Dean was feeling pretty good about himself after the success of setting up Charlie Scott with the Yankees. That got him to thinking that if he was so good at placing an individual for success, that he could also do it in reverse. So, in 1980 when Duke was looking for a new basketball coach (after losing Bill Foster) Dean had a brilliant idea. What if I could set Duke up to lose for the next decade? I could run roughshod over the ACC. Dean picks up the phone and calls Tom Butters and tells him about this promising young coach and says, "Tom, you can't go wrong with him." Tom thanks Dean for the advice, knowing that Dean would never steer him wrong. Well, after some talks, and a visit, Tom offered the young man the head coaching job at Duke, and he accepted. Dean was delighted, knowing the Blue Devils wouldn't be a challenge for a long time.
Well, a year passed, and Tom Butters called Dean, and said, "I'm a little worried, Dean, it wasn't quite the year we expected." Dean said not to worry, losing 13 games wasn't too bad at all, and Tom told him he appreciated the vote of confidence and that he would continue to let the young man find his way. Dean hung up the phone, patted himself on the back, gave that little smirk, and roared with laughter.
Well, another year had passed, and Tom Butters calls Dean again, and says, "Dean, we lost 17 games this year, I'm more than a little worried now." Dean says, "Tom, these things take time, give the young man a chance to prove himself." Tom told Dean again that he appreciated him talking him off the ledge. After Dean hung up the phone, he kicked back, put his feet on his desk, and looked at the plaque he received for being Coach of the Year, then he looked over at the Sports Illustrated magazine showing his NCAA Champions. "Ahh, life is good", said Dean, "and Duke is nowhere to be seen."
Well, another year passed, and Tom Butters calls Dean again, but this time he is much more frantic. "Dean, this is our 2nd consecutive 17 loss season, and the fans are up in arms, I'm afraid I'm going to have to make a change." Now Dean was panicking a little himself after hearing this. "Tom, Tom, you have to look at the big picture, and at least he didn't lose anymore games than last season. I believe Mike is about to figure it out, and Tom you know I wouldn't lead you wrong." Tom again thanked Dean for his calming voice of reason, and against his own wishes, said he would give the young coach another year. Dean put the phone down gently on the hook, and then smiled that big ol' Carolina Way smile.
Well, now 3 seasons later, Tom hasn't called Dean, and Dean is a little worried. Dean calls Tom, and says "Tom, you know I've been thinking about it, and I believe you've gave that young man a little too much time to prove himself." Tom says, "But Dean, he's won 24, 23, and now 37 games, and made it to the Final Four, why would I get rid of him now?" "Because he cusses like a sailor, and I can't pronounce his name", says Dean. Just then an angry Mike Krzyzewski grabs the phone out of Tom Butters hands and says, "Dean Smith, I'm an Army man, and I would never curse like a sailor. And you can call me Coach K." "#@!%", says Dean Smith, and he slams the phone down. K to Tom Butters, "Yep, he's a Carolina man."
OFC
