Former UNC coach, assistant Bill Guthridge dies at 77

CHAPEL HILL, NC (AP) – Bill Guthridge, the longtime assistant to Dean Smith who succeeded him as North Carolina’s head coach, has died. He was 77.

The school announced Wednesday that Guthridge died Tuesday night. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Guthridge spent three decades as an assistant to Smith, helping him bring national championships to Chapel Hill in 1982 and 1993.

When Smith retired as Division I’s winningest men’s coach shortly before the 1997-98 season, Guthridge was promoted to replace him, and he guided the Tar Heels to two Final Fours in three seasons.

Guthridge went 80-28 from 1997-2000, reaching Final Fours in 1998 and 2000 before retiring that June.

Smith died in February at age 83.

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