ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Temple basketball coach Fran Dunphy, who is recognized as much for his charity work and community service off the court as he is for his success on the court, has been named the recipient of the 2018 Dean Smith Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, it was announced today by USBWA President David Teel of the Newport News Daily Press.
The award will be presented to Dunphy on Nov. 1 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off luncheon at the Hilton City Avenue in Philadelphia featuring the Philly 6 coaches.
"How fitting that Coach Dunphy is to receive our fourth annual Dean Smith Award at a Coaches vs. Cancer event," Teel said. "The cause has been a centerpiece of his civic outreach and represents the essence of Coach Smith."
The Dean Smith Award honors an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values of Coach Smith, the long-time Hall of Fame coach at North Carolina. Coaches are recognized for their principles of honesty and integrity, for treating all people with courtesy and respect, for accomplishments off the court, and for the impact they have made on their community and the lives of their players.
"To receive an award named in honor of Dean Smith is truly humbling," Dunphy said. "No one had more integrity or did more to promote what is good in college basketball. To be recognized like this is a tremendous honor."
Previous award winners include John Thompson (Georgetown) in 2015, Tom Izzo (Michigan State) in 2016 and Don Donoher (Dayton) in 2017.
"Fran's record as a coach speaks for itself but doesn't begin to make clear the lives he's touched and the remarkable work he's done for charity," said Washington Post sportswriter John Feinstein, a past president of the USBWA and the person credited for creating an award honoring Dean Smith.
"I know Coach Smith would applaud – no, cheer – the USBWA for giving the award named for him to Fran Dunphy."
Dunphy, who enters his 30th season as a head coach, and 13th at Temple, with 557 career victories, is known for his tireless devotion to the national Coaches vs. Cancer charity over the past 23 years.
A past chair of the national organization, Dunphy currently is co-chair of the Philly 6 chapter and a member of the national council.
Along with St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli, his long-time collaborator in fund-raising for cancer research, Dunphy won the 2017 American Cancer Society's Circle of Honor Award, a national honor within the Coaches vs. Cancer program for "extraordinary commitment."
Dunphy also won the 2002 national Coaches vs. Cancer Coach of the Year award, and in 2008 he joined a number of other coaches in testifying before Congress seeking more funding for cancer research.
Dunphy also has excelled as a teacher and is currently in his 11th year of team teaching an honors course in Temple's Fox School of Business entitled, "Management, Theory and Practice: From the Locker Room to the Board Room."
In addition, he has served on the board of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Philadelphia.
"Coach Dunphy has always given back," said Dick Weiss, a college columnist for the Philadelphia and New York Daily News and a USBWA past president. "He epitomizes the highest character, teaching skills and community values that Dean Smith would admire."
Dunphy has spent all or parts of six decades in the Big 5 since playing for LaSalle from 1967 through 1970. He is one of five coaches to win at least 200 games at two different Division I programs while taking each school to at least six NCAA tournaments.
He led Penn to a 310-163 mark over 17 seasons before succeeding John Chaney in 2006 at Temple, where he has compiled a 247-152 record.
In his career, Dunphy has guided his teams to 17 20-win seasons, 16 NCAA tournament appearances and 14 conference championships.
The Coaches vs. Cancer Preseason Luncheon is presented by Independence Blue Cross and sponsored by RAF Industries. In addition to Dunphy receiving the Dean Smith Award, Don DiJulia will be presented with the Champion of Hope Award. More information, tickets, and table sponsorships are available at phillycvc.org/preseason-luncheon.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Dean Smith Award, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.