Where It All Began
A Seed is Planted
Ron was born and raised in Charlotte. In February of 1966, Ron's dad took him to the North-South Doubleheader at the Charlotte Coliseum. It was there that Ron first met Coach Dean Smith. That meeting lead to a love and life-time devotion to Carolina Basketball.
Ron graduated from UNC in 1979 and has been a Carolina fan for 60 years. Ron’s passion, impeccable memory and appetite for all things Tar Heels led to an idea over 20 years ago to put together a book on the history of Carolina Basketball.
At that time, he realized that he had accumulated a significant amount of information, images, memories and friends that would be a great asset in creating such a book.
Since 2005, Ron has searched through university and public libraries across the country. Any city where UNC ever played a game was a target for his research. Through his extensive research and studying every boxscore back to the very beginning, Ron has uncovered every player who ever played in a game for the Tar Heels. Carolina Sports Communications now includes his research in its record book. He has uncovered unique photos and tracked down many of the photographers who took them. Many of these photographers had hundreds of never before published images. While there is an abundance of interesting material and stories about each season, the unique images are a highlight of the book.
Ron has found so many unique items we were unable to pack everything into one book. Hence, the reason for five volumes with over 300 pages in each. The first two of the seven volumes are available now.
Ron’s vision is to publish the best and most complete sports book ever published as a tribute to the many individuals who have made Carolina basketball one of the most successful programs in all of sports. It is truly a one of a kind creation.
UNC Basketball History Series
Vol Two Released November 2023
Author Ron Smith's research of over 30 years has uncovered interesting details and unique images. Many have never been published. This comprehensive series includes rare insights, interesting stories, rosters, schedules, results and stats for each season beginning with 1911. The story of the undefeated 1957 championship season is told with such exciting details you will feel like you were at the game.
Thousands of UNC fans know why they love Tar Heel Basketball. And now they can learn how the program became one of the most successful and respected in college basketball.
You will learn about the beginnings of the UNC Basketball program with interesting stories about key people and events that formed the foundation of this great program. Volume One covers every season from 1911 - 1961. Volume Two covers the first decade of the Dean Smith years, 1961-1969, Vol Three will cover the second decade of the Dean Smith years, 1970-79, Volume Four covers 1980-89 and Volume V covers 1990-99, Coach Smith's final years along with the contributions of his long time coach, Bill Guthridge. From there the series will cover the Roy Williams years, 2000-2019 and then 2020- ? covering the Hubert Davis years. This collectible will be a reference book that all Tar Heel fans will look to regularly to relive all seasons of Tar Heel Basketball.
Each page is 80lb durable paper. This is a coffee table quality, 9.75" x 12" hard cover book.
Volume One is available now and has 474 pages and over 1000 images.
Volume Two is available now and began shipping in November 2023. It has 320 pages and, like Volume One, over 500 images.
This is likely the most comprehensive history book series ever created for a sports program at any level. All Tar Heel fans will be proud to have a copy.
The Tar Heels
A History of UNC Basketball • Volume One
The Perfect Gift For Any Tar Heel Fan
The Tar Heels - Volume I - was released in July 2021 and is the first of a multi-volume work by Ron Smith. Ron's research of over 30 years has uncovered details about the formation of UNC Basketball and every season beginning in 1911-1961.
Unique and fascinating stories are covered with 474 pages and more than 500 images.
The Tar Heels
A History of UNC Basketball - Volume Two
The Tar Heels Volume Two is the second issue of Ron Smith's series on the comprehensive history of UNC Basketball. After great success with Volume One, Ron continues the story with unique insight on Dean Smith's arrival as head coach. And, how he was able to recruit Bob Lewis, Larry Miller, and Charlie Scott, who, along with Larry Brown and Billy Cunningham played key roles in the program's success.
Volume Two covers the 1961-1969 seasons and has 320 pages with over 500 images. Most images have never been published. This coffee table quality, hard cover book is also a collectable and reference book and is 9.75" x 12".
Gallery
Sample Pages
Testimonials
Our Clients Say
"After reading the book Lennie called us to say "This is the best book I've ever seen on UNC basketball, it's the Mona Lisa of Tar Heel basketball books."
Bob Lewis - UNC 1964-1967