Anson Dorrance Career Overview

• Head Coach, UNC Women’s Soccer (1979–2024)

• Head Coach, UNC Men’s Soccer (1977–1988)

• Head Coach, U.S. Women’s National Team (1986–1994)

  UNC Women’s Soccer Achievements

• 22 NCAA National Championships (most in NCAA soccer history)

• Over 900 career wins with UNC Women’s Soccer (most in Division I women’s soccer history)

• 21 perfect seasons (undefeated and untied)

• Over 70 players named First-Team All-Americans

• Over 64 players advanced to national teams

• Win percentage over 90% across his coaching career

• First Head Coach of the USWNT

• Head Coach from 1986 to 1994

• Winner of the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup (1991)

• Compiled a 65-22-5 record as national team coach

• Coaching Innovations and Contributions

• Creator of the Competitive Cauldron, a system that tracks training performance to foster internal team competition

• Early pioneer of value-based coaching and mental training

• Influenced coaching standards from youth leagues to the professional and international level

• Developed systems used by the U.S. Women's National Team and countless college programs

  Awards and Honors

• National Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee (2008)

• Multiple-time NCAA Coach of the Year

• United Soccer Coaches Lifetime Achievement recipient

• Recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (North Carolina’s highest civilian honor)

  Education and Authorship

• Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina

• Co-author of “Training Soccer Champions”

• Regular speaker on leadership, mindset, team culture, and elite performance

• Global and Cultural Impact

• Helped launch and legitimize women’s collegiate and international soccer

• Established a winning culture at UNC that became the model for success in women’s sports

• Continues to influence the next generation of coaches and leaders across disciplines.