On August 11, 2024, at 03:58 PM ET, the sports world was stunned by the news that Anson Dorrance, the legendary head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer program, was retiring after an illustrious 45-year career. Dorrance, whose 21 NCAA championships are the most by any head coach in any Division I sport in college history, leaves behind a legacy of unparalleled success and impact on the sport.
Dorrance’s decision to retire was announced by the Tar Heels, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham revealing that Dorrance had informed him of his plans on Friday and shared the news with the team on Sunday, just four days before their season opener at Denver. The 73-year-old coach cited a lack of energy to give 100% to the job as the reason for his retirement, despite his excitement heading into the season.
During his tenure at North Carolina, Dorrance led the women’s soccer program to an impressive 934-88-53 record, including 21 NCAA titles. He also briefly served as the men’s coach from 1977 to 1988, winning 172 games and guiding the team to an ACC title and NCAA Final Four berth in 1987. However, his greatest success came with the women’s team, where he established a dynasty of dominance in collegiate soccer.
Associate head coach Damon Nahas will take over as the interim women’s coach for the upcoming season, as Cunningham plans to conduct a search for a new head coach to fill Dorrance’s shoes. Dorrance’s impact on the development and growth of women’s sports both in the United States and globally has been profound, with North Carolina women’s soccer winning a total of 22 national championships and playing in six other national championship games.
Despite his remarkable coaching career, Dorrance’s legacy was not without controversy. In 1998, former Tar Heels players Melissa Jennings and Debbie Keller filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Dorrance, alleging that he created an uncomfortable environment by asking players about their sexual activity. The case was eventually settled in 2008, with Dorrance denying the allegations but acknowledging participating in banter of a „jesting or teasing nature“ with groups of players.
Throughout his career, Dorrance was recognized as a seven-time national coach of the year and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. His 21 NCAA titles, 934 wins, and 147 NCAA tournament wins are all the most in women’s soccer history, solidifying his status as one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time in any sport. Dorrance’s influence extended beyond the field, as he coached 19 players who won national player of the year awards, including soccer icons like Mia Hamm and Cindy Parlow Cone.
As the sports world bids farewell to a coaching legend, players, fans, and colleagues alike are celebrating Anson Dorrance’s legendary career and the lasting impact he has had on the sport of women’s soccer. His retirement marks the end of an era at North Carolina, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and coaches for years to come.