At the annual January convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the NSCAA Foundation announced a new, endowed fund, The Anson Dorrance Fund, as well as the first recipient of a scholarship from the fund.

The NSCAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the NSCAA, was created on then NSCAA president Bill Holleman’s recommendation made almost twenty years ago. Today, the NSCAA Foundation manages an endowment of almost $300,000, engages in fundraising activities, and conducts a grant application and review process that includes multiple awards promoting diversity, social change, and assisting underserved populations and geographic areas primarily through soccer coaching education.

Named, endowed NSCAA Foundation funds are generally created by the former players, families, and friends of coaches as a way to honor these coaches who have made a lasting, positive impact on their players, programs, and communities. Such is the case with The Anson Dorrance Fund.

Anson Dorrance is the long-time coach of the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team. Dorrance originally coached the UNC men’s program (1977 – 1988). He then founded the women’s program in 1979 and has coached it ever since. Under Dorrance, the UNC women have won over 700 games and a record 21 national collegiate championships. Dorrance is an NSCAA Honor Award recipient, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and he led the US women’s national team to the first FIFA Women’s World Cup championship (1991).

The first Anson Dorrance Fund scholarship was awarded to Kaleen Adami, a former college player and college assistant coach, who also spent one year in Nicaragua with Soccer Without Borders. Adami is focused on helping young women develop through soccer.

For additional information about or to make a donation to the NSCAA Foundation, including The Anson Dorrance Fund, please contact NSCAA Foundation or Al Albert, Chair of NSCAA Foundation.  

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