North Carolina Tar Heels: Donna J. Papa announces retirement

Long-time North Carolina Tar Heels softball coach Donna J. Papa has decided to retire after 38 seasons of coaching in Chapel Hill.

Another legendary North Carolina Tar Heels head coach is retiring from their respective sport.

The latest retirement announcement comes from Donna J. Papa, who has led the UNC softball program for each of the past 38 seasons. Papa is the fifth-longest tenured head coach in any sport in the university’s history and steps away as the sixth-winningest in all of NCAA softball history.

After beginning her coaching career at Susquehanna, Papa took over the UNC softball program prior to the 1985-1986 season. Ever since, Papa has been leading the program, guiding them to five Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season titles as well as 15 NCAA Tournament berths.

Under her leadership, the Tar Heels won 30 or more games on 30 separate occasions and won over 40 contests in 14 of those seasons. In 2008, Papa guided the UNC softball program to arguably its best season ever, as the team won a school-record 50 games, going 18-2 in ACC play and 50-12-1 overall.

Papa made an official statement regarding her retirement as part of the university’s official press release:

"“It has been a great honor and pleasure to have represented the University of North Carolina for the last 38 years. I am grateful to the administrators who took a chance on me,  starting with (Director of Athletics) John Swofford, continuing with Dick Baddour, to Bubba Cunningham and Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz. I have been fortunate to work with so many outstanding coaches, players and people at UNC and throughout my career. I am incredibly grateful to so many, especially my current staff – Chelsey, Fale, Kiwi, Jordan and Preston – who have supported me this season and throughout the years.”"

Here’s a look at the numbers that reflect the coaching career of Donna J. Papa, a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Famer:

Career Record: 1,368-820-5 (.625) (40 seasons)
Record at UNC: 1,339-805-5 (.624) (38 seasons)
Five-time ACC Coach of the Year (1996, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2012)
Five ACC regular-season titles (1996, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2012)
2001 ACC Tournament title
10 players with 14 total All-America honors
11 ACC Player/Pitcher/Rookies/Defensive Player of the Year

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