North Carolina's Dorrance becomes winningest coach in NCAA history

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- With a 1-0 victory over Stanford this past Sunday in the championship game of the 2009 Women’s College Cup, University of North Carolina women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance became the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history by capturing his 20th title in a single sport.
 
“What Anson has accomplished on the soccer field is amazing,” says Dick Baddour, Director of Athletics at UNC. “Just as important is the strong bond his players have for him, the soccer program and the University.”
 
The Tar Heels have now won 20 of the 28 NCAA championships conducted in women’s soccer from 1982-2009.  His 20 titles exceed the 19 won by UCLA’s Al Scates in men’s volleyball (1970-2006) and the 19 Captured by John McDonnell of Arkansas in men’s indoor track and field (1984-2006).  Altogether, 22 coaches in NCAA history have won 10 or more NCAA titles in a single sport.  Five of those coaches are still active, including Dorrance and Scates at the top of the list.
 
“Anson Dorrance is a remarkable coach who continues to set the bar in terms of championships” says Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John D. Swofford, who served as the director of athletics at UNC when Dorrance won 12 of the 20 titles between 1982 and 1996.  “This is a tremendous accomplishment for Anson and the University of North Carolina. All of us in the Atlantic Coast Conference congratulate him.”
 
Dorrance is also tied for the third longest streak of consecutive team titles in NCAA history with nine from 1986-94. Only John McDonnell of Arkansas in men’s indoor track and field (1984-93) and Pat Henry of LSU in women’s outdoor track and field (1988-97) won more in a row with 10 championships each.
 
Tar Heel men’s basketball coach Roy Williams, who has won NCAA titles of his own in 2005 and 2009, says, ““Anson's accomplishments are incredible and will never be matched.  These championships though are only a part of his greatness.  The standards he sets for each team and each staff every year keeps them from becoming complacent.  He makes the new season challenging again and I don't think he will change.  He is a credit to our school and our coaching profession and I truly admire him.”


TEAM TITLES BY COACH NCAA DIVISION I (through 12-6-09)
20, Anson Dorrance, North Carolina women’s soccer, 1982-2009
19, Al Scates, UCLA men’s volleyball, 1970-2006
19, John McDonnell, Arkansas men’s indoor track and field, 1984-2006
17, Dick Gould, Stanford men’s tennis, 1973-2000
16, Dave Williams, Houston men’s golf, 1956-85
15, Dan Gable, Iowa wrestling, 1978-97