UNC women’s soccer coach draws praise in leading Tar Heels back to national title game

They may as well have called the game at halftime.

By the time No. 2 seed North Carolina scored its third goal in the 59th minute, the outcome of its College Cup semifinal was already clear.

But the play itself is still worth noting. It began with a long goal kick from UNC goalie Clare Gagne, followed by Olivia Thomas winning the midfield battle and racing past Duke defender Nicky Chico. Thomas passed to All-ACC forward Kate Faasse, who found fellow junior Maddie Dahlien. Despite being double-teamed, Dahlien maneuvered skillfully and fired the ball into the net.

That sequence summed up the Tar Heels’ dominance in their 3-0 College Cup semifinal victory over top-ranked Duke. The Blue Devils, who had shut out every opponent before this, were outmatched in every aspect of the game. Friday not only marked the conclusion of Robbie Church’s illustrious tenure as Duke’s head coach, but may also have solidified Damon Nahas’ case for the permanent head coaching role at UNC.

“He has molded their team, taken a lot of new players and he’s gotten them in the national championship game,” Church said of Nahas on Friday. “So I think he’s done one of the best coaching jobs in the country.”

The choice seems clear to many of the Tar Heel players, who have been outspoken in their support for Nahas all season. The latest example came Friday, when Gagne, Faasse and Dahlien were practically tripping over each other to express their support for their interim head coach during the team’s postgame media availability.

“I also just want to add Damon’s ability to put together a roster who had one returning starter coming back and his ability to have us tactically sound going into every single game,” Dahlien interjected on Friday. “I think it just speaks to his level of coaching, how amazing he is and the job he’s done with us this year. I mean, I don’t think any other coach should coach us.”

‘It shouldn’t be in question’

At UNC women’s soccer practice on Oct. 30, the field was scattered with figures in matching bald caps. It was the team’s Halloween-themed practice, and the UNC managers had decided to have a little fun. In Carolina blue long-sleeve shirts and navy joggers tucked into long white socks, they all folded their arms over notebooks — and tried to not to let giggles break their stoic gazes — as they posed for a group photo.

It wasn’t until a closer look that the costumes became clear: They were all dressed as Nahas.

“When I walked downstairs and saw how idiotic they all looked and they were all doing it the same — you have to learn how to laugh at yourself,” Nahas said. “I would consider them to be brave in doing it. I know, for me growing up, I never would’ve been able to do that to my coach. So this just shows their comfort level.”

The Tar Heels are clearly comfortable, even if Nahas isn’t, in expressing their support for the interim coach.

After UNC’s victory over Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament on Nov. 3, several North Carolina players brought a “#REMOVE THE INTERIM TAG” poster onto the field. They signed it and lifted it into the air, a moment first reported by The Daily Tar Heel’s Harry Crowther.

Friday, the players’ support for Nahas continued. Dahlien and her teammates confirmed they have had multiple conversations with UNC leadership to advance their cause.

“I don’t think it goes unsaid that we think Damon deserves the head coaching job and I think that the win tonight should speak for itself,” she said on Friday.

Faasse echoed Dahlien’s sentiment and said people on the outside have continuously doubted Nahas’ “ability to be able to coach this type of team.”

“It speaks volumes of what we keep doing and what he keeps doing for us,” Faasse said. “I think that you can’t look past it anymore. It’s not even a question and it shouldn’t be in question.”

‘Best coach I’ve ever seen’

Nahas was thrust into his current role as interim head coach after Anson Dorrance’s sudden retirement in August — which came just four days before UNC’s season opener at Denver.

He faced multiple challenges in managing a new roster. After North Carolina relinquished a three-goal lead and fell to BYU in the 2023 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, a mass exodus followed. Nine players transferred and eleven signed professional contracts. 16 new players flooded the program this year — six transfers, nine freshmen and one player pulled up from the club soccer team.

Being a young, untested squad, few expected this outcome for the Tar Heels. And yet, under Nahas’ guidance, UNC is thriving and on the brink of a 23rd national title.

With a program as storied as North Carolina’s, there’s certainly a responsibility to cast a wide net and honor the legacy of the talented people who have shaped it. That includes taking a serious look at the numerous former players the program has produced. For UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham — who is already navigating a national search for the school’s next head football coach — the challenge of finding the right leader for women’s soccer is a daunting one.

But, that being said, it appears the players, on-field results and the program’s own founder have already spoken.

“Damon Nahas is the best coach I’ve ever seen,” Dorrance said at his August retirement press conference. “I think he’s the best soccer coach in the country.”