Hatchell recently completed her 22nd season as head coach of the Tar Heels
and her 33rd as a collegiate head coach. She has led North Carolina to four
consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference championships, two Final Four
appearances in the last four years and trips to at least the NCAA regional
finals from 2005-08. She led the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship in 1994.
"Sylvia is one of the most successful women¹s basketball coaches in America
and has done a phenomenal job in making UNC one of the top programs in the
country," says Baddour. "Her teams have won at a very high rate and the
student-athletes on her teams have excelled academically as well as
athletically. After the 2006-07 season, we talked about looking at her
current contract at the end of this year to make sure she was compensated in
line with other premier coaches. That is what we have done. This is similar
to what we did in 2003 and 2006."
Hatchell, a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, has an overall
record of 784-305 and a 512-195 mark at North Carolina. A two-time national
coach of the year, she won ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2008 after
leading the Tar Heels to a 33-3 record and ACC regular-season and Tournament
championships.
"After several conversations with Dick Baddour, I have decided to withdraw
my name from consideration for the head coaching position at the University
of South Carolina," says Hatchell. "North Carolina is my home and I am
convinced that the support is here for us to continue as one of the top
programs in the country. I have the best staff in America. I am excited
about our future and look forward to the challenge of winning more
championships. I want to thank Dick Baddour, Chancellor Moeser, the Board
of Trustees, the University, the community, and last but not least our many
wonderful and loyal fans for their support.
"It was an honor to be considered by South Carolina's director of athletics
Eric Hyman. South Carolina is one of the few places I would look at because
of its location and the relationships I have with so many very special
people in the state. I want to thank Eric for his consideration and for how
professional he has been through this process. There is no doubt that they
are committed to having a strong women's basketball program at South
Carolina. I wish them only the best.
"I look forward to leading the University of North Carolina women's
basketball team to a great future of winning and hanging many more
championship banners in our newly renovated Carmichael Auditorium."
Baddour will propose changes to Hatchell's contract at the Board of
Trustees' meeting in May.