ALUMNI TODAY

44 January/February 2016

CARjf16_GAA_Today.indd 44 12/16/15 2:48 PM firings, Karl has more than 1,100 wins and Always Rebounding counting, putting him sixth on the league’s list of most coaching victories, just behind and . The stats add or a time, ’73 was known hung out with me more than others that up to a remarkable 21 winning seasons and Faround the NBA as “Furious George” night. He was losing his memory and felt 22 playoff appearances. for his intensity, his prickly relationships unsure and wanted me next to him. Even Karl, with homes in Sacramento and with players and reporters, and his fast- though it was sad to see him in that state, Denver, lives with Kim Van Deraa, his paced offensive strategy. it was very memorable for me because he longtime life partner. Together they have The likely Hall of Fame coach — in chose me to be his buddy that night.” an 11-year-old daughter, Kaci Grace. his second season trying to turn around Karl said he had leaned on the coach for He has two grown children from a the — seems to have support during his own hard times. former marriage: Coby, a former Boise mellowed with age and bouts of illness, but “Even after having tremendous success, State star and cancer survivor who played there’s no less desire to lead and to win, he was the guy I relied upon when I wasn’t in Europe, the NBA and its Development inspired by his time as a having success,” Karl said. League and is a now an assistant coach with player at Carolina. Through success and “Coach Smith was a fa- the D-League’s Westchester, N.Y., team The 64-year-old Karl, sickness, NBA veteran ther figure, and there’s no (a Knicks affiliate); and Kelci, raised near , question that a lot of his deputy chief financial officer for a govern- often has said that head- draws on Tar Heel players consulted with him ment agency in Washington state, whose ing south to Chapel Hill inspiration. on very serious situations in husband is a high school girls’ was his best decision, es- our lifetimes, from getting coach. Karl is a doting grandfather to their pecially for the mentoring he received from married or divorced, he was the guy many three children. . Before notching more than players called. Fortunately, he was there for Karl and Van Deraa wanted more 1,000 NBA coaching wins, fathering three me on many, many days.” children, but his prostate cancer in 2005 children and twice battling cancer, Karl dashed those hopes. After battling the ill- learned strategies for life — not just basket- Navigating career and cancer ness, Karl was diagnosed again with cancer ball — from Smith. Karl’s experience with the nomadic in 2010, this time in his neck and throat. Karl still refers to Smith, who died in vagaries of pro basketball success began as The scary, often gruesome bouts interrupt- February 2015, in the present tense while a player for the American Basketball As- ed coaching and prompted emphasizing the fraternity of Carolina sociation’s . He moved some soul-searching. He basketball the coach built, how the players with that team to the NBA and later was an shed his notable girth, remain committed to one another and to assistant coach there. He coached in Great works out regularly the University. Smith was just as proud of Falls, Mont., in the now-defunct Conti- and eats a strict, players who went on to careers in medi- nental Basketball Associa- cine, the law, politics or other professions tion, then for the Cleveland as those who became basketball superstars, Cavaliers and Golden State Karl said. Warriors. He returned to “I’ll put Carolina as a resume — of the CBA in Albany, N.Y., people — against any basketball program and coached in Spain be- in America,” he said. “I’m not talking fore joining the Seattle about playing in the NBA or coaching in SuperSonics, leading the the NBA or winning championships. I’m team for seven seasons, talking about citizens of our country who including taking them were guided into leadership roles because to the NBA Finals in of playing four years of basketball at Car- 1996 — only to lose to olina.” ’86 and Karl was in final contract negotiations his . He with the Kings when he took a timeout coached the Milwau- to fly to Chapel Hill for Smith’s funeral. kee Bucks and Denver Sometimes pausing with emotion, he re- Nuggets (where in called his last meeting with Smith a few 2013 he was both years earlier at Carolina for a celebration of NBA Coach of the what Karl considers a hallmark of his own Year and fired) be- career, winning the NIT in 1971. fore arriving in Sac- “We had a group dinner Friday night ramento. before the Saturday game. He spent two Through all the hours with us. I was blessed because he moves, hirings and LEFT: FARRAH JOBLING

Carolina Alumni Review 45

CARjf16_GAA_Today.indd 45 12/16/15 2:49 PM ROCKY WIDNER Karl, here with Sacramento guard Rajon Rondo during a game in October, began his pro playing days with the San Antonio Spurs in the American Basketball Association and moved with the team to the NBA. He became an assistant coach with the Spurs before leading several teams and being named NBA Coach of the Year in 2013 with the .

health-focused diet. For leisure, Karl and others fight cancer, and he cites another Tar mutations in cells. Mutations can be good Van Deraa travel to Europe regularly, spend Heel for inspiration. and bad, but mutations are what usually time with close friends and hit the golf His George Karl Foundation focuses on cause cancer.” course now and then. cancer prevention and helping patients nav- Karl brings up his friend “After the second cancer, the best phrase igate the confusing, costly medical system ’87, the popular ESPN anchor who died in for me is balancing my life a little better,” and grueling treatments. January 2015 after his own battle with can- he said. “Cancer consumes you, dominates “We’re doing a great job figuring out cer. Karl, who in between coaching gigs your personality and life. I’ve learned to how to treat people was an on-air analyst delegate and walk away from the game once they get cancer, ‘I’ve learned to delegate and for the sports network, when I feel I’ve done my job. I don’t over- but not as good a job shared several bonds coach as much as I did when I was younger trying to stop people walk away from the game with Scott. Notably, by delegating responsibilities to my assis- from getting cancer,” when I feel I’ve done my job. I both Tar Heels were tants twice as much as I used to. You can he said. “I’d like to don’t over-coach as much as recipients of the “Jim- coach and win in this league with different see more money I did when I was younger.’ my V Award,” the Jim philosophies and doing it a lot of different spent and more in- Valvano Award for ways.” formation given to Perseverance, named the public that eating certain foods — pro- for the N.C. State basketball coach who Trying to find something good cessed foods, fried foods — and drinking died from cancer in 1993. Scott’s posthu- Today, Karl focuses his fury on helping sodas can give heightened opportunity for mously published memoir, Every Day I

46 January/February 2016

CARjf16_GAA_Today.indd 46 12/16/15 2:49 PM Fight, sits on Karl’s desk in Sacramento. on his physical and mental well-being. And GAA STAFF “I’ve looked at pieces of it, but I haven’t he cites another lesson learned at Carolina. really read it yet,” he said as he was begin- “In my freshman year, I met a guy Administration Doug Dibbert ’70, president ning another NBA season. “It’s too emo- named Steve Previs [’72], who was starting [email protected]; (919) 962–7050 tional for me at the moment, so I put it off. with me later on, and his dad Steve Shaw ’82, director of finance and administration Stuart was a fighter, man. I saw him 20 or had a saying of ‘PMA’ — positive mental [email protected] 30 times when he was fighting for his life, attitude,” Karl said. “Fortunately I was in- Lisa Beers, controller; [email protected] but you couldn’t tell. And I knew it was a troduced to Coach Smith’s mentality and Linwood Blalock, mail room tough cancer, but I’d say there was only positive thinking at a young age when I Marisa Elliott, executive assistant; [email protected] one time when I thought he knew he was was probably searching for the philosophy Tom May, printshop coordinator; [email protected] in trouble. He was a tremendous fighter of life. For the most part, that’s where I’m Elizabeth Morgan, telephone receptionist; (919) 962–1208 and advocate for cancer.” at — I believe life is good. You can look at Rachel Welch, accounting assistant; [email protected] Karl said he feels great these days despite life as a negative or a positive. My choice, Communications the rigors of coaching and past health chal- 99 percent of the time, is to try to find Regina Oliver ’75, editor and director of communications [email protected]; (919) 962–7056 lenges. But he stays reflective and focused something good in anything that happens.” Kate Newton Anthony, art director; [email protected] — Andy Trincia ’88 David Brown ’75, senior associate editor; [email protected] Jana Collins ’92 (MA), advertising account representative The Karl File [email protected] High school: Penn Hills, Pa. Dave Drake ’92, online coordinator; [email protected] College: UNC (1970–73): NIT champions (1971); NCAA Final Four (1972); ACC tournament Keith King ’82, associate editor; [email protected] champions (1972); ACC regular season champions (1971, 1972) NBA draft: 1973; fourth round; selected by the ; 66th overall pick Andrea Saye ’08, marketing and advertising manager [email protected] Pro career: 1973–78, San Antonio Spurs (guard) Jason D. Smith ’94, associate art director; [email protected] Points: 1,703 Rebounds: 369 Assists: 795 Membership Stephanie Miller ’83, director of membership Coaching career: 1978–present [email protected]; (919) 962–7058 Record: 1150-790, .593 win-loss percentage Diana Koonce ’02, coordinator of membership administration 1978–80: San Antonio Spurs (assistant) [email protected] 1980–83: Montana Golden Nuggets 1984–86: Katie Thore ’15, coordinator of membership services; [email protected] 1986–88: Programs 1988–89: Marcie Leemore ’99, director of enrichment programs 1989–90: Real Madrid [email protected]; (919) 962-3581 1990–91: Albany Patroons 1991–92: Real Madrid Ann-Louise Aguiar ’76, manager of alumni education and travel [email protected] 1992–98: Seattle SuperSonics Steffi Kinton ’05, coordinator of student activities ROCKY WIDNER 1998–2003: [email protected] 2005–13: Denver Nuggets Douglass Payne ’04, coordinator of alumni education and travel 2015–present: Sacramento Kings [email protected] NBA Coach of the Year (2013) Tanea Pettis ’95, manager, affinity activities and alumni admissions Four-time NBA All-Star Game head coach (1994, programs; [email protected] 1996, 1998 and 2010) Casey Privette ’01, coordinator of regional engagement and clubs support [email protected] Linda Sherck ’95 (MA), manager of alumni activities [email protected]

Records and Information Systems Roger Nelsen, director of alumni records and information systems GAA Board Elections, Annual Meeting Set [email protected]; (919) 962–7055 Emilee Brown ’10, records assistant; [email protected] allots for electing new members to the GAA Board of Directors were mailed with the Tracy Chrismon, records assistant; [email protected] BJanuary/February Carolina Alumni Review to all dues-paid GAA members as of Jan. 1. Kelly Dalton ’07, records assistant; [email protected] Households with more than one GAA member receive one ballot per member. All GAA Julie Gonya, network administrator; [email protected] members are eligible and encouraged to vote in each race, including races representing areas Rachel Orr, records assistant; [email protected] of the country other than those in which the member lives. Joan Pendergraph, assistant director of alumni records Completed ballots must be received at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center, P.O. [email protected] Kemesha D. Stanley ’08, records assistant; [email protected] Box 660, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514-0660 no later than March 31. Facsimile replies are not accepted. Meredith Tozzer ’09, records assistant; [email protected] Niki Wallace, records assistant; [email protected] Chair for 2016–17, Teresa Holland Williams ’77, who was elected last year as chair- elect by the Board of Directors, and those elected from the 2016 ballot assume office at the Annual Alumni Luncheon in Chapel Hill on Saturday, May 7. The annual meeting of the General Alumni Association is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. April 9 at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center.

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