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Originally Posted On: https://medium.com/@brasierjd63/nahas-shows-hes-the-right-coach-for-unc-women-s-soccer-46f92152f90f

 

Nahas shows he’s the right coach for UNC women’s soccer

The short-term decision for UNC was easy when legendary women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance unexpectedly announced his retirement only four days before the current season.

Damon Nahas, Dorrance’s longtime assistant, would take over. And that’s what happened. UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham named Nahas “interim” coach with Dorrance’s blessing.

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

At UNC, which has won 21 national titles in the sport, you don’t just automatically elevate an assistant on a permanent basis. No need to rush a decision knowing that many of the nation’s most established and successful coaches would be interested in the job at the end of the season.

The widespread presumption of players and supporters — and perhaps Dorrance’s intent by retiring on the eve of the season — was that Nahas would have the opportunity to show he deserved to keep the position.

Nahas has done just that. Now, the long-term decision seems just as easy.

With a roster including 11 newcomers, Nahas has not only gained the overwhelming support of his players, but guided them into this weekend’s College Cup, the Final Four of collegiate soccer, in Cary.

With two more victories, Nahas will capture a national title in his first year as head coach with a post-season run that’s already included a victory over №1 Duke.

“We’re not here without (Nahas),” said junior Kate Faasse, the Heels’ leading scorer. “If he isn’t my coach next year, I don’t know what’s going on.”

It’s been an outstanding, if not, perfect season. The Tar Heels are 20–5 entering the Cup, their only losses to Duke, fellow ACC power Florida State and perennial national power Stanford. Four of the five losses were by one goal, the other — at Florida State — by two.

And the Tar Heels are finishing strong. After knocking off Duke in the ACC Tournament they have followed with four straight victories in the NCAA Tournament, outscoring opponents 14–1.

On Friday, they get another shot at Duke on the same field where they beat them in the ACC Tournament. If the Heels win, they’ll meet another familiar foe — new ACC, old national rival Stanford or longtime conference rival Wake Forest, which they beat in September in the teams’ only matchup, for the national title.

Tar Heel players have made sure to make their feelings known regarding Nahas.

When UNC beat Penn State 2–1 in overtime in last weekend’s NCAA quarterfinals, Tar Heel players lifted a poster reading “#Remove the interim tag” on the field supporting Nahas, and each player signed it.

So Nahas has maintained UNC’s elite status in women’s soccer, an accomplishment much tougher than it was decades ago when Dorrance and UNC were pioneers in championing women’s soccer as an intercollegiate sport.

He has the support of the players, who have praised him not only as a coach but as someone they respect and trust. Plus, he has the full support of Dorrance, the preeminent coach in women’s college soccer.

Perhaps most important, Nahas offers an almost assurance of continued success. Hired by Dorrance in 2015, Nahas’ role expanded in recent years as Dorrance pondered retirement.

“He’s proven that he can succeed here. Hopefully, that will be taken into consideration,” said UNC assistant Tracey Leone, a former star for Dorrance. “He’s really put his heart and soul into the program and worked hard to make it succeed.”

Leone, who joined the UNC staff early in 2024, has become one of Nahas’ biggest boosters.

“One hundred percent of the team wants Damon to be their coach, which pretty much never happens because of players being disenfranchised with their playing time,” Leone wrote in a letter to boosters before the Heels advanced to the College Cup. “They know how good he is. I have never seen a coach more respected by his/her players quite frankly. His atmosphere also prioritizes and fosters care, love, and support of one another while offering them opportunity to achieve their dreams.”

Nahas has an impressive track record in recruiting and developing talent.

A player at N.C. State from 1992–96, Nahas served as the technical director of Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), in Raleigh beginning in 2000. At CASL, he helped develop and execute a technical curriculum for the coaching staff and players, primarily at the U9-U14 levels, for boys and girls.

U.S. Soccer recognized Nahas’ ability, appointing him as U15 girls’ national team coach from 2011–14, leading training camps and scouting and selecting players. In 2014, he began a stint as an assistant with the U17 National Team and was invited to serve as an assistant for the full senior U.S. Women’s National Team.

Nahas’ strong connections at the upper echelon of women’s soccer includes his brother Sean Nahas, the coach of the Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League.

To his credit, Nahas hasn’t used UNC’s NCAA run to make a public pitch for the permanent position.

“Regardless of what happens, I won in the big picture of things,” Nahas said when asked recently by the Daily Tar Heel. “So, for me, connection with your players, connection with your staff, the belief and the joy together to accomplish things that a lot of people never thought that you could accomplish in the manner in which we did — we won a long time ago. Let’s enjoy this ride. And whatever happens, I’m just going to be proud.”

Cunningham made the obvious right choice when Dorrance retired. The choice for moving forward with Nahas seems just as obvious.