In 1979 UNC expanded Dorrance's duties to include the newly established women's team as well as the men's soccer team.
 It was this event which moved Dorrance into the limelight.
At this time, the NCAA did not have a women's soccer championship.
 When the NCAA showed no interest in establishing one, Dorrance and University of Colorado coach, Chris Lidstone, approached the AIAW, who were receptive to the idea.
 Within two years of the start of the program, Dorrance had guided the Tar Heels to the 1981 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) title.
 After the AIAW led the way, the NCAA finally recognized women's soccer as an inter-collegiate sport and Dorrance's teams proceeded to dominate the sport.
 His teams won 12 of the first 13 NCAA championships (1982–1984, 1986–1994).
 After winning the 2012 NCAA championship, the Tar Heels have claimed a total of 23 national championships and 22 of the 37 NCAA championships.

Dorrance's success comes from several interrelated attributes.
 First, he has an eye for recruiting outstanding talent.
 Related to that is his emphasis on competitiveness.
 He noted early in his time as a women's coach that women seemed to have an inhibition against open competition.
 He decided to develop an atmosphere at UNC in which women were rewarded for having an aggressive desire to win.
 Finally, he noted from his work with both the men's and women's teams that women tended to play best in an atmosphere which focused on relationships.

Dorrance was able to bring out his players' aggressiveness and competitiveness while also fostering an almost family sense of the team.
 Regarding the aggressiveness, Santa Clara University women's soccer coach Jerry Smith noted in a 1998 Sports Illustrated article, "When you watch them, you can see the edge they have.
 I'll go beyond aggressiveness.
 It's meanness.
 Anson has found a way to bring that out of his players."
 Mia Hamm added in the same article, "I grew up always good at sports, but being a girl, I was never allowed to feel as good about it as guys were.
 My toughness wasn't celebrated.
 But then I got to the University of North Carolina, and it was O.K. to want to be the best."
Anson Dorrance was honored with his name replaced the soccer stadium which was known as Fetzer field.
It is now named Dorrance field.
In 1979 UNC expanded Dorrance's duties to include the newly established women's team as well as the men's soccer team.  It was this event which moved Dorrance into the limelight. At this time, the NCAA did not have a women's soccer championship.  When the NCAA showed no interest in establishing one, Dorrance and University of Colorado coach, Chris Lidstone, approached the AIAW, who were receptive to the idea.  Within two years of the start of the program, Dorrance had guided the Tar Heels to the 1981 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) title.  After the AIAW led the way, the NCAA finally recognized women's soccer as an inter-collegiate sport and Dorrance's teams proceeded to dominate the sport.  His teams won 12 of the first 13 NCAA championships (1982–1984, 1986–1994).  After winning the 2012 NCAA championship, the Tar Heels have claimed a total of 23 national championships and 22 of the 37 NCAA championships.
Dorrance's success comes from several interrelated attributes.  First, he has an eye for recruiting outstanding talent.  Related to that is his emphasis on competitiveness.  He noted early in his time as a women's coach that women seemed to have an inhibition against open competition.  He decided to develop an atmosphere at UNC in which women were rewarded for having an aggressive desire to win.  Finally, he noted from his work with both the men's and women's teams that women tended to play best in an atmosphere which focused on relationships.
Dorrance was able to bring out his players' aggressiveness and competitiveness while also fostering an almost family sense of the team.  Regarding the aggressiveness, Santa Clara University women's soccer coach Jerry Smith noted in a 1998 Sports Illustrated article, "When you watch them, you can see the edge they have.  I'll go beyond aggressiveness.  It's meanness.  Anson has found a way to bring that out of his players."  Mia Hamm added in the same article, "I grew up always good at sports, but being a girl, I was never allowed to feel as good about it as guys were.  My toughness wasn't celebrated.  But then I got to the University of North Carolina, and it was O.K. to want to be the best." Anson Dorrance was honored with his name replaced the soccer stadium which was known as Fetzer field. It is now named Dorrance field.
Anson Dorrance