CHAPEL HILL – Fans, former players and coaching colleagues gathered Sunday at the building that bears his name to honor former UNC head basketball coach Dean Smith who passed away just over two weeks ago.

Thousands attended a public memorial service for the coach and noted his work beyond the court in the fight for civil rights.

The just over two hour celebration was laden with anecdotes, and many former players who said Smith was there for them long after their playing days were over.

"If your children or grandchildren ever ask you what was Coach Smith like, simply reply he was the best. Thank you." said Mickey Bell, Carolina Basketball player from 1972 to 1975.

"I'm honored, I'm truly honored to have played for and been an Assistant Coach to the greatest coach ever. Not basketball, the greatest coach, I'm going to miss you Coach," said Phil Ford, Carolina Basketball player from 1974 to 1978 who also came back to coach with Dean Smith.

Many of Smith's former players, some who went on to the NBA, shared heartfelt stories about their coach. Many made the crowd laugh and others told of how Coach Smith not only helped them become great players but also good men. 

"Humility, conviction, dedication, compassion, loyalty, bravery and love are a few words which I now know describe Coach Smith," said Eric Montross, Carolina Basketball player from 1990 to 1994.

"I'm really going to miss him," said Phil Ford, the former Tar Heels point guard who ran Smith's famed "Four Corners" offense. "And if there's a model of how we should live our lives, I mean, we need look no further than Coach's life.

The service attracted former UNC players and coaches such as Larry Brown, Kenny Smith and J.R. Reid, as well as longtime Smith assistant and successor Bill Guthridge.

Former UNC system president Erskine Bowles was also among the speakers.