Tag: Anson Dorrance

Coaching legend Anson Dorrance retires after 21 NCAA titles, one World Cup

One of the all-time legends of American soccer is calling it quits

It is truly the end of an era, as University of North Carolina women’s soccer head coach Anson Dorrance has announced his retirement.

Dorrance has coached the UNC women’s soccer team since 1979, and also served as U.S. women’s national team head coach from 1986 to 1994.

The 73-year-old has built an incomparable resume during his time in the game. He leaves UNC as the all-time Division I leader for NCAA championships by a coach in any sport with 21.

In addition, he led the USWNT to the championship at the first ever Women’s World Cup in 1991.

“It is no exaggeration to say Anson Dorrance is one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time, in any sport,” said UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts in a university release.

“He has trained many of the best players in the history of U.S. women’s soccer and has led our program through decades of unparalleled success. Coach Dorrance has shaped the sport for generations to come and leaves an unequaled legacy at Carolina.”

Dorrance, who was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame 2008, has coached a total of 59 Tar Heels who went on to play for the USWNT, including some of the program’s all-time greats like Mia Hamm, April Heinrichs, Carla Overbeck, Kristine Lilly, Heather O’Reilly and Tobin Heath.

There were two UNC alums on the 2024 USWNT Olympic gold medal roster, Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn.

The program has continued to produce star athletes, as UNC duo Ally Sentnor and Savy King went first and second overall in the most recent NWSL draft.

“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,” said Dorrance. “He would re-evaluate his tenure, not after the season, but after he had time to recharge 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.”

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UNC soccer coaching legend announces retirement

Thank you, Anson Dorrance, for all you did for the UNC and the game of soccer.

The North Carolina Tar Heels family sees a legend of the game walk away today as Anson Dorrance, the head coach of the women’s soccer program, announced his retirement from coaching.

Over the past 47 seasons at UNC, Dorrance has set the standard in all of collegiate soccer. Players wanted to play for him, coaches wanted to be him, and soccer longed for him.

In almost five decades, the gold standard coach has won 22 national championships including a period of winning nine-straight NCAA National Championships from 1986 to 1994.

Overall in his career, he has 1,106 wins with only 152 losses. He averaged 3.23 losses per season for almost 50 years. He also had 75 ties.

He was a seven-time national coach of the year, a twelve-time ACC coach of the year, and a member of the UNC Sports Hall of Fame, UNC Soccer Hall of Fame, National Soccer Hall of Fame, and US Coaching Hall of Fame.

Anson Dorrance also helped the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) win a Women’s World Cup in 1991. He will go down in history as the most decorated head coach in women’s coaching history, not only at the collegiate level but also among all.

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Social media reacts to UNC’s season-ending, second-half collapse at BYU

The UNC women’s soccer team had a 3-goal, second-half lead at BYU in the Elite Eight. The host Cougars had other plans on Friday night.

After blowing a 2-goal, second half lead to UCLA in last year’s College Cup final, the UNC women’s soccer team had some major questions to answer.

Why did it stop playing hard when moments away from its first National Championship since 2012? Why – after scoring two goals in 16 minutes, couldn’t the Tar Heels find a third to put the Bruins away? Why would Anson Dorrance, UNC’s longtime head coach who has dominated the sport for so long, make a massive coaching blunder?

If you thought last year’s collapse was bad, this year’s was even worse.

In their road, Elite Eight matchup with BYU on Friday, Nov. 24, the Tar Heels blew a 3-goal, second-half lead and lost 4-3.

Three goals? Yep. The host Cougars didn’t score until the 61st minute, then ended the match 28 minutes later.

What exactly went wrong? Off the bat, Carolina stopped playing offense and BYU finally cracked its defense. Friday night was the first time – since Pitt on Oct. 29 – an opponent scored multiple goals against UNC.

A loss like this is just simply inexcusable. I understand a team coming back from one goal down, but not three.

Let’s take a look at social media and see the frustrations among the Tar Heel faithful:

UNC women’s soccer team tabbed as preseason ACC favorites

The UNC women’s soccer team, who was 10 minutes away from winning their 22nd title last year, is picked as the 2023 ACC preseason favorite.

The University of North Carolina women’s soccer program is undoubtedly the country’s best.

UNC’s appeared in every NCAA tournament since 1982, when the NCAA started sponsoring women’s soccer. Despite not winning a title since 2012, the Heels’ 21 ranks most all-time.

The next closest? Stanford, Notre Dame and Florida State, all tied for three.

Carolina almost won another championship last year, as they had a 2-0 lead over UCLA heading into the 80th minute. The Bruins, with their backs against the wall, tied the game up with two quick ones. A winner in the second overtime prevented UNC from singing along to Taylor Swift with its 22nd title.

This trip to the title game, plus nine returning starters, was convincing enough for Carolina to be picked as the ACC’s preseason favorite.

Headlining the returners are preseason All-ACC players Maycee Bell, Sam Meza and 2022 10-goal scorer Ally Sentnor. Meza scored two goals and dished out four assists in 15 starts last year, while Bell was part of a defense that only allowed 20 goals.

She’s not on the preseason All-ACC team, but last year’s leading goal scorer Avery Patterson (13) returns to lead the offense. In goal? The Heels return a stud netminder in Emmie Allen, who won 19 matches and saved 70 shots.

Coaching North Carolina is Anson Dorrance, who’s been in Chapel Hill ever since the program’s inception in 1979.

Regardless of who UNC matches up against this season, opponents are in for a tough contest. Is this the year Carolina finally snaps its championship drought?

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Anson Dorrance signs contract extension

North Carolina women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance has agreed to a five-year contract extension, keeping him in Chapel Hill until 2028.

North Carolina women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance has agreed to a contract extension, keeping him in Chapel Hill until through the 2028 season.

The school announced Monday that Dorrance would be sticking around longer as he looks to claim his 22nd National Championship with the program. In a press release by the program, Dorrance shares his thoughts on the five-year extension.

“To have the opportunity to be working in paradise to represent this extraordinary university has been my privilege going back to 1976 when I assisted my college coach, Dr. Marvin Allen,” Dorrance said. “I love where we are as a program and where we are going with elite coaches Damon Nahas and Nathan Thackeray setting high standards on the field. I also love what is happening off the field, as Chris Ducar positions us to compete every year to be first in home attendance.

“I want to thank Bubba Cunningham, my Athletic Director, Kevin Guskiewicz, our Chancellor and the Board of Trustees for their continued trust because ‘together we win’ while we ‘educate and inspire’ a new collection of extraordinary athletes to represent this elite University.”

Last season, the women’s soccer team finished with a 20-5-1 record, losing in a heartbreaking 3-2 double overtime loss. Next season should be fun, with Dorrance looking to help the Tar Heels bring back the National Champion.

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