North Carolina is hoping to win its seventh national title tonight against Kansas. Ahead of the big game, a famous letter from the late, great Dean Smith is going viral.
On Monday, Darren Rovell of The Action Network shared something that most sports fans probably don’t know about. It’s the letter that Smith’s trust sent out upon his passing in 2015, which included a check for $200 to each of his lettered athletes.
“Coach directed that following his passing each letterman be sent a two hundred dollar check with the message ‘enjoy a dinner out, compliments of Coach Dean Smith,’” the letter says. “Enclosed is a check in the amount of $200 with the notation ‘Dinner out.’”
Among the recipients was Hubert Davis, who played for Smith from 1988 to 1992. Davis now serves as the UNC head coach.
Remarkable: When legendary UNC head coach Dean Smith died, his trust sent a check to every player who ever lettered under him (about 180 players), including current head coach Hubert Davis, for $200 to have a dinner on him.
This was the letter they received. pic.twitter.com/KWNtR3CbS2
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 4, 2022
In his 36 years as head coach at North Carolina, Dean Smith led the Tar Heels to 11 Final Four appearances, 13 ACC Tournament titles, 17 ACC regular season crowns and two national championships. When he retired, he was the NCAA’s all-time leader in wins with 879.
Smith was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
He is beloved by everyone at North Carolina, and it’s clear that he loved them back.
It will certainly be extra special for Hubert Davis to lead Smith’s former team to a national title win tonight.
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