Three-time women's soccer national champion Tracey Bates Leone has returned to the University of North Carolina as an assistant coach, bringing with her over three decades of coaching and playing experience at the collegiate and international level. Leone, who was a standout midfielder for the Tar Heels in the late 1980s, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to coach at her alma mater alongside head coach Anson Dorrance. Her extensive experience, including playing for the United States Women's National Team and coaching various college teams, is expected to be invaluable for the student-athletes at UNC.

By the Numbers
  • Leone led the Tar Heels to three national championships and one runner-up finish in the late 1980s.
  • She earned 29 caps with 21 starts for the United States Women's National Team from 1987-91, scoring five goals and dishing out two assists.
  • Leone founded the women's soccer program at Clemson University in 1993 and led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament each of her six years as head coach.
State of Play
  • Leone returns to Chapel Hill as an assistant coach, having most recently coached at Colby College during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
  • She has extensive experience working with various levels of the U.S. Women's National teams, the Olympic Development Program, and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Bottom Line

Tracey Bates Leone's return to UNC as an assistant coach brings a wealth of experience and success, offering the women's soccer program the potential to reach new heights under her guidance.