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A Coach's Life: My 40 Years in College Basketball
For almost forty years, Dean Smith coached the University of North Carolina basketball team with unsurpassed success, having an impact both on the court and in the lives of countless young men. In A Coach’s Life, he looks back on the great games, teams, players, strategies, and rivalries that defined his career and, in a new final chapter, discusses his retirement from the game. The fundamentals of good basketball are the fundamentals of character—passion, discipline, focus, selflessness, and responsibility—and superlative mentor and coach Dean Smith imparts them all with equal authority.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 17, 2020
An excellent read for older Carolina basketball fans as it goes through the years of Dean Smith as head coach and I can reminisce and easily recall all of the beloved players. Some of my favorite stories included the game against Duke when we were down by 9, I think, with 17 seconds and yet won and that was before 3 pointers and the years of '82 and '93 when we won the national championship in the Smith years.
He also addressed his commitment to social justice and spoke to his recruitment of Charlie Scott breaking that racial barrier at UNC. I loved it but it is probably only for those hard core UNC basketball fans.
He also addressed his commitment to social justice and spoke to his recruitment of Charlie Scott breaking that racial barrier at UNC. I loved it but it is probably only for those hard core UNC basketball fans.
December 30, 2021
I grew up a Tarheel fan at the tail-end of the career of Coach Smith. Throughout my life, I’ve seen his foundation and fingerprints all throughout Carolina Basketball. The coaching career of Roy Williams reflects the principles, rituals, and beliefs of Coach Smith in every regard. To hear from Coach Smith himself in these pages was to color in the outline of the Carolina Family. Coach Smith was a legendary leader and upright public figure because he disciplined himself first in his private life. We need more leaders with his intellect and discipline.
July 12, 2022
If you love UNC basketball you need to read this!! I enjoyed the audiobook because it felt like he was telling me a couple of stories.
March 7, 2013
Dean Smith provides a bird's eye view of contemporary college basketball and how it came to be so, all through the prism of his long and distinguished career. This book would mean the most, obviously, to a Tar Heel fan, which I am not, but it was still good reading. Smith seems to be targeting the reader for whom former players' names jump off the page and provide a flood of nostalgia. Not being that connected to the program, I noticed more thoroughly drawn out scenes to make me a part of the era Smith was writing about.
Furthermore, there seemed to be fairly obvious "filler" involved. The author seems to know that season after season similarly described was growing old, and he tried to wax philosophical without much connection to the history he was telling.
Furthermore, there seemed to be fairly obvious "filler" involved. The author seems to know that season after season similarly described was growing old, and he tried to wax philosophical without much connection to the history he was telling.
November 2, 2007
Come on, like I would give anything Dean does fewer than 5 stars.
June 2, 2015
If you are a North Carolina fan, coach, player, or just a fan of basketball in general, pick this up. Great chapters on schemes and ways to win, along with great UNC game recollections.
April 21, 2022
Growing up in NC in the 90’s, I quickly learned how big of a deal college basketball was. I chose the Tarheels as my team to cheer for and always loved watching them and Dean Smith. Learning about how he grew up and became a coach as well as his philosophy on the game as well as being a mentor to so many was very interesting. I loved getting to know more about his life!
June 30, 2017
just moved to NC, so thought better late than never. I love bball, never NC, but I am old school so enjoyed reading about old school Coach Smith. its a little too detailed about games and names. but wish there were more coaches like him.
April 2, 2022
This was a very good book written by one of my heroes. It drags a little in the middle but part of the problem is that I read it as if he were speaking! I'm so proud to be a Tar Heel! Dean was an amazing coach and an even better man!
March 7, 2023
With March Madness approaching, I thought an autobiography on my favorite college coach was the perfect reading material. The photos and list of all the UNC players to play for Dean Smith through the years is a classy touch.
April 4, 2024
This book was kind of all over the place and got repetitive in some places, but overall I enjoyed it. Favorite chapter was "The Carolina Way" about his coaching philosophies and such which is what I had been looking for more of, but this book takes on more of a biographical role.
October 17, 2017
A decent read, but too basic, many other coaching books that are out there are better that offer you stuff you can take away from them and use.
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December 4, 2021Terrific inside look at a trailblazing coach, a little Democrat in Chapel Hill, in the 1960a, helping to integrate the South.
January 1, 2022
This was a good book about Dean Smith. This man was a teacher, mentor be and coach.
June 16, 2022
Great story on one of the best college basketball coaches of all time. The writing felt like it was a little scrambled at times and took the long way around to get to a point.
March 3, 2017
I learned a lot about Dean Smith, the man and the coach. It also spotlighted the great UNC basketball teams.
July 15, 2023
I rarely give anything five stars. As an alumna and a huge basketball fan, I found this book to be magical. I also loved it for reasons beyond just sports. It’s a history lesson that spans 50+ years. Starting out with Dean Smith growing up in a segregated Kansas. It also teaches many life lessons that Dean held as part of his value system for both his teams and life. I felt I learned so much and gained a lot of perspective from reading this book. Dean Smith was a great mind and I’ve come to know that even more now after reading this. Although he is clearly a humble man, he is a legend and I’m glad to have gotten to know this at a deeper level.
June 16, 2008
If you are a basketball fan, this book is a must read. No other college basketball coach has ever had as much success while maintaining such high integrity on and off the court. This is a biography of one of the most successful coaches ever, talking about the people who influenced him, as well as the tributes of those who he influenced.
Any sports fan or coach would gain a lot from reading this book.
Any sports fan or coach would gain a lot from reading this book.
March 17, 2015
One of the best books that I have read about coaching and life. Dean Smith tells his story as well as the stories of those around him over the years. I think he was affected by his players as much or more than he affected them. I highly recommend this story of a coach who taught more than just X's and O's.
November 16, 2007
Carolina fans will devour this book like grits and redeye gravy. Others will find the story of a truly wise, religious, and caring man who changed countless lives through his position of UNC head coach.
February 22, 2008
Granted this is not a tour de force in writing but Deano comes off as a decent man who cares about his players, the larger issues of society, and built a terrific program at Carolina. Anyone who is a Carolina basketball fan should read this book.
August 21, 2017
A must read for all UNC fans. I've always admired Dean Smith's personal stands and while I take a few theological exceptions on some key points in chapter 10, there is no denying that he is a man who has lived a genuinely good life and is the most exemplary of all coaches.
November 7, 2007
Carolina rules!
January 29, 2008
Not as good as Carolina Way.
October 27, 2008
A great book about Coach Smith and the way he treated the game, his family and his players.
July 30, 2011
Pretty much a must-read for Tar Heel die-hards.
May 28, 2012
Really enjoyed it the first time around; a very interesting man. Rereading it now.
May 5, 2015
A great coach and an even better man. Great Book for Carolina fans!!!!
Currently reading
April 8, 2015Great start to a read about a Hall of Fame college basketball coach!
January 28, 2016
Was a really good book. A lot of history and information.. Took me a super long time to read though. I took a break in the middle (like a five month break).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews