University of North Carolina Athletics
Dave Klarmann Announces He Has One More Year Left
June 21, 1999 | Men's Lacrosse
June 4, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Dave Klarmann, who has served as an assistant and head coach of the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team since 1979, announced Wednesday that he will step down from his head coaching responsibilities at the conclusion of the Tar Heels' 2000 season, UNC officials announced Friday.
Klarmann, a native of Wantagh, N.Y., played at UNC in the mid-1970s and returned to the University in the summer of 1979 as an assistant lacrosse coach. He spent 11 years on the staff as an assistant before being elevated to the head coaching position in the summer of 1990. The 2000 season will mark his 10th and final season as the Tar Heels' head mentor.
"I have completed 20 plus years here and I have had a great experience coaching lacrosse at my alma mater in that time," says Klarmann. "I have given it a good 20 years and I have enjoyed what I have been doing. But I also appreciate where the program is at this point and time and I feel it is time for somebody else to take the program in a new direction.
"I decided to go ahead and say that now so I can enjoy my final year coaching at UNC while also giving the University plenty of time to look for a successor. I am excited about the team we have coming back for the 2000 season."
In nine seasons as the Tar Heels' head coach, Klarmann has led his teams to an overall record of 92-46, a winning percentage of .667, which is the ninth best winning percentage amongst active NCAA Division I men's lacrosse coaches. Seven of Klarmann's teams have earned bids to the NCAA Tournament with three of those squads advancing to the NCAA Final Four. North Carolina also won five Atlantic Coast Conference championships during Klarmann's tenure as head coach. He was named the ACC Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1996. The Tar Heels won the NCAA championship and finished 16-0 in Klarmann's first year as head coach in 1991.
"As a department we are greatly appreciative of all of Dave's efforts during his time here as a student-athlete, an assistant coach and a head coach," says Baddour. "Dave was an integral part of many of the great moments our lacrosse program has enjoyed in its history.
"We certainly hope he and his team after a great season next year and we wish him all the best in his future career endeavors. We hope that Dave will always remain a part of the Carolina Lacrosse Family."
Baddour has said that a search for a successor as the head coach will begin in the early months of the year 2000.
