"Color seems more like a disguise, for as we become better acquainted, we affirm each other as fellow human beings with a common goal. One thing I have greatly enjoyed as a coach is attending the weddings of many of our players because all such events bring blacks and whites together in such a beautiful way." - Dean Smith in A Coach's Life
Dean Smith meant so much to the game of basketball, but more to what America became. Although he may be known best as Michael Jordan's coach, he was first Charles Scott's coach. Smith had tried to recruit Lou Hudson, who barely missed Carolina's academic standards. Smith noted, "I became certain the SATs were culturally and economically biased-a suspicion that was confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court."
At a previous crossroads in his career, Smith wrote the words of Catherine Marshall, "Crisis brings us face to face with our inadequacy, and our inadequacy in turn leads us to the inexhaustible sufficiency of God."
Smith sprinkles a lot of wisdom, the value of great assistants (e.g. Larry Brown), making other teams adjust to you (pressure takes them out of set plays), sticking with principles, and picturing success instead of struggles.
He was more concerned with what was right than with appearances. In addition to pioneering ACC basketball integration, he integrated local restaurants, bringing in Carolina players.