Dean Smith’s Coaching Philosophy

In Coaching, N.C.A.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

A couple of discussions inspired me to reflect further about Dean Smith and delve deeper into his coaching philosophy and leadership style. Certainly, this post may have been timelier had I published it at the time of Smith’s passing in 2015 but I feel that the thoughts remain relevant because of his lasting impact on the game. When I began coaching, I was drawn to Smith’s methods because of his winning track record and the fact that he was one of the limited numbers of coaches who had published a book that was easily available in the 1990s.

To me, Smith’s philosophy is significant because of his innovation, his caring for athletes and the culture that he created at the University of North Carolina. Also, the coach managed adversity far more expertly than many realize. As coaches, we won’t all experience the same level of success as the Tar Heels (an outcome) but we can learn from Dean Smith and apply those lessons on a daily basis with the athletes we are coaching (a process). Coaches (and players looking to raise their game) could improve their performances by becoming mindful of some of the methods pioneered by Coach Smith over the years.

Innovation

Basketball concepts tend to travel in circles. John Wooden’s use of full-court pressure defense at U.C.L.A. was inspired by playing against the New York Rens as a member of the Indiana Kautskys in the 1930s. Dean Smith did not independently create all of these ideas – when he was not the originator he would consistently give credit to the proper source – but he popularized of theme and their influence can still be seen in the college game today. A high school or college team could incorporate some of Smith’s strategies and experience greater success.

  • Calling Timeouts after Made Baskets: In the recent N.C.A.A. Tournament, teams would call timeouts after scoring in order to set the defense, especially when behind. Players must be able to execute basic offensive sets with minimal coaching so the timeouts can be used to stop the clock and increase defensive efficiency. Ballhandlers must be able to play aggressively so that they can get into the paint and convert a high percentage field goal attempt or get to the line. If an athlete understands when a coach is going to call timeout and what their goal is for that huddle, they can echo the message and serve as a leader on the floor.
  • Emphasizing End of Clock Situations: Carolina would devote more time to end of game situations in practice and executed very well in tight games. Michael Jordan made a basket to win the 1982 N.C.A.A. Tournament as a freshman because Smith kept the timeout instructions simple and didn’t ask him to do anything that he hadn’t done before (swing the ball, shoot an open jumper). Likewise, Villanova remained calm at the end of the championship game this year because they were running a play that they had practiced many times. Players need to remain focused in practice during these situations because time is scarce and coaches are attempting to communicate a great deal of information in a scrimmage so the real game is easier to manage. Scoring (or stopping) consistently when a few seconds remains in the quarter or the shot clock translates into an advantage of several points over the course of a game.

  • Utilizing Multiple Offenses and Defenses: Smith was never the master of one particular set but chose to adapt his strategies to suit Carolina’s personnel. Changing defenses after a score was unusual at the time as was his willingness to introduce a delay offense (“The Four Corners”) before the end of the game.  If players want to compete at the highest levels, they must be able to master various systems.  In the N.B.A. playoffs, it’s not sufficient to rely on one set, even if it has been effective in the regular season.  The Toronto Raptors have found that the Indiana Pacers have blitzed their high screen and roll so the ability to read the defense and understand counters is essential.  Coachable players would ask questions if they are unsure because at the end of the game, coaches will play those who can execute the game plan under pressure.

Caring

A great deal of Smith’s success can be attributed to his interaction with Carolina players. The anecdote of how Smith left every letterman he had coached two hundred dollars for a “dinner out” illustrates how much he cared. Phil Ford commented that he “got a coach for four years and a friend for life.” Coaches are mentors away from the court and can help with school and life, in addition to basketball.  I should add that in this era of athletes who play on numerous squads (high school, club, A.A.U., C.Y.B.L., provincial and national teams) that coaches sometimes have limited contact with everyone who they are coaching; players must understand that they are always welcome to reach out.

  • Modelling the Way: Smith would always practice what he preached. This is the first principle of leadership and no coach can inspire players without exemplifying what they want to see during every practice and game (punctuality, decorum, professionalism, work ethic, respect, continuous learning). Although he was an astute coach, many of the characteristics associated with Smith have nothing to do with basketball skill or coaching acumen. Smith wanted players to think so he would bring a quote of the day to every practice. He valued hustle on the floor so he would be meticulous in his pregame preparation. I also enjoy this story about how the chain-smoking Smith would run suicides with the coaching staff if he had been given a technical foul.
  • Integrating Chapel Hill and Atlantic Coach Conference: Smith not only recruited the first African-American player to the A.C.C., Charlie Scott, but he helped desegregate restaurants in the Chapel Hill community. The coach’s view was that if you could play at the highest levels, you should have a chance to do so. He would eschew praise about these actions, saying that “you should never be proud of doing the right thing, you should just do the right thing.” Even if recognition does not follow, continue to follow your principles. Players must also realize that success is not simply measured on the scoreboard but when nobody is watching too.
  • Appreciating Every Team Member: At North Carolina, All-Americans and walk-ons received memorable lessons from Smith. Smith had time for every team member who passed through the program.  The coach was known for always holding telephone calls when he was speaking with any player.  Roy Williams began as a player on the Carolina J.V. team who volunteered to keep statistics and work at summer camps before he became an assistant coach. After a decade as an assistant coach and fifteen years at Kansas, Williams assumed the Head Coach position and continues Smith’s legacy. There should always be a role for those who are interested: starter, bench player, training partner, manager, statistician. For players, take an attitude of making the most of any opportunity, even if it seems less than what you were expecting. Plenty of athletes succeeded by owning – and later expanding – their role.

Team Culture

The culture surrounding Carolina’s program has been enduring. Although State, Duke or Maryland fans might have loathed Smith when he was coaching, he earned everyone’s respect. Smith’s calm nature belied his intense competitive nature that drove him to constantly improve.

  • Playing Hard: Smith wanted to attack the defense before they were set and was among the pioneers for the transition game in collegiate basketball. He understood that this style of play demanded that players achieve excellent physical condition so practices were challenging. He created a “tired signal” that players could show if they needed a quick rest before being substituted back in, rather than allowing players to conserve energy to they could stay on the court. In the locker room, Carolina did not discuss statistics but rather the Coaches’ Honour Roll of hustle plays. Elite players must be elite athletes and they should never leave anything on the court at the end of a game, practice or workout.
  • Playing Smart: It was physically and mentally demanding to play for Smith but ultimately the work was worth the rewards. He expected that Carolina would win and that players would graduate with their degrees. Smith valued possession of the basketball on offense and playing defense without fouling on defense (two of Dean Oliver’s Four Factors that drive basketball analytics). Players who cannot compete at top intensity without looking after the ball and playing tough defense not be able to excel (or perhaps even play) at the next level.  Explained in specific terms, this means knowing diverse plays and their counters and being able to make quality decisions under pressure. Also, players must be able to move their feet quickly and keep balanced in the defensive stance so they do not rely on hand-checking or gambling.
  • Playing Together: It was not necessary for Tar Heels to cheer when a teammate score but Smith demanded that they stand and applaud when someone subbed out of the game. The effort (the process) was more important than the points (the outcome) and Smith valued everyone’s work ethic. When a pass led to a basket, Smith asked that the scorer point to the passer to acknowledge their contribution (a custom that was adopted by fans at home games). Carolina teams would huddle before foul shots to discuss the next play. These are habits for excellent teams at all levels and players can take initiative to introduce these rituals to their teams.

Adversity

Those who watched Smith at the end of his career may not have understood the adversity that he encountered earlier in his career. Fans hung him in effigy in 1965, he was criticized often for failing to win the “big one in the 1970s and others suggested that he retire in the 1980s when he went nine years between Final Four appearances. The coach wanted players to persevere through adversity to he always maintained his perspective in the face of these obstacles. Players recalled his calm demeanour during timeouts during critical games, such as the 1982 Title Game against Georgetown, and commented how this gave them confidence to execute the game plan and win.

Everyone faces ups and downs but those who succeed are those who accept what has happened and move on. A difference between champions and others is how they handle adversity. Champions, like Coach Smith, tend to recognize the difficulty and identify an internal factor that they can control. Others blame it on external causes, such as a referee or an opponent. Smith continued to build the fundamentals in practice – he would highlight offensive and defensive emphases each day but also believed the confidence was a part of a team’s fundamentals – which were factors he could control as Carolina marched towards its goals.

Learn More about Dean Smith

Here are some resources to learn more about Dean Smith and the “Carolina Way”:

Prezi

An audio-visual summary of Smith’s leadership style.

Other Articles

Smith is a coaching legend and has been very influential in basketball circles. Here are some other articles that I have written for this website that refer to Dean Smith.

Reading List

Smith authored three books about his career and coaching philosophy.