Dean Smith, legendary coach who built up the basketball team of the University of North Carolina, passed away last Saturday at age 83.

Smith coached for 36 years at Chapel Hill. Throughout these years, he established North Carolina as a powerhouse in the collegiate basketball leagues, as well as establishing himself as one of the best and respected figures on court, according to The New York Times (NYT).

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In 2010, his family stated that he had been afflicted with a neurological disorder that affected his memory. Then, five years later he passed away in Chapel Hill.

His death was announced by the University, NYT stated.

Smith's record of 879 victories ranks him as the number four winning-est coach among major college men's basketball coaches. In addition, his team won two national championships.

However, it was not his record that truly made him great. They were just numbers and statistics. Instead, it was his humanity and the values that he embodied that made him a great coach and a great man, the report said.

At a time when racial discrimination and segregation was rampant, Smith stood against it. He insisted that his players prepare themselves for a future well beyond the game of basketball.

Upon hearing about Smith's death, Michael Jordan took to social media and said that he was more than a coach, but a mentor, a teacher, and a second father. He adds that apart from teaching Jordan about basketball, Smith taught them about the game of life.

Smith's teachings on basketball emphasized a selfless team play and encouraging a shooter who made a successful shot to point to the teammate who made the assist. This practice can still be seen in the National Basketball Association (NBA) today, the report added.

For his part in changing the world for the better, U.S. President Barack Obama awarded Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November of 2013. The award is the nation's highest civilian award.

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