Tar Heel Staff Honored As Nation's Best

On the heels of an undefeated season and an NCAA Championship, the North Carolina field hockey coaching staff has been named the top staff in the nation. Head coach Karen Shelton, Associate Head Coach Grant Fulton and Assistant Coach Mark Atherton were recognized as the Spiideo/NFHCA National Coaching Staff of the Year on Thursday evening at the National Field Hockey Coaches Association convention in Lake Mary, Fla.

The 2018 Tar Heels finished the season 23-0, claiming the program's seventh national title and 21^st Atlantic Coast Conference crown. UNC led the NCAA stats in scoring average, scoring margin, winning percentage and goals against average, never allowing more than two goals in a game and earning 10 shutouts, including a 2-0 win over Maryland in the NCAA title game.

The 2018 season was Shelton's 38^th at UNC. It was the 14th for Fulton and the third for Atherton. The staff also included volunteer assistant coach Jackie Briggs and student assistant coach Gab Major.

This is the second year that the NFHCA has honored a staff of the year instead of a head coach. The Tar Heel staff won South Region honors in both 2017 and 2018. To view past winners, click here.

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