With the top-ranked UNC field hockey team playing its first season in its brand new on-campus stadium, it was announced Monday that the facility will be named after longtime head coach Karen Shelton.

Currently in her 38th year in charge of the Tar Heel program, Shelton has won a whopping six national titles and 20 ACC championshios.

Karen Shelton Stadium will be the first UNC athletic facility named after a woman, and will mark just the second time in school history (Dean Smith) that an active Tar Heel head coach will work in a stadium named after them.

Longtime UNC athletics supporters Ken and Cheryl Williams committed the lead gift to make the naming of the stadium possible.

“I could not feel more honored and humbled by this gift,” Shelton said. “Ken and Cheryl have been good friends and supporters of our program for a long time. When they told me about their donation and that they wanted to name the stadium for me, I was so surprised and overcome with emotion. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
 
“This stadium is such a wonderful tribute to all of the players and coaches who have come through our program and helped to make it great. I’m so proud that this outstanding facility is the new home for Carolina Field Hockey.”

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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