The date has been revealed!!! Emotional!!! Netflix has announced the release date of a special documentary commemorating iconic North Carolina Tar Heels basketball coach Dean Smith. The film will highlight Smith’s incredible life and accomplishments

“Dean Smith: More Than a Coach” — Netflix Sets Emotional Release Date for Tar Heels Legend Documentary

In a moment that has sent waves of emotion through the basketball world and beyond, Netflix has officially announced the release date for its highly anticipated documentary honoring legendary North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Dean Smith. Titled “Dean Smith: More Than a Coach”, the film will premiere globally on October 18, a date that aligns with the start of the college basketball season and the spirit of new beginnings.

The documentary, a tribute to one of the most respected figures in sports history, will explore Smith’s extraordinary career, his lifelong commitment to integrity, equality, and leadership, and the enduring impact he had on generations of players, coaches, and fans.

Netflix unveiled the release date with a stirring teaser video featuring iconic footage of Smith pacing the sidelines at the Dean E. Smith Center, embracing players like Michael Jordan and James Worthy, and speaking candidly about the values that drove him both on and off the court. Within minutes, “Dean Smith” was trending on social media platforms, as fans, athletes, and media personalities shared tributes and memories.

Dean Smith coached at UNC from 1961 to 1997, leading the Tar Heels to 879 victories, 11 Final Fours, and two national championships (1982 and 1993). But his legacy goes far beyond the wins. Smith was a champion of civil rights, a mentor to hundreds of players, and a symbol of principled leadership in college athletics.

The documentary will include never-before-seen footage, personal interviews with family members, former players, and coaching peers, and reflections from cultural icons who were influenced by Smith’s legacy. Among the confirmed interviewees are Michael Jordan, Roy Williams, James Worthy, Vince Carter, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, President Barack Obama, and sports journalist Jackie MacMullan.

Netflix’s executive producer Sarah Hirsch confirmed that the project has been in the works for nearly three years. “Dean Smith’s life is a story of purpose, courage, and excellence,” she said. “We knew it had to be told with the care, respect, and depth it deserves.”

One of the central themes of the documentary will be Smith’s commitment to racial integration in the 1960s South. Smith recruited Charlie Scott, the first Black scholarship athlete at UNC, at a time when many schools in the region had not yet broken that barrier. Scott, now 75, appears in the film and recalls Smith as “the rare kind of man who didn’t just talk about change—he lived it.”

Fans can expect the film to chronicle not just the championships and accolades, but the personal philosophy that shaped Smith’s “Carolina Way”—a culture of humility, discipline, and selflessness that still defines the Tar Heel program to this day.

Michael Jordan, who credits Smith for shaping his life far beyond the game, is said to deliver some of the documentary’s most heartfelt reflections. “He taught me how to be a better player. More importantly, he taught me how to be a better man,” Jordan states in one clip.

Current UNC head coach Hubert Davis praised the timing of the documentary’s release. “As we start a new season, it’s the perfect reminder of what this program stands for. Coach Smith is the foundation. Everything we are flows from him.”

The release of “Dean Smith: More Than a Coach” will coincide with several commemorative events planned by UNC, including a campus-wide screening at the Dean Dome, a lecture series on leadership and equality, and the unveiling of a new Dean Smith scholarship fund for underprivileged students.

Critics who have seen early cuts of the documentary are already calling it a masterpiece. ESPN’s Wright Thompson described it as “beautiful and unflinching—a portrait of a man who changed lives, changed a school, and helped change America.”

Netflix is also planning to release a companion podcast series and digital archive of Smith’s speeches, handwritten notes, and strategic diagrams, offering fans unprecedented access to the mind of one of basketball’s greatest thinkers.

Smith’s family, who worked closely with producers throughout the process, released a statement saying, “We are grateful that Netflix has honored our father’s life with such care. He would never want the spotlight, but we hope this inspires people to lead lives of meaning and principle.”

The film’s release is expected to be a galvanizing moment not just for Tar Heel fans but for sports fans everywhere who believe in the deeper power of athletics to influence society for good.

In an age where coaching can often be defined by ego and excess, “Dean Smith: More Than a Coach” is a reminder of a man who led with humility, empowered his players, and stood firm for justice—even when it wasn’t easy.

As October 18 approaches, fans around the world are preparing to revisit the legend, the lessons, and the love that Dean Smith gave to the game, to his players, and to a country he quietly helped move forward.

From the quiet town of Chapel Hill to the global stage, Dean Smith’s story is about to be shared in full—timely, timeless, and unforgettable.