Jan. 29, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - University of North Carolina women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance was chosen as the NCAA Division I Women's Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America at its annual awards banquest held as part of the 57th annual NSCAA Convention in Charlotte, N.C. It was Dorrance's fourth NSCAA National Coach of the Year award and it capped a season in which North Carolina went 27-0-0 and won the NCAA Championship.

Dorrance's award came after the Tar Heels had failed to win the national championship in back to back years for the first time in history in 2001 and 2002. But UNC's dynasty came roaring back in 2003 and powered by a pair of Hermann Trophy finalists, Carolina recorded an NCAA record 27-0 mark and claimed its 18th national title and first since 2000.

The 2003 Tar Heels were the first women's college team since 1993 to go undefeated and untied when a Mia Hamm led Carolina team finished 25-0. Dorrance has now won 559 games in his women's college career, the most in NCAA Division I history, men or women. He has now won four coach of the year honors, three for women and one from coaching the Tar Heel men in 1987.