Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 10, 1997, edition 1 / Page 1
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Ulljr Sattu ®ar Mwl p H 104 years of editorial freedom Strung the students and the Unntrsity community since 1893 Smith closes book on epic coaching career ■ Dean Smith’s resignation came just nine days before the start of practice. BY ALEC MORRISON SPORTS EDITOR Hurriedly and with apparent indif ference to the fanfare surrounding him, Dean Smith announced Thursday his retirement as men’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina. Smith faced a room of about 300 people friends, players, media mem bers and former assistants —and informed the public of his decision to leave the job he began in 1961. His voice caught only once, prompt ing an ovation that echoed through tide Skipper Bowles Room deep in the Smith Center. He closed the book on an era that defined not only UNC’s college basketball program but the face of the University for nearly 40 years. “My only guilt is that some day, some team would be my last team,” Smith said. “... I looked in (the players’) faces yesterday, and I couldn’t handle it, and I couldn’t if I turned right now. “But I still believe that it’s best for them that I could give them what I want, and I could work for them. Any player that’s played for me, I owe them.” Assistant Coach Bill Guthridge will succeed Smith as UNC’s head coach pending approval of a contract from the University’s Board of Trustees. Guthridge will sign a multiyear deal and lead the Tar Heels beginning Oct. 18, the first day of practice. Former UNC player Pat Sullivan will replace Guthridge as assistant coach. But most of the hourlong conference was a chance for Smith, the sport’s leader in career coaching victories, to exit stage right. He remained the same stoic man who has paced UNC’s side line since the 19605, offering jokes to Tighten the room’s mood and receiving repeated ovations from his audience. “He is the consummate teacher; he is the paragon of integrity,” UNC Chancellor Michael Hooker said. “I told him as we were coming down the m AjjtjLy ' 'Je m % Mb .tjt | t / tm sgj‘ DTH/CARA BRICKMAN Senior guard Shammond Williams became emotional following the press conference in which Coach Dean Smith announced his resignation. Change defines Hooker’s 2 years as University head ■ Sunday marks the 2nd anniversary of Hooker’s official leadership of UNC. BY CYNTHIA EAKES STAFF WRITER The University has seen sweeping changes in areas from administration to student life in the two years Michael Hooker has been chancellor. “These are turbulent times,” Hooker - Hr v ’ A B 1 h liß jSHwI f DTH/IENNIFER GUTHRIE UNC men s basketball coach Dean Smith announced his immediate retirement at a press conference Thursday. During his coaching career of 36 years at UNC, Smith broke the record for coaching wins and won two NCAA titles. stairs that I don’t think any person has ever done as much for his university in the history of higher education as Dean Smith has done for Carolina.” said. Hooker has reorganized much of the administration during his time at UNC. He has hired anew dean of the School of Medicine, Jeffrey Houpt, and the dean of School of Public Health, William L. Roper. “I don’t know any two people that we could have in these positions that would give me more confidence,” Hooker said. “We will be at the forefront of change.” He brought in anew dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, Risa The best thing for him will be the best thing for us. Shammond Williams Friday, October 10,1997 Volume 105, Issue 88 Early in his opening statement, Smith refuted a report that his retirement was a result of a conflict with the chancellor. The Basketball Times, a weekly publica Students, residents rally for Smith BY KERRY OSSI AND HUGH PRESSLEY STAFF WRITERS For freshman John Ratcliff, Thursday afternoon was a chance to be a part of UNC history. “There’s only a select few that can actually be here at the Dean Dome when Dean steps down,” Ratcliff said. Ratcliff was one of the many excited students who stormed the Smith Center hoping to catch a glimpse of men’s bas ketball head coach Dean Smith after he announced his retirement Isaac Henderson, a graduate student from Chapel Hill, was also part of the crowd that stormed the building. “Somebody opened the doors from the inside, and everyone just went crazy," he said. Security officers made students leave the building, but most stayed outside, offering occasional cheers and even chanting “Dean.” Ratcliff and his roommate, Chris Furr, a freshman from Concord, held up a banner made from their shower cur tain that read, "We love you Dean.” Several students said they were dis appointed the University did not allow them in the Smith Center to hear the '■L Palm; anew provost, Richard Richardson; an executive vice chancellor, Elson Floyd; and anew vice chancellor for student affairs, Sue Kitchen. The search con tinues for a dean for the Kenan- Flagler Business School, for the Chancellor MICHAEL HOOKER tion, reported Wednesday that Smith and Hooker had clashed over the hiring of anew athletics director this summer. Smith said he was in good health, announcement and show their support. “We assumed we’d be able to see or at least hear what’s going on,” said Jennifer Henderson, a freshman from Wilmington. “It’s history. It’s Dean Smith.” Other students gathered in the Great Hall and the Union Cabaret, where the t Jl ■BBBP _m &,’we mom ,r ‘' . ’*s DTH/SEAN BUSKER Students try to catch a glimpse of Coach Dean Smith by looking through the windows during the press conference at the Smith Center on Thursday. School of Information and Library Science and for a vice chancellor for administration. “We’re very concerned with finding someone to fill the position of vice chan cellor for administration for the salary we can offer,” HookeT said. Provost Richard Richardson said ini tial reordering was natural with anew chancellor. “Hooker wanted to restructure reporting in relation to him,” Richardson said. “He reordered the whole organiza save a need for exercise and chose to retire because he could not summon the See SMITH, Page 8 press conference was shown on big screen televisions. As Smith made the actual announcement of his retirement, a low groan spread throughout the crowd in the Cabaret. “Why, God? Why?” asked Jewel See REACTION, Page 8 tional structure.” Richardson said UNC has gone through many changes, but it was nor mal. “The effect of the changes is a little unsettling, but it comes with an enor mous infusion of new energy and ideas,” Richardson said. The chancellor created a task force last fall to study the intellectual climate See HOOKER Page 8 News/Festures/Am/Spons: 962-0245 Business/Advertising: 962-1163 Chspel Hill. North Carolina C 1997 DTH Publishing Carp. All righs reserved Hooker taps Guthridge to follow Smith ■ Bill Guthridge was an assistant to Coach Dean Smith for the past 30 years. BY JOSEPH ROUSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR For more than 30 years, Bill Guthridge waited patiently for his moment. He served his time as coach of fresh man teams. He put in countless hours as an assistant coach and even served a stint coaching in a Puerto Rican summer league. After all those years of toiling 30 of which came under Dean Smith at UNC Guthridge was named UNC’s new head coach a few minutes after 2 p.m. Thursday, succeeding Smith. The occasion was momentous —but it was noth- Jr " V> 'J UNC coach-select BIU. GUTHRIDGE said it never was his goal to be the Tar Heels' head coach. ing like Guthridge had planned. The man who spent so many years at Smith’s side was left to continue the job by himself. "It has never been my goal to be die head coach at the University of North Carolina,” Guthridge said at the press conference where Smith announced his retirement. “I’ve always said it wasn’t a goal of mine to be a head coach. “(My goal) was to go out when Dean did, but I wasn’t ready to go out at this time.” Throughout his career as a Tar Heel assistant, Guthridge stuck to his princi ples. Several times, athletics directors dangled head coaching jobs before him. And each time, Guthridge turned them down. Arkansas sought him twice, and both times, Guthridge stayed put. In fact he had only one moment of indecision in 1978, when Penn State almost lured him away. But at the last moment, Guthridge spumed the Lions and chose to remain Smith’s top assistant. From that point Guthridge made it a policy to refuse head coaching offers. “After we lost to San Francisco (in the ’7B NCAA Tournament), he could n’t say bye to the team,” Smith said. “He called Chancellor (Christopher) Fordham and me and said, ‘l’m going on to Chapel Hill, and I won’t ever interview again.’ ” See GUTHRIDGE, Page 8 Friday A legend steps aside Smith's epic coaching career spanned five decades. For more coverage on his retirement see inside. Pages 6,7 * Domestic discrimination Anew study found equal domestic violence rates among homosexual and straight couples. Page 2 1 TIME’S RUNNING OUTI day left to register to vote Today's weather Partly sunny mid 80s Weekend: Sunny low 80s
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 10, 1997, edition 1
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