To this day, there’s debate if Roy Williams or Dean Smith is the best head coach in UNC men’s basketball history. Today, North Carolina is also searching for its next head coach.
Five days after their 19-point collapse against VCU in the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis, bringing his 5-season tenure to an abrupt end. Outside of appearances in the 2022 National Championship Game and 2024 Sweet 16, UNC largely underwhelmed under Williams’ longtime assistant.
There’s no telling who North Carolina’s next head coach will be, but Vanderbilt boss Mark Byington reminds college basketball commentator and former New Mexico boss Fran Fraschilla of a program legend: Smith.
“I came up in coaching a huge Dean Smith fan,” Fraschilla said. “To me, he’s the best coach in college basketball history for coaches to study. The coach who the closest to coaching like him is Mark Byington. I don’t know him well & have no dog in the fight but, given the resources, I think he would win big. Saw him win a game once down 5 with 5 seconds to go, Dean Smith style.”
Smith built a legendary career from 1961-97, winning two National Championships, 13 ACC Tournaments and 879 games.
Byington took Vanderbilt, a perennial loser consistently finishing near the SEC cellar, to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 2015-16 and 16-17. The Commodores made the SEC Championship game, losing to Arkansas, then later winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 2017.
The Tar Heels will go outside the “Carolina Family” for their next leader, but if Byington is earning Smith-level praise, he may be the guy. Byington’s track record is great news for UNC’s future – and big moves need to be made soon.
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