A Coach's Life

November 1, 1999
Largely conforming to the standard sports autobiography, former University of North Carolina basketball coach Smith recalls his career and the way it dovetailed with the evolution of college basketball over the second half of this century into a big business and media zoo. The writing is talky and easygoing, punctuated by sly humor: "I liked the '60s, but I liked them a lot better after we won a few ball games." Of meeting Michael Jordan, who played for him at UNC, Smith casually notes: "I know I'm supposed to say he was surrounded by a golden light, but the truth is, he wasn't." The son of schoolteachers, Smith writes sincerely about teaching his young, talented players the "issues" involved in basketball and in life, especially race. In a chapter called "I may Be Wrong But!" Smith reveals some of the personal and political beliefs he so tightly guarded during his career. He articulates his faith in God and his political disagreements with the Christian Coalition (relevant because Smith was long the most popular man in a state that elects Jesse Helms to the Senate) and his discomfort with athletes who appear to believe that God cares who wins a basketball game. Although Smith indulges in some stock homilies and bromides about "life fundamentals," he come off as man with compassion, modesty and honesty, as well as competitive drive.

July 1, 1999
The legendary University of North Carolina coach on doing well--on the court and in life.

Copyright 1999 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 1999
In 36 years at the University of North Carolina, Smith won 879 games, the most by any head coach in college-basketball history. He discusses many of those victories in this revealing memoir, but what emerges most forcefully is his vision of himself as a teacher first and a coach second. His goal is to mold successful individuals, not just winning teams, and the appended list of UNC letter winners under Smith and their post-basketball careers--CEOs, laywers, doctors, teachers--is testament to how he has fulfilled that goal. Smith's reflections are interspersed within a year-by-year summary of his Carolina career, with numerous asides on such notable players as Bobby Jones, Bob McAdoo, and Michael Jordan. Smith also discusses recruiting, motivational techniques, and the integration of college basketball. Many successful coaches write books, but it's rare when one of them provides insights into the reasons for his success. Smith won more games than his peers, and now he's written a better book, too. ((Reviewed October 15, 1999))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1999, American Library Association.)