From 1961 to 1997 the men's basketball team
was coached by Dean Smith, who holds the
record (as of 2005) for the most victories
by an NCAA Division I men's basketball coach
with 879 wins. Coach Smith led the Tarheels
to 2 national championships, which placed
him only 1 title behind rival Duke coach
Mike Krzyzewski. Roy Williams coached the
championship team in 2005, reinforcing his
position as one of the all-time notable
coaches.
The school's sports teams are called the
Tar Heels and the mascot is the ram. They
participate in the NCAA's Division I-A and
in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The University of North Carolina has won
36 team national championships in five different
sports and 51 individual national championships:
The women's soccer team has won eighteen
national championships since 1981, the men's
soccer team has won in 2001, the women's
basketball team has won in 1994, the men's
basketball team has won in 1957, 1982, 1993,
and most recently in 2005, the men's lacrosse
team has won in 1982, 1986, and 1991, the
women's field hockey team won in 1985, 1995,
1996, and 1997, the women's team handball
team has won in 2004, and the men's team
handball team has won in 2004 and 2005.
Notable students who have worn the North
Carolina Jersey include Mia Hamm, Davis
Love III, Eddie Pope, Roy Williams, Marion
Jones, Lawrence Taylor and many others.
Those who have competed in the North Carolina
Basketball Jersey include Michael Jordan,
Vince Carter, Julius Peppers, Raymond Felton,
Phil Ford, and Rasheed Wallace.
