As the only coach whose program was specifically named in the NCAA’s amended Letter of Intent, Sylvia Hatchell has been framed as a potential scapegoat in the long-running scandal involving North Carolina’s African and Afro-American Studies department. Thursday, however, the university reaffirmed its support of its Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach by giving her a two-year contract extension. Hatchell’s new deal runs through the 2019-20 season. She is one of seven UNC coaches to receive extensions. Men’s lacrosse coach Joe Breschi, women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance, men’s tennis coach Sam Paul, field hockey coach Karen Shelton and men’s soccer coach Carlos Somoano all agreed in principle on three-year contracts through 2018-19. Women’s lacrosse coach Jenny Levy also got a two-year extension. UNC’s Board of Trustees have approved the terms of each contract. “This is a remarkable group of head coaches, each of them has won a national championship and they have a combined 168 years directing their programs at Carolina,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said of the group, which has combined for 34 national championships. “We are excited and proud to sign these seven championship coaches to these multi-year contracts and extensions. “We are fortunate to have such quality people directing our programs. They have provided consistent and outstanding leadership for many years, and that leadership has paid off successfully in competition, in the classroom and in their development of the young women and men they coach.” Sylvia Hatchell is in her 42nd season as a college head coach and 31st at UNC. In addition to being a cancer survivor, she is a three-time national Coach of the Year who has compiled 975 career wins and the 1994 national title.Her base salary will range from $366,000 in 2016-17 to $400,000 in the final year of the new deal.”Thanks to Chancellor Carol Folt, Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham and the Board of Trustees for their support and for believing in me and my staff,” Hatchell said. “The future of our program looks tremendous.”Despite the NCAA situation hanging over our athletic department in recent years, our program has remained among the best in the nation, finishing in the top-10 two of the last three years. We have continued the tradition of recruiting top players to our university with three of the last four ACC Rookie of the Year winners being a Tar Heel. I’m honored to continue to represent this great university that I dearly love with honor, grace, style and passion.”
