University of North Carolina Athletics
Former UNC Women's Tennis Coach Kitty Harrison Named to N.C. Hall of Fame
January 14, 2004 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 14, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Former North Carolina women's tennis coach Katherine "Kitty" Harrison has been elected to the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. Harrison was the head coach for the women's tennis team from 1976 until 1998. She retired in 1998 as the winningest tennis coach in ACC history in terms of total dual match victories.
Under Harrison, Carolina won the first four ACC championships ever contested and finished as the league runner-up four other times. Eight of Harrison's 22 teams were ranked among the top 25 nationally. Over her 22 years as head coach, Harrison compiled a record of 362 wins and 227 losses while her ACC record was 89-55.
During Harrison's tenure, the Tar Heels had some of the best players in women's college tennis history. Cinda Gurney, who played for the Tar Heels from 1990 to 1993, was a two-time All-America and three-time ACC Player of the Year. In 1991, she ranked third in the nation, the highest rating ever by a Carolina player in singles. In 1993, she was the NCAA singles runnerup.
Other top performers who played for Harrison include Kathy Barton, Carolina's first All-America women's tennis player, and Alisha Portnoy, who with Gurney captured All-America doubles honors and won two consecutive ACC doubles championships. In total, Harrison coached seven of the nine Tar Heels named to the ACC Top 50 Women's Tennis Team, named during the ACC's 50th anniversary year.
Off the court, Harrison's contributions to the Carolina tennis program were invaluable. For Harrison, academics were as important as success on the tennis court. Her players were consistently honored with academic achievements and were named not only All-Americas, but Phi Beta Kappas as well. Harrison also served as a member of the Tennis Fundraising Committee that helped bring to life the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, home of UNC's women's and men's tennis teams, in 1992.
In addition to Harrison's honor, Asheville's Dave Carey, a five-time age-group state champion and four-time doubles champion, will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Harrison and Carey are the 63rd and 64th members elected to the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. The induction ceremonies will be held January 31 at the Carolina Hotel at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.