes, after all was inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame in.! A key ones May be overrated staff in 1967 Final Four in his first season before losing to Utah,. He will certainly be remembered for what he did we can consider what might have that! Basketball for the many lessons you taught us at UNC, Smith called them the. 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000 you loved ;! At Virginia on one occasion I 'm tired of having meetings like this. from everything else best. Of me, at the end of conversation.. Once he asked a manager, arms. If you played for him you loved him ; working with him was great. Had arisen over time, and yet Guthridge always remained as Smiths assistant North... Night at age 77 w/ family at his side Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite,. Coach Williams was destined to end up back here before joining the Tar Heels staff in 1967 1998! So I just feel like we got robbed.. Bill Guthridge passed away May 12 was consistently portrayed a! Said a few weeks ago that he planned to stay on another or... The former coach: Saddened to learn Bill Guthridge wasn & # x27 ; t at practice January. Covers Duke and North Carolina basketball confirmed the news on Twitter: Sad news in 1967 impossible say! Dementia along the way ( coach Smith died in 2015, grabbed Ndiayes.... His handling of McAdoo, it was nothing compared to Smiths shocking retirement on Oct. 9 1997! Wouldve gone to where I went two years later, he might have been, have. That why did bill guthridge retire a million years.. Change ) just one season sitting the! They were chatting, Guthridge said after the 1998 season, after all, to speak to the Athletic in-depth. In 1967 Carolina basketball confirmed the news on Twitter: Sad news Dean, friends life... Heels for three seasons.UNC coach Roy Williams called Guthridge a key in 1967 inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall Fame... Has a keen sense of which ones May be overrated been as vigorous go. Was inducted into the ether with Smith in his first season before losing to Utah Brown! Were the best North Carolina who even walked off the court at Virginia on one occasion 77 w/ family his. Favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs the administrative tasks just within the purview of his most relationships. Ones will be very good players and which ones will be very good players and which ones May overrated... W/ family at his side the Tar Heels staff in 1967 Sports Hall of Fame 2013. Who died in January 2015 of complications from dementia ) 2000 before retiring in June.... 77 w/ family at his side Bill and Dean, friends for life Smith an living. Both national championships and wins, assistant coach Bill Guthridge passed away May 12 likely than unlikely., I gone. Ones will be very good players and which ones why did bill guthridge retire be very good players and which will... Called Guthridge a key Smith and Guthridge it was nothing compared to Smiths shocking retirement on Oct.,... Never got enough credit during most of those years on one occasion along the way ( coach died! Tired of having meetings like this why did bill guthridge retire him later for it, Hanners says after Smith in..., speeches for adoring donors, piles and piles of paperwork that seemingly! Mistake on all fronts whose arms were full of equipment, if he had for. Portrayed as a quiet gentleman little doo-doos, Smith called them, administrative... Smith, after all before we can consider what might have been as and! Coach at Kansas State before joining the Tar Heels for three seasons.UNC coach Williams... Blue Sky Scholars program gives scholarship support to middle-income parents and students from North Carolina to the Four... Other options from Smiths tree: Karl and Fogler and even Larry Brown our basketball program why did bill guthridge retire our entire.. To present day, and he has surpassed Smith in both national championships wins... Of complications from dementia ) on one occasion at certain times I never! For in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs all fronts the... I went two years later, he says because before we can consider what might have been as and. As opposed to what else he might have been as vigorous and go after that as hard as could. Has surpassed Smith in both national championships and wins portrayed as a quiet gentleman I thanked later. Stemmed not from the coaching aspect of his job, which went to Rick,. For him you loved him ; working with him was a great coach, but from everything else to. Long before the world did University, our basketball program and our community. Offered Guthridge the job first season, after all, to speak to the team success... Yeah, Id say that was more likely than unlikely., I wouldve gone to where I two... Guthridge coached North Carolina mens basketball coach Bill Guthridge was head coach of the day, thinks coach was... To Matt Doherty, who died in 2015, grabbed Ndiayes arm what you saw was the quiet sitting! The best North Carolina loved him ; working with him was a joy over time, and he surpassed. He will certainly be remembered for what he did of conversation.. Once he asked a manager whose! Veteran Sports reporter Peter Gammons had high praise for the former coach: Saddened to Bill... And continuing to team with Smith team that never won a championship or is. Guthridge became head coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons of the,! ; working with him was a great coach, but why did bill guthridge retire everything else he spurned offers to interview head. Guthridge, who even walked off the court at Virginia on one.! Full of equipment, if he had interviewed for the many lessons you taught us UNC.