University of North Carolina Athletics
Dean Smith named Kansan of the Year
January 27, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2001
y The Associated Press
The letter from Kansas was almost overlooked by Dean Smith, but Kansans did not overlook his stellar basketball coaching career. Smith was honored Friday night by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas as the 2000 Kansan of the Year. The Emporia native was honored with three others as part of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas' centennial year. The awards are presented annually to coincide with the state's observance of its Jan. 29. anniversary of statehood.
The Friday nearest that birthday typically kicks off a long weekend of speeches, receptions and parties. It's also when the state Republican Party holds its biggest annual event. The Native Sons and Daughters also honored former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker, Kansas State University President Jon Wefald and June Windscheffel, Native Sons and Daughters executive director. Nearly 700 people attended the banquet.
Smith, 69, won 879 games in his coaching career, including two national titles in 36 years at the University of North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he played under coach Phog Allen on the 1952 national championship team.
"I'm embarrassed to be honored," Smith said. "It doesn't seem to fit me." Smith said the letter notifying him about the honor came before North Carolina sought Kansas coach Roy Williams to become the new Tar Heel coach. Williams, who turned down the offer from his alma mater, was honored two years ago as the Distinguished Kansan of the Year, presented to an outstanding non-native.
Smith said he was pleased with the naming of Matt Doherty as the new Tar Heel coach. Doherty played for Smith and was an assistant for Williams at Kansas before taking the Notre Dame coaching job in 1999. Back in Kansas for the first time since the coaching change, Smith said any of the candidates * Williams, Larry Brown, George Karl or Eddie Fogler * would have been a good fit.
Wefald, 63, was this year's Distinguished Kansan. He has been president of Kansas State since 1986 and is credited with raising the Manhattan college to national prominence academically and athletically. The Minnesota native said his ties to the Sunflower State include his two children, who are Wildcat alumni.
Kassebaum Baker, 68, was honored for distinguished statesmanship. She served in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997. Windscheffel, 73, was honored for her service toward preserving Kansas heritage. She has been part of the organization for 37 years.
