The American Spectator

p> DEAN DONGED br> Re: Jerry Carter’s Down in Carolina : br> As a conservative native of Chapel Hill, I have no problem with chastising UNC and Dean Smith for their liberalism, while agree that Dean was the best college basketball ever. /p>

Having said that, the following quote from the article is quite definitely incorrect:

“Dean picked both of his successors — the short-lived but highly successful Bill Guthridge, and the weepy and woeful current coach, former UNC player Matt Doherty.”

p>In fact, Dean Smith has put out a revision to his auto-bio stating who he wanted to succeed Guthridge and Doherty is not in the list. In retrospect, Dean can be further applauded for this foresight. br> — James Smyth /p>

Jerry Carter replies: Mr. Smyth is correct. Dean Smith did not pick the current North Carolina coach. But it wasn’t for lack of trying. Dean was very involved in the process of selecting the successor to Bill Guthridge. It was only after a number of Dean’s reported picks either turned the job down or pulled themselves from consideration — from Roy Williams and George Karl to Larry Brown and Eddie Fogler — that the athletic department offered it to Matt Doherty, an alumnus who played on Dean Smith’s 1982 championship team. My apologies for the error, but I think the larger point about Dean Smith’s continuing involvement in the Tar Heel program is generally on the mark.

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