CHAPEL HILL, NJ — Anson Dorrance's unparalleled success in college athletics began during a time when he coached two football teams in North Carolina.
There wasn't much time for anything other than training. Vacations were time away from work, and Dorrance wanted his teams to succeed. And they did, especially the women's program.
After 45 years, a very relaxing recent vacation and 21 national titles, Dorrance decided it was time to step down as the Tar Heels' women's soccer coach.
“I don't have a problem with the landscape changing,” Dorrance said Monday, a day after his alma mater announced his retirement. “I think there's always going to be changes. There's changes in our game and the system we run and how we're going to coach them.”
For much of his time with the Tar Heels, there was little change. He led teams to a record 21 NCAA Division I championships as a coach, compiling two unbeaten streaks of more than 100 games.
Dorrance, 73, was mostly upbeat, though he did tear up a couple of times as he talked about his decision and reflected on his career.
“I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you what this was all based on,” Dorrance said. “There's something profound about success in college athletics. It's based entirely on the quality of the athlete you recruit. And for some extraordinary reason, we've had some incredible athletes come here.”
North Carolina posted a 934-88-53 record under Dorrance, who started the 1979 season. The Tar Heels won one AIAW national title before the NCAA title series. There were six seasons in which they finished second.
That unbreakable dominance also implied a certain lifestyle.
“I hate vacations,” she said. “Whenever we went on vacation, I thought someone was going to get there before me and it would stress me out the whole trip.”
He said he had never been on vacation for more than a week until this summer's extended family excursion around Europe.
“I came back absolutely refreshed,” Dorrance said. “And you know what? I enjoyed being on vacation for a couple of weeks because I'd never experienced anything like that before.”
This year, the North Carolina team has been preparing hard for another season, which begins Thursday night in Denver. Earlier this month, the Tar Heels beat DC Power, a first-division professional team, 5-1 in an exhibition game.
Dorrance felt so good about the state of his program that he thought it was the ideal time to move on. Associate head coach Damon Nahas was named interim coach for this season.
“I would say she still had the same energy as always,” said Tessa Dellarose, a junior defender on this year's team.
Dorrance admitted he modeled the timing of the game's launch after legendary men's basketball coach Dean Smith, who left his post at North Carolina just weeks before a new season in 1997.
“I'm following my mentor because that's exactly how he retired,” Dorrance said.
College sports have changed in recent years, and the impact has taken a toll on the Tar Heels, who have experienced roster fluctuations. North Carolina's last national title came in 2012.
“We have to adapt to change,” Dorrance said. “In my opinion, a lot of the changes are incredibly positive.”
Athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who will be tasked with filling a position that has never been vacant, said Dorrance set a standard to be admired.
“The culture of our department has been built on our coaches,” Cunningham said. “… and he's been the leader.”
Dorrance's tenure was not without complications. A sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a pair of former players ended in a settlement in 2008. The university stood by the coach and said the $385,000 payment was not an admission of guilt. There were no allegations of physical contact, and many former players had rallied behind him.
On Monday, without mentioning him specifically, he thanked former athletic director Dick Baddour for his support during those times.
Dorrance coached the men's team for two years before incorporating those duties into the new women's program. Two-hour practices with the men were followed by two hours with the women.
“I never knew what was going to happen with this women's team,” she said.
Their combined men's and women's record is 1,106-152-74.
“Luck plays a big role in a lot of things,” said Dorrance, who always made a point of responding to every message. “Good and bad luck are factors.”
During the decades of university dominance, Dorrance also coached the U.S. women's national team. He has always been associated with the university, where the campus soccer and lacrosse stadium bears his name.
“I've never asked for a raise,” said Dorrance, who was once courted by Stanford. “It's a privilege to coach here. That's how I've always looked at it.”
Not only will Dorrance's impact be long-lasting, but his presence will surely be felt this season and beyond with the program he built from the ground up.
“I'm going to be very involved,” he said.
