An Investigation into the Coaching Approach of a Successful World Class Soccer Coach: Anson Dorrance

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Numerous studies have attempted to understand the processes that contribute to the success of sport teams, and evidence suggests that the role of the coach is particularly impactful [1, 2]. It is often assumed that coaches who consistently produce winning teams do something better or different than coaches of less successful teams. As a result, researchers frequently conduct studies on highly successful coaches through observations, interviews, biographies, and other methodologies to gain insights into the coaching process as well as the strategies these coaches use to help their athletes and teams achieve performance success [3-5]. Anson Dorrance, head women’s soccer coach at the University of North Carolina and former USA Women’s National Team coach, is arguably one of the most successful coaches in the sport of soccer, and perhaps even across sports. With a 94% winning record over 33 years at the collegiate level, 21 national championships, and a first place finish in the 1991 World Cup Championship (i.e., the first in U.S. history), Dorrance has certainly developed a system of coaching that gets results. This makes him a prime target for research on the processes associated with successful coaching. In an attempt to expand on the current body of literature, Jin Wang and Bill Straub conducted a study on Dorrance’s leadership style and approach to coaching. The purpose of this article is to provide a critique of that study as well as a commentary on some of the more prominent findings.