Longtime North Carolina basketball coach Bill Guthridge died Tuesday night. He was 77.
Carolina Basketball confirmed the news on Twitter:
Sad news. Former UNC Coach Bill Guthridge passed away last night at age 77 w/ family at his side. 33 yrs on UNC bench. In our prayers.
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) May 13, 2015
Guthridge was a player and then an assistant coach at Kansas State before joining the Tar Heels staff in 1967. He formed a successful partnership with Dean Smith that lasted three decades until Smith retired in 1997.
The Kansas native took over the role of head coach following Smith's departure.