Anson Dorrance

Dorrance, a 1974 Tar Heel alumni, took over as Carolina's men's soccer coach in September 1977, then added duties as head coach and creator of UNC's women's team in September 1979. Anson Dorrance, a former head coach of the United States Women's National Team and current head women's soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, was named the 2016 winner of United States Soccer's prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award on January 29, 2016, just one of many awards he has received at the highest levels of the sport in the United States. The Werner Fricker Builder Award is awarded to an individual or group of individuals who have committed at least 20 years of devotion to soccer in the United States, aiming to leave a lasting legacy in the sport's history and structure. The award honors people who have created initiatives that will survive beyond their personal participation in the sport. Dorrance matches that description to a tee. On August 2, 2008, Dorrance was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, marking yet another watershed point in the career of a man whose coaching skill was famous from a young age. Dorrance was only eligible for election to the Hall of Fame on the "Builders of the Game" vote since he had not yet resigned from coaching. He was elected in his first year of eligibility. Anson Dorrance's coaching career improves with age, much like excellent wine. In the previous calendar year, there was enough proof of this. Dorrance led UNC to its most victories in nine years, its first ACC regular-season championship in eight years, its first undefeated ACC regular season in 12 years, and runner-up finishes in both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Dorrance was selected ACC coach of the year, and his coaching staff was named United Soccer Coaches regional staff of the year. Cindy Parlow, the alumna, was inducted into the United States Soccer Hall of Fame and elected as a vice president of the organization last year. The North Carolina Courage, which has four Tar Heel alumni, won the NWSL title in 2018. The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup rosters included seven former Tar Heel players, five of them were on the victorious American team. Lucy Bronze of England was named the World Cup's second most outstanding player, and Tar Heel alumna Sarina Wiegman led the Netherlands to the final. Dorrance won his 828th women's game against Ohio State in 2018, giving him 1,000 victories as a collegiate head coach (includes 172 wins as UNC's men's head coach from 1977 to 1988). All of this demonstrates that the Tar Heel program's collegiate and worldwide impact is as strong as it has ever been in the program's 40-year existence.