University of North Carolina Athletics
Amato: Karen Shelton Postseason Q&A (Audio)
December 11, 2009 | Field Hockey
Dec. 11, 2009
CHAPEL HILL - Seconds after the University of North Carolina field hockey team won its sixth NCAA title, Karen Shelton's phone was buzzing and beeping with all sorts of congratulations. In the weeks after the 3-2 win over Maryland, decided on field hockey's version of a buzzer-beater, her office also bears witness to the championship. She has cards, letters and e-mails from those in and out of the Carolina family, from former players and coaching brethren.
Shelton has been UNC's field hockey coach since 1981, when she was 23 and still a player herself for the U.S. National Team. She had doubts about being a head coach at that age, but when she arrived in Chapel Hill, she had a vision of what the Tar Heels' program could become, even though it was far south of the sport's epicenter.
Now, as Shelton reflects on her career and the most recent title, she also looks forward to her 30th season. Thirty years is a long time, but Shelton shows no signs of slowing down.
Hear her thoughts on the timely goal-scoring of Dani Forword, the sometimes forgotten goalkeeping of Jackie Kintzer and the mid-1990s recruiting classes that got the program rolling in this three-part audio Q&A with Neil Amato.
