Anson Dorrance, coach of the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team, has been selected by the NSCAA Women’s Committee as the eighth recipient of its Award of Excellence.

The award is sponsored by the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS) and was established in 1999 to recognize those who have brought honor and distinction to women's soccer. WAGS has supplied sponsorship funds from this award to be used in the promotion of the women's game through various inner-city programs. Funds also will be donated to charities that promote female soccer participation.

Whether at the collegiate, national or international level, Dorrance’s impact on women’s soccer is undeniable. In the 25 years the NCAA has sponsored a Division I women’s soccer championship, North Carolina has won 18 titles. Along the way he has compiled an 629-28-18 record, an amazing .945 winning percentage. He has coached 13 different players to National Player of the Year honors a total of 20 times.

The list of athletes who have played for Dorrance reads like a Who’s Who of women’s soccer, including such legendary names as Mia Hamm, April Heinrichs, Shannon Higgins, Debbie Keller, Kristine Lilly and Cindy Parlow, all of whom won multiple National Player of the Year awards under his tutelage.

In 1986, Dorrance accepted the position of head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, and in 1991 led that squad to the first Women’s World Cup title. He also was a strong influence in the gold medal won by the U.S. women at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games: two of the assistant coaches were former Carolina players and seven of the 16 players on the roster played at UNC.

Dorrance also has been active in growing the sport at the local and national levels. He was the founder of the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association and the North Carolina Senior Soccer Association. As a member of the NSCAA Academy’s Senior National Staff, he helps instruct coaches from throughout the world on the finer points of teaching the game.

A charter member of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Committee, he also has served as the chairman of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules Committee and was the women’s chairman of the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America.

The first male to receive the Women’s Committee Award of Excellence, he joins two former players who are prior recipients: Heinrichs, who received the inaugural award in 1999, and Lauren Gregg, who was presented the award in 2001. The award presentation will take place at the NSCAA Women’s Soccer Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, as part of the NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

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