University flags at half-staff to honor Dean Smith

Duke regularly lowers its University flags for the deaths of faculty and Trustees—but this week, they will be lowered for the death of an icon from down Tobacco Road.

Duke lowered its flags Monday in honor of Dean Smith, the former men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Smith passed away Saturday night in Chapel Hill at the age of 83. Michael Schoenfeld, vice president of government relations and public affairs, said it was the first instance he could recall of Duke lowering its flags for a member of the UNC community, though he was not certain if it was the first time ever.

"If anyone deserved the honor from UNC, it's Coach Smith," Schoenfeld said.

The flags were lowered to half-staff Monday at sunrise and will remain lowered until Wednesday at sunset.

The decision to lower Duke's flags is made by several members of the administration, including Schoenfeld and University Secretary Richard Riddell. The decision to lower Duke's North Carolina or United States flags, however, are made from members of the state and federal governments, respectively. Governor Pat McCrory ordered Sunday that all state flags should be lowered in honor of Smith's death, which Duke has complied with, leaving both the University and North Carolina flags at half-staff.

"Coach Smith is a legend on and off the court and his life will leave a lasting legacy at Chapel Hill and across the state and nation," McCrory said in a statement requesting that flags be lowered. "May the skies shine Carolina Blue in your honor, Coach."

Smith coached the Tar Heels from 1961 to 1997, leading them to two national titles and 11 Final Fours. He also won an Olympic gold medal as coach of the 1976 U.S. men's basketball team and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.

In his 36 years at the helm of the Tar Heels, Smith recorded 59 wins over Duke—24 of which came against Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski. He is one of few coaches with a winning record against Krzyzewski, who expressed sadness for Smith's death in a statement Sunday.