University of North Carolina Athletics
Former UNC Women's Golf Coach Dot Gunnells Passes Away
April 25, 2017 | Women's Golf
Dot Gunnells, the head women's golf coach at the University of North Carolina for 18 years and the 1993 NCAA Women's Golf Coach of the Year, passed away this morning in Burlington after a brief illness. She was 88.
Gunnells took over head coaching duties in 1975-76, the third year of UNC'S varsity program, and continued as head coach of the Tar Heels through the 1992-93 season.
“Long before I came to Carolina, Dot helped shape me as a person and as a coach,” says Jan Mann, UNC's head women's golf coach. “Those that were fortunate enough to know Dot understood what a special person she was. She loved deeply and it showed in everything she did. Although extremely competitive, it was never about the wins but much more about the relationships she built with her teams and her entire Carolina family. Dot continued to influence our teams long after leaving coaching. She always enjoyed coming out to practice and to tournaments. Her last words to each team member before teeing off was to 'HAVE FUN!' She will be missed, but will always be in our Carolina hearts.”
Gunnells' teams finished in the top 25 nationally 11 times, including four top-10 performances – eighth in 1989, 1992 and 1993 and 10th in 1978. She coached six All-Americas, including Katie Peterson and Kim Byham, who earned first-team All-America honors in 1989 and 1993, respectively. Linda Mescan (1982), Page Marsh (1983), Peterson (1988) and Donna Andrews (1989) also earned All-America honors during Gunnells' tenure. Peterson and Marsh both played for the United States in the Curtis Cup.
“We lost a Tar Heel icon today,” says Sally Austin, who played for Gunnells at Carolina, was Gunnells' assistant coach for 11 years and succeeded her as UNC's head coach. “Coach Gunnells was so loved. She never met a stranger or missed the chance to have a good time. Everyone loved her and her laugh. She took our team from a start-up group of golf wannabes to a nationally-recognized program. She encouraged us to work hard and always have fun. We learned so much from her about life and how to live it. She was my coach, mentor and friend.
“She took picnic lunches for our trips that she cooked. She worked hard so that we could go to nationals in Hawaii our senior year. We played well enough to qualify to go but how she talked the director of athletics into giving us enough money to go I'll never know.”
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Gunnells came to Carolina soon after graduating from Memphis State in 1951. She was an administrative aide to football head coach George Barclay and men's basketball head coach Frank McGuire, and later also worked in the athletic ticket office with Jean Keller and was the cheerleading coach. In 1978, the UNC cheerleaders won the national championship and finished second a year later.
Gunnells was director of the Twin States, Carolinas and North Carolina Junior Golf Tournaments prior to being named head coach of the Tar Heels in 1975. Her husband, Jack, served as UNC's long-time director of personnel.
Gunnells led the Tar Heels to 29 team titles and her players won medalist honors 30 times.
She was the ACC Coach of the Year in 1985, and the National Golf Coaches Association's East Regional Coach of the Year in 1989, 1992 and 1993. She was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was presented the Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award in 1993. The Palmer Award honors individuals who made a substantial contribution to the evolution and growth of women's collegiate golf. Recipients influenced women's golf in a manner that changed the complexion of the sport through a pioneering spirit.
Gunnells' husband, Jack, passed away in 1996. They are survived by their son, John, and their grandson, Jack Aaron Gunnells, his wife, Lesa, and Dot's great-grandchildren, Brody and Jackson.
Additional statements following the passing of Dot Gunnells:
Dick Baddour
Former UNC Director of Athletics
“Dot was a classy lady who was deeply committed to the young women she recruited to Carolina. She expected excellence in the classroom and on the golf course. Her student-athletes responded and developed a love and devotion to UNC women's golf and UNC. I will greatly miss her wonderful smile and her support of my family and me.”
Devon Brouse
Former UNC Men's Golf Coach
“Dot was a true champion for women's college golf. As I traveled the country the last 20 years with our teams, I have always been amazed how much love and respect her former peer coaches had for her. She was always fun to be around and one of the most positive people I have been around. We will miss her.”
Kandi Comer (Kandi Kessler)
Former Tar Heel Golfer
“Dot Gunnells was a coach who quickly turned into a very special friend. She was like family. She taught me how to keep life in perspective and to always have fun. I can still hear her voice as I walked off the first tee telling me to 'Have Fun' as only she could.”
UNC Assistant A.D. for Football and Olympic Sports Operations
“Coach Gunnells was a Tar Heel to the core. She had the unique ability to make everyone feel as if you were her best friend. In a live, televised interview during the Solheim Cup some years ago Coach jumped to the reporter's microphone as her Texas friends were gesturing 'hook 'em horns' and yelled 'Go Heels'…in about 14 syllables. She was and is loved and beloved. She created a family that will forever endure.”
Janet Haire
Former Tar Heel Golfer
“Coach Gunnells was so much more than just a coach to us. She was a coach sure, but also, and more importantly, she was a friend, a mentor and a shining example of kindness, humility and leadership. She knew the pressure we felt on the golf course, but she wanted to make sure we had fun too. She loved life, and it was infectious. Our lives are so much richer for having her in them. It's a very sad day for Carolina Women's Golf. We will all miss her very, very much. Love you Coach. You were the best!”
Bettie Lou Evans
Former University of Kentucky Golf Coach
“Coaching was a great profession, but it was even more important to have special friends like Dot Gunnells to share the joys and disappointments with. I was lucky to have her and have many wonderful memories of our times together.”
Kim Lewellen (Kim Byham)
Played for Gunnells at UNC; Head Coach, University of Virginia
“Coaches are teachers, motivators, strategists, and disciplinarians, but sometimes we forget they are one of a player's greatest fans. I would not have been able to accomplish the things I did as a player and now as a coach without the love and support of Dot Gunnells. She has always been there pulling for and supporting me in whatever I have undertaken in my life. She's the only one I have ever referred to as 'Coach.' I am grateful for all you have done for me and others. Thanks, Coach.”
Page Marsh
Played for Gunnells at UNC; Head Coach, NC State
“Coach Gunnells has been an influential part of my life as a coach, mentor and friend. My twins call her Nana Dot. She coached all three Marsh sisters during her tenure at UNC, so we have had the privilege of her influence in all of our lives. We have become part of her extended family. She taught us all about passion, had a zest for life and made and kept friends and relationships her entire life. We met her friends all over the country; she inspired so many to support our teams. She was competitive. She had tried to win national championships in two different sports in her career (golf and cheerleading). She told me in the hospital she hadn't accomplished that but sure had fun trying. We as her players were infused with her love of team and sport and family. She always said on the first tee as you left to have fun. She made all of us feel special and left joy in her wake. I am so blessed to have been part of her life and better for it. She has left significant contributions to the university and collegiate women's golf as one of the pioneers in the sport.”
Former UNC Senior Woman Administrator
“Dot was a well-respected golf coach, but more importantly, she was a wonderful person. She was loved by her student-athletes and everyone who knew her. She will be greatly missed.”
UNC Men's Golf Coach
“Dot was not only a wonderful coach, she was an incredible person. I remember her from my playing days at UNC and was so glad to get to see her from time to time when she came out to Finley since I have been back at Carolina. I always enjoyed spending time with her and you could see the love she had for her players by how much they loved her. We will truly miss her.”
John Swofford
Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner, Former UNC Director of Athletics
"Dot was an incredibly devoted individual, to her players, to the University of North Carolina, and to the sport of golf. Her successes will be measured well beyond what happened on the golf course. She will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her entire family."
Suzy Whaley (Suzy McGuire)
Former Tar Heel Golfer
“Dot was a wonderful coach and friend. Her positive attitude, friendly demeanor, and warm heart inspired us to see the good in everything we did. With Dot we always knew she would make us smile and give us the confidence to play our best. She will be sorely missed but we will always remember her love for us and the Heels!”
