The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee recognized UNC field hockey head coach Karen Shelton on Wednesday with its first ever USOPC College Coach of the Year award, after Shelton recently led her Tar Heels to their second straight undefeated season and NCAA Championship.

The award covers all sports and is presented to a coach at the NCAA level who has worked with their national governing body and made an impact on their sport.

“I’m honored to win the first College Coach of the Year Award from the USOPC,” Shelton said. “As a former Olympian and as a college coach, I feel it’s so important to work with our national governing body, USA Field Hockey. One reason student-athletes come to UNC because they know we’re going to prepare them well to go on and represent the U.S., and over the years we’ve done that.”

The head coach of UNC’s field hockey program since 1981, Shelton has a career record of 692-164-9 to go along with eight national titles and 24 Final Four appearances.

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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