Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has released a statement on the passing of legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith.
Duke and North Carolina are bittle rivals on the hardwood in the college basketball world. Today, as the sports world mourns the passing of North Carolina’s legendary coach Dean Smith, they’ve put that rivalry aside.
Current Duke men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski has released a statement on Smith’s passing.
“I am incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Dean Smith,” coach Krzyzewski said in a statement. “We have lost a man who cannot be replaced.
“He was one of a kind and the sport of basketball lost one of its true pillars. Dean possessed one of the greatest basketball minds, and was a magnificent teacher and tactician. While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues.
“However, his greatest gift was his unique ability to teach what it takes to become a good man. That was easy for him to do because he was a great man himself. All of his players benefited greatly from his unique basketball teachings, but even more from his ability to help mold men of integrity, honor and purpose. Those teachings, specifically, will live forever in those he touched.
“We offer our deepest sympathies – and gratitude for sharing his incredible life with us for so long – to Linnea, his children and the entire North Carolina family.”
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