The incomparable Anson Dorrance will retire from his coveted position as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer program.
Dorrance’s legendary career in Chapel Hill spanned over 45 years. He helped lay the foundation for one of the top college soccer programs in the United States. Dorrance also led the United States Women’s National Team from 1986 to 1994, setting the table for the rise of the dominant program.
The UNC Women’s Soccer announced the news of Dorrance and his intentions to retire.
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. 👊🤍
📰 » https://t.co/QYVhtHHHrO pic.twitter.com/3mpu2WxcMr
— UNC Women’s Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) August 11, 2024
“Thank you for everything, Coach,” the program wrote on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
From 1982 to 2003, North Carolina had the country’s top women’s soccer program. Dorrance coached the Tar Heels to 17 NCAA National Championships. From 1982 to 1994, North Carolina made the National Championship game in the NCAA Tournament, winning 12 championships, including nine in a row from 1986 to 1994. The only year they didn’t win the title was 1985 when they finished as runner-ups. They were runner-ups three times under Dorrance, meaning they made an astonishing 20 National Championship games in that stretch.
That dominance also extended past 2003. Dorrance coached the Tar Heels to four more National Championships: 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012, giving Dorrance an incredible 21 titles as coach. They finished as runner-ups three more times: 2018, 2019, and 2022.
Dorrance coached UNC to 23 ACC regular-season championships and 22 ACC tournament titles. He earned seven National Coach of the Year honors and 12 ACC Coach of the Year titles. And what’s more, Dorrance also led the USWNT to victory in the first-ever Women’s World Cup in 1991.
Naturally, the National Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Dorrance into the club in 2008, and he earned an induction into the United Soccer Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2018.
Simply put, Anson Dorrance was a legend in the world of college sports. We wish him luck with the next chapter of his illustrious life.
