By Brian Murphy, WRAL

North Carolina women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance — the only coach the decorated program has ever had — announced his retirement Sunday, just four days before the Tar Heels open the 2024 season.

Dorrance, 74, led the Tar Heels’ women’s program to 22 national titles in his 45 seasons. UNC has played in 31 of the 42 College Cups — the NCAA’s final four for women’s soccer – ever held and have competed in every NCAA Tournament.

“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,” Dorrance said in a statement.

He told UNC Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham of his decision Friday and told his team Sunday afternoon, the school said.

The Tar Heels open their season Thursday at Denver. Associate head coach Damon Nahas will coach the team in 2024 as interim head coach.

Dorrance said he took inspiration from former UNC men’s basketball coach Dean Smith, who retired weeks before the season was set to start.

“I modeled our program after Dean Smith’s basketball program, and retiring at this time is a credit to him,” Dorrance said. “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.”

More than 20 players left the program after last season, which ended with a surprising 4-3 loss to BYU in the NCAA quarterfinals, The Daily Tar Heel reported.

“After last season, I initially was excited about the chance to bolster our roster, which we most certainly have done.” said Dorrance, who signed a five-year contract extension in 2023.

UNC has not won a national title since 2012. The Tar Heels lost in the championship game in 2022, 2019 and 2018.

UNC settled sexual harassment lawsuits from former women’s soccer players in 2004 and 2008. As part of the 2008 settlement, Dorrance issued an apology to all of his players for inappropriate discussions of a sexual nature.

Dorrance played for the Tar Heels and earned All-ACC honors three times. He was named one of the 50 best players on the ACC”s 50th anniversary team in 2004.

Dorrance, who graduated from UNC in 1974, went 934-88-53 as coach of the women’s team since 1979. He also coached the men’s team from 1977 to 1988, winning 172 games.

“Anyone who knows Anson recognizes how deeply competitive he is, so to step aside now underscores his belief it is the right decision fro the success of this year’s team,” Cunningham said.

UNC won an AIAW national title in 1981, and captured NCAA titles in 1982-1984, 1986-1994, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2003, 2006, 2008-09 and 2012. Dorrance’s 21 NCAA titles are the most championships by any coach in any sport.

Some of the sport’s greatest players played for Dorrance through the decades, including Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow (Cone), April Heinrichs, Carla Werden (Overbeck), Catherine Reddick (Whitehill), Tisha Venturi (Hoch), Kristine Lilly and Heather O’Reilly. Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn, member of the 2024 gold-winning U.S. Olympic soccer team, also played at UNC.

“It’s no exaggerations to say Anson Dorrance is one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time, in any sport,” said UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, who was selected chancellor Friday. “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.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com