North Carolina women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance — the all-time Division I leader for NCAA championships by a coach in any sport (21) — is retiring after 45 seasons leading the program, the school announced Sunday.
Dorrance, 73, led UNC’s women’s program to a record 22 national championships — the first of which came in 1981 before the NCAA oversaw women’s soccer — and ended his career with a 934-88-53 record. He was also the United States women’s national team’s coach from 1986 to 1994, including in 1991 when the U.S. won the first women’s World Cup.
“As many of you know I modeled our program after Dean Smith’s basketball program, and retiring at this time is a credit to his thinking, as well,” Dorrance said in a statement. “He would re-evaluate his tenure, not after the season, but after he had time to re-charge his batteries prior to the next season. When he didn’t, he retired. After last season I initially was excited about the chance to bolster our roster, which we most certainly have done, but as preseason training camp went on, I realized I didn’t have the same energy it takes to give 100% to this year’s team.
“The players and staff, the university, Carolina athletics and our great fans deserve more, and the respect I have for the amazing legacy the current and former players have built led me to make this decision at this time.”
Anson Dorrance, one of the most accomplished coaches in college athletics history who led UNC Women’s Soccer to decades of unparalleled success, announces his retirement.
Thank you for everything, Coach. 👊🤍
📰 » pic.twitter.com/3mpu2WxcMr
— UNC Women’s Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) August 11, 2024
Associate head coach Damon Nahas will serve as interim head coach this season, while athletic director Bubba Cunningham conducts a national search for Dorrance’s long-term replacement. The team’s season-opener is Aug. 15 at Denver.
It is impossible to tell the story of women’s soccer in the United States — and the rise of women’s college athletics overall — without Dorrance, a seven-time national coach of the year and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Dorrance coached 19 different National Players of the Year during his tenure, including Mia Hamm — arguably the best women’s soccer player of all time — and three-time honoree Cindy Parlow (Cone), the current president of U.S. Soccer.
“Anson is an all-time soccer, coaching and Tar Heel legend,” Cunningham said in a statement. “The numbers and accomplishments are staggering and will be hard for any coach or program to replicate or exceed. His impact on the development and growth of women’s sports across the country and around the world has been profound. Not only did he elevate women’s sports in the NCAA, but he also led the early dominance of the United States Women’s National Team. With Anson at the helm, numerous Tar Heels raised trophies in the World Cup and later in the Olympics.”
That includes this summer in Paris, where former Tar Heels Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox helped the United States secure the goal medal. Fourteen of Dorrance’s former players have now won 21 gold medals, while a staggering 59 have played in some capacity for the U.S. women’s national team.
While the Tar Heels have not won the national championship since 2012 — the team’s longest drought under Dorrance — the program has still played in five College Cups in the last decade, advancing to the title game in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
And the program’s individual talent pipeline hasn’t slowed, either. Six UNC players were selected in the 2024 Draft, an NWSL record for the most by a single school; that includes the first and second picks, Ally Sentnor and Savy King. Those two bring Dorrance’s career total to 29 first-round picks, with Sentnor being the third No. 1 selection to have played under Dorrance at North Carolina.
Dorrance also briefly coached the UNC men’s program from 1977 to 1988, winning 172 games while guiding the Tar Heels to an ACC title and NCAA Final Four berth in 1987.
“Anyone who knows Anson recognizes how deeply competitive he is, so to step aside now underscores his belief it is the right decision for the success of this year’s team. I have great respect for him and his decision,” Cunningham said. “Everyone at Carolina thanks Anson, M’Liss, and their family for a 50-plus-year relationship with the university. He will forever be a Tar Heel.”
(Photo: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)