Chris Ducar has been working the same job for 26 years. Now, he’s finally being promoted.

Ducar, a longtime assistant and goalkeeper coach for the UNC women’s soccer program under Anson Dorrance, was named the team’s new general manager Wednesday. Among other things, Ducar’s new role will see him directing recruiting and the team’s name, image and likeness program.

“This new role is the next step in my soccer career,” Ducar said in a release from Carolina Athletics. “I’m going to miss the training and working every day with the goalkeepers and entire team, but Anson and I envision this as an opportunity to have an even greater impact on the entire program.”

Carolina won nine national championships during Ducar’s tenure as assistant coach. He was named the United Soccer Coaches National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006, when UNC finished 27-1-0 and won the national title.

Individually, Ducar has trained five Carolina goalkeepers who have gone on to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team, including current goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.

Under Ducar, goalkeeper Lindsey Harris set the UNC single-season saves record in 2016, and Samantha Leshnak also set a program record for consecutive scoreless minutes in 2018.

“The goalkeepers who have played for Team USA have developed at a number of colleges, but Chris is the only coach that has coached five of them,” said Dorrance. “I’m excited the work Chris is going to manage will assist our players at all positions with the same level of expertise with which he has directed our goalkeeper program.”

 

Featured image via Carolina Athletics


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