He is one of five people to have appeared in the Final Four as both a player and coach. Seeded eighth in the South region, North Carolina upset top-seeded Stanford in the second round and continued to the Final Four, where they lost to Florida. On June 30th in 1969, Bill Russell announced his retirement from professional basketball after a 13-year NBA career. Baddour says he never got that far down the line because of Guthridges interest. And by the end of every summer, Smith returned freshly rejuvenated. "From cultivating a global mindset across campus to partnering with researchers across the world, we make connections that strengthen our state and establish Carolina as a leading global public research university.". Theres no way you could dream, Hanners says, anyone would necessarily do better.. . Then he retired, too. He never called me at home, unless it was something dire, Hanners says, but he said, How would you feel about meeting me in the office early on Monday at 7 to go over some things before everyone gets there? Hanners obliged, trying to ease Guthridges feeling that he was somewhat out of touch. Thats impossible to know, but Williams was also returning a top-five team, one that was expected to compete for a championship in its own right. Only different alternate realities. Go play golf. Maybe Phil Ford wouldve been the head coach then, Ndiaye says. He has saved many scholarships when he has suggested backing off certain players, and of course, has selected some great ones who matriculated at Chapel Hill., UNC coach Bill Guthridge gives instructions during a game in the 99-00 season. Ill really miss this next years team and what those guys have done for me, said Guthridge, whose team last season reached the Final Four before being eliminated in the semifinals. Frederick said he wanted to emphasize to Williams how strongly the university, the community, the people in the state of Kansas and all of our alumni and fans feel about him continuing as the Jayhawk coach forever.. Neither Davis nor athletic director Ron Wellman would comment on his departure. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. SCNext Top 25: Ranking the best high school boys' basketball teams in the 2022-23 season, Brown: There will never be another Bill Guthridge. (LogOut/ 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]. He is probably best remembered for his loyalty to Smith, who died in February at age 83. 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. But I already had a better job than that and I was happy here. Before their first-round exit in 2021, this was the only time that the Tar Heels failed to win a game in the tournament since it expanded to 64 teams (and dropped first-round byes) in 1985. Born William Wallace Guthridge, he attended Kansas State University where he played guard on the basketball team and helped the Wildcats. But Guthridge, who died Tuesday at 77 of heart failure, was not just one of the best college basketball coaches of all time, he was an unfailingly decent man who displayed a rare degree of. I want to spend the weekend thinking about it. The death of Guthridges mother, Betty, 96, two days before the Tar Heels played Tennessee at Knoxville in the NCAA South Regional semifinals also contributed to a difficult season. You accomplished something that takes some other people 20-plus years to do. He still had four seasons remaining on his contract, enough to carry him to the summer of 2001. But it really wasnt and we both knew it. He had recently been in an assisted living facility in Chapel Hill. I dont think I have ever heard of anyone that didnt like and respect Bill Guthridge. Because I know Coach Smiths plan long-term, at least at that time, was to prepare the team for Phil to take over.. In Williams second season in Chapel Hill, he won his first national championship the one the 97 team witnessed. Guthridge, who like Smith was a Kansas native, spent 30 years as an assistant coach and had ample opportunities to leave Chapel Hill and become the coach of his own program. After graduating from Kansas State, he coached at Scott City High School in Kansas for two seasons before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach for Tex Winter from 19621967. The 1971-72 Tar Heels had finished 26-5 but were upset by Florida State (not an ACC member at the time) in the NCAA Final Four semifinals. It was the 14th time Guthridge participated in the Final Four. After 36 years as the coach at North Carolina, it kept trickling down, grain by grain. Prior to that, Guthridge served as Smith's assistant coach for 30 years. Its hard, man. Just a really good man who made Carolina, the ACC and college basketball better.. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.. And althoug he believes that scenario puts more emphasis on winning than it does on building relationships and teaching the things Guthridge and Smith both loved its not out of the question. But in hindsight, Hanners says there were clues that everything might not have been like normal. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. As an assistant, Guthridge was renowned for his success in coaching the fundamentals of pivot play to a long series of successful UNC big men, and as the Tar Heels' primary shooting coach. Calhoun, elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, is . 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"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. Without question, every opportunity that I would have to hire Roy Williams. Had it worked out where there wasnt a down year or whatever, maybe things end up differently, Frederick says. He once told a newspaper he never left the program because the other 300 Division I head coaching jobs werent better than his job as an assistant. #RIP, "It has been a trying time for the University of North Carolina basketball program over the past four months, and our thoughts and prayers are with them again today," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Former UNC Coach Bill Guthridge passed away last night at age 77 w/ family at his side. But when Guthridge retired, Williamsthen playing with the Seattle Sonicsmade the effort to find a commercial flight to Chapel . 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. In public, he was never going to be the center of attention. When Lefty Driesell declined to shake Smiths hand in the mid-1980s, it was Guthridge who was incensedand had to be prevented from chasing down Driesellnot Smith. Making the Final Four is a tremendous accomplishment but its not what you chase. But when Baddour and Guthridge did finally meet, Guthridge expressed a desire to try his hand. But he was also one of the most passionate members of the Carolina basketball family in the last 50 years, and was completely devoted to the Tar Heels, to Smith, and to the University of North Carolina. For 30 of his 33 years at Carolina, Guthridge was the behind-the-scenes guy scouting opponents, making sure players got to class on time, disciplining players, getting the players on the bus or airplane and into the hotel, working with office staff on the smallest of details, and recruiting the latter, unlike many coaches, he said he enjoyed immensely. 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. Certainly, what a marvelous run of three years.. One of the best testaments to Guthridges impact came on that retirement day, June 30. Together, they taught us basketball is secondary. The school scheduled a news conference for 2:30 p.m. today. Carolina Basketball confirmed the news on Twitter: Sad news. The ones he did have Coach Guthridge tried to fill. At that point, Baddour turned to Matt Doherty, who had been the coach at Notre Dame for just one season. 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 was a father figure.". "He was my coach, he was another mentor. Conference regular season champion Smith wrote in his memoir, A Coachs Life, that before he retired in 1997, he told recruits: If Im not coaching, I am confident that your coach will be either Bill Guthridge, Eddie Fogler, Roy Williams, Larry Brown, George Karl or Phil Ford, not necessarily in that order. Guthridge was involved in a total of fourteen Final Fours as either a player or coach, more than any other person in historyone each as a player and assistant at Kansas State, ten as a North Carolina assistant, and two as North Carolina head coach. Note: Former University of North Carolina mens basketball coach Bill Guthridge passed away May 12. Guthridge was completely content in the role of a lifetime assistant and the Smith/Guthridge combo would have been weakened had Guthridge retired early. Longtime North Carolina basketball coach Bill Guthridge died Tuesday night. Theres no right answer, no certainty. He once told a newspaper he never left the program because the other 300 Division I head-coaching jobs weren't better than his job as an assistant. But looking back, Hanners now believes Guthridge already had an inclination something was afoot. I would have been as vigorous and go after that as hard as I could possibly go.. I didnt really have to focus too much on a Plan B, Baddour says. He always knew what he was doing.. Former UNC Director of Athletics Dick Baddour: Bill was one of the most respected and admired people I have known. He was a friend. If Bill Guthridge doesnt look familiar to you as a UNC-Chapel Hill head basketball coach, theres a very good reason for that. He had recently been in an assisted living facility in Chapel Hill. And come Monday, he got the fateful notice. Of course, Smith did retire. Guthridge's did, too, and during Smith's funeral and memorial services, Williams, knowing the end could be near, told former players and current ones to spend time with Guthridge. All rights reserved. (An aside: if Doherty stays, does Mike Brey, succeeded him and still remains in South Bend, get that job, or is he elsewhere too?). The manager put down his stuff and rifled through his pockets. You will be missed. You come up one year, and that year you win the national championship. When Smith retired as Division I's winningest men's coach shortly before the 1997-98 season, Guthridge was promoted to replace him, and he guided the Tar Heels to two Final Fours in three seasons. Matt Doherty, who played at UNC while Guthridge was an assistant and then became the school's head coach after Guthridge retired, sent along his condolences: Thank you Coach Gut for the many lessons you taught us at UNC. Meanwhile, Creighton coach Dana Altman withdrew his name from consideration. After Coach Guthridge's retirement in 2003, he and Coach Smith stayed in close contact, visiting each other frequently. Smith and Guthridge had long maintained theyd retire together, the natural conclusion to a three-decade partnership in Chapel Hill. 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. After that loss, Carter and Jamison turned pro. But 1:57 was 1:57. "He, like Coach Smith, was more of a mentor and father figure than anything else. After Coach Guthridges retirement in 2003, he and Coach Smith stayed in close contact, visiting each other frequently. 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. Guthridge was a player and then an assistant coach at Kansas State before joining the Tar Heels staff in 1967. The Kansas native took over the role of head coach following Smith's departure. If you previously used a social network to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the Forgot your password link to reset your password. Hed been given a five-year contract when he took over for Smith, because the administration feared recruits would stop coming if they thought Guthridge could retire at any moment. Hed told reporters he expected to honor the remaining four years on his deal. The Tar Heels then went 24-10 in 1998-99 but were upset by Weber State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He led his first team to the 1998 Final Four and had two players, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, selected in the top five . Everybody would have loved Coach Ford to get the opportunity, Frederick says. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Coach Smith had so many strengths and very few weaknesses, and the weaknesses that he did have Coach Guthridge tried to fill. Postseason invitational champion But the season, and that loss specifically, never faded from their collective consciousness. 1 team in America. He got his taste. He joined Ohio States Fred Taylor as just the second man in history to lead teams to two Final Fours in his first three seasons as a head coach. The University of North Carolina has lost a dear friend, as haveI, andIknow that we will all miss him greatly., Im extremely saddened by the passing of Coach Guthridge, aka Coach Gut, especially coming so close to the loss of Coach Smith. He was 77 years old. A Tar Heel passing him in the hallway might greet him with a quick head nod and a greeting of, Coach. Guthridge would invariably respond with a similar head nod and, Player.. As he would prepare for a basketball practice or game, he was equally intense about attention to detail in scheduling or whatever.. 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. Smith and Guthridge had long maintained they'd. Says losing Guthridge "is another tremendous loss. Smith is now 82 and with some health issues. Buffalo Brothers - 1/2 Price Appetizers 4:30pm-6:00pm Monday - Friday, Holliday: State and Carolina headed in different directions for the final two weeks, Brownlow: Angst will be at an all-time high as NC State hosts hated rival UNC, Holliday: Miami puts the Heels back on the bubble, Brownlow: NC State, Duke and UNC all seek to avoid two losses in a row as crunch time hits, Holliday: Pivotal road trips for NC State and Duke, Brownlow: Saturday's matchup marks the beginning of a new Carolina-Duke era, Holliday: Could this be Keatts' best ACC season? Following Smith's retirement in 1997, Guthridge was head coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons. 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. And so those players, all of them, kick around the questions to this day. Hed have been a lifer, Hanners says. The little doo-doos, Smith called them, the administrative tasks just within the purview of his job responsibilities. Guthridge was the consensus National Coach of the Year in 1998. Did Bill Guthridge win national championship? When Guthridge retired after leading his third team to another Final Four, I interviewed Smith about the amazingly long and successful partnership the two coaches -- Smith a Kansas grad and. Guthridge also gave to the University away from basketball. The inconsistent season came on the heels of a first-round NCAA Tournament loss in 1999. Coach Smith began showing signs of cognitive impairment before Coach Guthridge did. The people who knew him best werent surprised he went to two Final Fours in three seasons.. Penn State was a good situation, he said in an interview in 2010. Were the best North Carolina team that never won a championship. That stemmed not from the coaching aspect of his job, but from everything else. I remember telling the chancellor that, Baddour says. #RIP. Division regular season and conference tournament champion Heading into what would have been the fourth year of a five-year contract, Guthridge compiled an 80-28 record, but had not received an extension. Williams and Ndiaye both graduated. Its one game, Jamison says. 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. He wasnt an electric radio show guest. Bill Guthridge, who led North Carolina to two Final Four appearances in his three seasons as coach of the Tar Heels, will announce his retirement at a news conference Friday, The Associated Press has learned. Jordan is among many Tar Heels who had tremendous respect for Guthridge. Fords reputation was growing fast as a star recruiter, having single-handedly delivered Rasheed Wallace to UNC and playing a major role in Carters eventual commitment. What happened, happened. He was known to answer a question such as Coach, do you know what time it is? with a Yes as he walked away. 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. "I'd always set my time to GST, 10 minutes ahead.". Lets play out the most interesting of the hypotheticals: if Dean Smith does return for the 1997-1998 season, with an absolutely jam-packed roster. The closest he came to leaving Chapel Hill was 1978, when he verbally accepted the head coaching job at Penn State. But it is my opinion that he expected, when he first told me that, that he would continue to be the coach.. (LogOut/ If my answer was no, then Roy wouldve had absolutely zero interest. The first is, if Guthridge hadnt wanted the job, would Williams have taken it? When did Bill Guthridge coach at UNC? In 1993, he and his wife, Leesie, created the William W. and Elise P. Guthridge Library Fund, which helped with purchasing materials and renovation of the House Undergraduate Library. My guess is he would not have been, and then the first call, yes, wouldve been Roy, Baddour says. Then Guthridges voice wavered as he began to apologize I feel like its my fault. Copyright 2013 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. By the way, Dean Smith basically forced UNC to hire Guthridge, his long-time assistant, when El Deano suddenly retired in October 1997, just before the beginning of the hoops season. His legacy and contributions to my life and to our University will live on and hell be much more remembered for his sense of humor and class just as much as his coaching., It has been a trying time for the University of North Carolina basketball program over the past four months and our thoughts and prayers are with them again today after the passing of Bill Guthridge. Which put Baddour on the search for a long-term replacement for the first time. Ndiaye even tried cracking the ice by joking that Guthridges years as head coach probably hadnt hurt his wallet. When he reached the decision to step down during that summer of 1997, no one could have changed his mind, even if given the opportunity to do so. Heck, he might still be the coach at North Carolina. Guthridge spent 31 seasons as an assistant to Smith, the winningest coach in college basketball history. Tim Crothers. Following his stint at Kansas State, Guthridge moved to North Carolina to join the staff of fellow Kansas native Dean Smith. I needed Bill to tell me, Dick, yes, I want to do this, Baddour says, and he was clear that he wanted to.. (Jed Jacobsohn / ALLSPORT via Getty), Theres a world where Ford got his chance to be UNCs head coach, and maybe still would be in that position. He was 77 years old, Former UNC basketball coach Bill Guthridge passes away at age 77, UNC School of Social Work becomes new home for CEAL@UNC, expand work to advance assisted living. (LogOut/ No, I couldnt even consider that, Smith said. Coach Smith had so many strengths and very few weaknesses. He was and has been overshadowed and a bit lost in the shuffle of UNC basketball coaches by his lifelong friend, former UNC head coach Dean Smith (1961 to 1997), and current UNC head coach Roy Williams, who was an assistant coach along with Guthridge at UNC from 1978 to 1988. 2023 Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. 08/08: Dean Smith to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom, 06/29/2011: Smith, Coach K, Yow honored by Naismith, 10/21/2008: UNC's Smith to receive Lapchick Character Award, 02/18/2008: ACC To Honor Dean Smith, Lorenzo Charles, other Greats, Bio Jobs Hub: Find a great-paying job that changes lives, even yours. Sad news. It was more a series of passing conversations, regular updates about the coachs state of mind. Guthridge said he took a vacation in Europe in May, hoping to recharge, but wasnt able to. How might everything be different? But theres also the fact that Dean did it his way, which was entirely predictable. Even 22 years after turning down the Nittany Lions, Guthridge still couldnt quite bear to leave. After waiting an uncharacteristically long time to respond, he smiled and thanked me. He led his first team to the 1998 Final Four and had two players, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, selected in the top five . Bill Guthridge was a gentleman coach, but a fierce competitor, and an incredibly loyal member of Dean Smiths staff for three decades, said UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. In five years on Winter's staff, Guthridge helped lead the Wildcats to a 9343 (.684) record, a pair of Big Eight Conference crowns, and the NCAA Final Four in 1964. Guthridge went 80-28 from 1997 to 2000 before retiring in June 2000. Our hope and fervent desire is that the best basketball coach in America will continue to practice his craft at KU, he said Thursday night. He was a kind soul with a strong, competitive spirit. 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