1931 – 2015

Dean Smith

American basketball coach (1931–2015)

basketball coachbasketball playerengineer

Born

1931-02-28, Emporia

Died

2015-02-07

Birthplace state

Kansas

Biography

Dean Smith was born in Emporia, Kansas in 1931 and died in 2015. He worked as a basketball coach, basketball player, and engineer. Smith coached men's college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1961 to 1997, compiling 879 victories, which was the NCAA Division I record at the time of his retirement. During his 36 years as head coach, North Carolina won two national championships and reached 11 Final Fours. Smith played college basketball at the University of Kansas, where he won a national championship in 1952.

Occupation

Dean Smith is recorded as a basketball coach, a basketball player and a engineer, born in Kansas (1931–2015).

Connections to Kansas

Dean Smith was born in Emporia, Kansas in 1931. Explore other notable figures from Kansas, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Kansas›Kansashistory ›Historic sites in Kansas›

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Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Kansas

Other historical figures born in Kansas, ranked by historical prominence.

Amelia Earhart

American aviation pioneer and author (1897–1939)

Buster Keaton

American actor, comedian, and director (1895–1966)

Dennis Hopper

American actor and film director (1936–2010)

Kirstie Alley

American actress (1951–2022)

Hattie McDaniel

American actress (1893-1952)

Bob Dole

American politician (1923–2021)

Charles Curtis

vice president of the United States from 1929 to 1933

Frequently asked about Dean Smith

Who was Dean Smith?

Dean Smith was American basketball coach (1931–2015), born in Kansas (1931 – 2015).

When and where was Dean Smith born?

Dean Smith was born on 1931-02-28 in Emporia.

When did Dean Smith die?

Dean died on 2015-02-07.

What was Dean Smith known for?

Dean Smith is recorded as a basketball coach, a basketball player and a engineer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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