Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Women’s Soccer Coaches Honored As National Staff Of The Year
December 20, 2024 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After leading the Tar Heels to their unprecedented 23rd national championship, the North Carolina women's soccer coaching staff has been recognized as the NCAA Division I Women's National Coaching Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches, as announced by the organization on Friday.
Recently-named head coach Damon Nahas and assistant coaches Chris Ducar and Tracey Bates Leone received the prestigious honor.
En route to the national title, Carolina's elite coaching staff guided the Tar Heels to a 22-5 overall record. It was the program's 21st 22+ win season in program history, and those 22 victories led the nation.
The Tar Heels were also unanimously ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll. The program spent every week in the top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches poll as well as in the top four of the NCAA RPI, highlighted by five weeks at the top spot of the latter.
UNC reached several notable milestones in 2024 under the guidance of Nahas, Ducar and Leone. The Tar Heels saw their 250th regular season ACC win (Oct. 10), 950th all-time win (Nov. 7) and 150th NCAA Tournament win (Nov. 24). They knocked off No. 1 Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals before defeating them once again in the NCAA College Cup semifinals, its first wins over a top-ranked opponent in five years.
Nahas, who served as interim head coach during the 2024 season, officially had the tag lifted prior to the national championship game. He became the second coach in NCAA women's soccer history to win a national championship in their first year at the helm, and the fourth UNC head coach to achieve the feat. Nahas was recently named the TopDrawerSoccer Coach of the Year.
The UNC staff will be honored at the United Soccer Coaches Awards Ceremony on Jan. 10, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel in Chicago in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention. Each Regional Staff of the Year appeared on the ballot for National Staff of the Year, along with the addition of staffs from all schools that reached the semifinals of their respective championship.
2024 Season Highlights
Recently-named head coach Damon Nahas and assistant coaches Chris Ducar and Tracey Bates Leone received the prestigious honor.
En route to the national title, Carolina's elite coaching staff guided the Tar Heels to a 22-5 overall record. It was the program's 21st 22+ win season in program history, and those 22 victories led the nation.
The Tar Heels were also unanimously ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll. The program spent every week in the top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches poll as well as in the top four of the NCAA RPI, highlighted by five weeks at the top spot of the latter.
UNC reached several notable milestones in 2024 under the guidance of Nahas, Ducar and Leone. The Tar Heels saw their 250th regular season ACC win (Oct. 10), 950th all-time win (Nov. 7) and 150th NCAA Tournament win (Nov. 24). They knocked off No. 1 Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals before defeating them once again in the NCAA College Cup semifinals, its first wins over a top-ranked opponent in five years.
Nahas, who served as interim head coach during the 2024 season, officially had the tag lifted prior to the national championship game. He became the second coach in NCAA women's soccer history to win a national championship in their first year at the helm, and the fourth UNC head coach to achieve the feat. Nahas was recently named the TopDrawerSoccer Coach of the Year.
The UNC staff will be honored at the United Soccer Coaches Awards Ceremony on Jan. 10, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel in Chicago in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention. Each Regional Staff of the Year appeared on the ballot for National Staff of the Year, along with the addition of staffs from all schools that reached the semifinals of their respective championship.
2024 Season Highlights
- The Tar Heels claimed their 23rd national championship (22nd NCAA championship) in program history. No other women's soccer program has more than four.
- UNC extended its streak as the only team to appear in all 43 NCAA Tournaments. The team earned its 32nd College Cup berth – 18 more than any other school.
- Carolina saw its 21st 22+ win season in program history. Its 22 victories on the year lead the nation.
- UNC earned its 250th regular season win (Oct. 10) and 950th all-time win (Nov. 7). No other school has more than 187 and 629, respectively.
- The team also won its 150th NCAA Tournament game on Nov. 24, and now has 154 NCAA wins. No other program has more than 83.
- An 8-0 win over USC Upstate in the NCAA First Round matched the program's largest first-round win in school history from 2003.
- Kate Faasse was named a finalist for the coveted MAC Hermann Trophy, the program's first since Brianna Pinto in 2020-21.
- Faasse was also named a finalist for the prestigious Honda Award, becoming the first Tar Heel to be in the top four since Emily Fox in 2019-20.
- Olivia Thomas was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player while Clare Gagne earned the defensive honor.
- Thomas, Gagne, Trinity Armstrong and Linda Ullmark were named to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team.
- Faasse was named the TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year while Nahas was tabbed the Coach of the Year. Six players found themselves on TDS Best XI teams.
- UNC had three All-America selections. Faasse is the first First Team All-America since Pinto in 2020. Armstrong is the first All-America rookie since Alessia Russo also landed on the second team in 2017. Dellarose was tabbed to the fourth team.
- Armstrong and Faasse earned All-Atlantic Region First Team praise with Dellarose landing on the second team. It is the 10th year in a row UNC has had at least three All-Region picks.
- Six Tar Heels combined for seven All-ACC Honors, highlighted by Armstrong and Faasse on the first team. Four players were tabbed to the All-ACC Tournament Team.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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