CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Dean Smith, the North Carolina basketball coaching great who won two national championships, has died. He was 83.
The school said in a statement Sunday from Smith's family that the former coach died at his home Saturday night.
Smith had health issues in recent years, with the family saying in 2010 he had a condition that was causing him to lose memory.
âCoach Dean Smith passed away peacefully the evening of February 7 at his home in Chapel Hill, and surrounded by his wife and five children,â the Smith family said in a statement. âWe are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as arrangements are made available to the public. Thank you.â
Smith coached the Tar Heels from 1961-97. He retired as the winningest coach in the sport with 879 victories. He won NCAA titles in 1982 and 1993, and coached such players as Michael Jordan and James Worthy.
He reached 11 Final Fours, won 13 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles and coached the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal in 1976.
Smith also coached many NBA stars, including Michael Jordan, who released the following statement on Sunday:
âOther than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach â he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life. My heart goes out to Linnea and their kids. We've lost a great man who had an incredible impact on his players, his staff and the entire UNC family.â