A few blocks from the sign sits the Dean Dome, the basketball arena where UNC plays it’s men’s basketball and named after Dean Smith, who as we’ll soon learn, had a bigger impact on great coaching in our country and beyond than any 100 coaches.
And down the road from there sits Charmichael Arena where UNC Coach Joe Segula’s Women’s volleyball team shares facilities with women’s basketball and just a few yards south across a small parking lot is Fetzer field which sits under the mindful windows of the McCaskill Soccer center which oversees a running track encasing the grass of this soccer and lacrosse stadium.
At the west end turn on the track is another signpost of history for the campus.
On the first Monday of the 2016, the University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer coach is running late. That, as it turns out, is nothing new. He greets us on the second floor wearing a grey UNC long sleeve soccer fleece and grey sweats bunched up at his shins. He was heading to the weekly faculty soccer throw down, his invention out of his need to compete. His office is what you might expect of a Coach who is a whir of pushing and being pulled; chaotic disarray but was said to have been just organized.
Anson Dorrance sits behind the desk surrounded by notes, cards and letters, most that open with one of the following: Coach, Dad or Anson...
For those of us in coaching, his name is enough. His name is flecked with so many superlatives that if he was to be properly introduced at an awards dinner, your chicken would get cold.
He’s the architect of ‘The Dynasty,’ as Sports Illustrated called it. His office window looks down on the field and harkens the title of one of his biographies, ‘The Man Watching.’ His record: 22 NCAA National Women’s Division I Soccer Championships in 24 appearances, the refiner of the Competitive Cauldron, winner of the 1991 World Cup and an expert on not only coaching but perfecting how to coach women and men differently. He is “One of those Guys” that coach’s quote, talk about and reach out to: a resource for the coach of any sport who wants excellence from his athletes and settles for nothing less.
Just two weeks ago, Anson Dorrance was awarded the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award, the highest honor in U.S. Soccer. It’s for the individual or group that has dedicated at least 20 years to the sport, established a legacy in U.S. soccer and has developed programs that will outlast their own involvement in the sport.
Dorrance spent a generous 50 minutes chatting about a number of topics. He is an English and Philosophy major and his ease of which he answers random questions leads one to believe he has done this before: a few thousand times before. There is no gristle; his answers finely tuned and efficient, much like the athletes he helps build.
Dorrance smiles as the story shines a light on his personal philosophy.
“It’s on me baby, that’s it.”
On the first Monday of the 2016, the University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer coach is running late. That, as it turns out, is nothing new. He greets us on the second floor wearing a grey UNC long sleeve soccer fleece and grey sweats bunched up at his shins. He was heading to the weekly faculty soccer throw down, his invention out of his need to compete. His office is what you might expect of a Coach who is a whir of pushing and being pulled; chaotic disarray but was said to have been just organized.
Anson Dorrance sits behind the desk surrounded by notes, cards and letters, most that open with one of the following: Coach, Dad or Anson...
For those of us in coaching, his name is enough. His name is flecked with so many superlatives that if he was to be properly introduced at an awards dinner, your chicken would get cold.
He’s the architect of ‘The Dynasty,’ as Sports Illustrated called it. His office window looks down on the field and harkens the title of one of his biographies, ‘The Man Watching.’ His record: 22 NCAA National Women’s Division I Soccer Championships in 24 appearances, the refiner of the Competitive Cauldron, winner of the 1991 World Cup and an expert on not only coaching but perfecting how to coach women and men differently. He is “One of those Guys” that coach’s quote, talk about and reach out to: a resource for the coach of any sport who wants excellence from his athletes and settles for nothing less.
Just two weeks ago, Anson Dorrance was awarded the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award, the highest honor in U.S. Soccer. It’s for the individual or group that has dedicated at least 20 years to the sport, established a legacy in U.S. soccer and has developed programs that will outlast their own involvement in the sport.
Dorrance spent a generous 50 minutes chatting about a number of topics. He is an English and Philosophy major and his ease of which he answers random questions leads one to believe he has done this before: a few thousand times before. There is no gristle; his answers finely tuned and efficient, much like the athletes he helps build.
At the end of the interview, Dorrance talking about his coaching philosophy tells a story about John Thompson, former protégé’ of Coach Dean Smith. His struggles forced a call to Smith and he talks about his issues; where he’s gone wrong, fishing for advice. Smith says nothing until after Thompson’s hour and a half soul cleansing and Thompson clearly annoyed with the lack of interaction from his mentor, Smith says to him, “You’re going to be okay John and the reason you are going to be okay is that you have taken responsibility for everything. The only way you can change anything is to take responsibility for everything.”
Dorrance smiles as the story shines a light on his personal philosophy.
“It’s on me baby, that’s it.”
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