Athletics

Still Player-Focused After 1,000 Wins

"It's all because of them."

"It's all because of them."

With former Francis Marion and Carolina players there to celebrate her 1,000th career win, UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell made sure to reference her players post-game comments, multiple times.

Hatchell became just the third NCAA women’s basketball coach — and the fourth NCAA basketball coach — to reach 1,000 wins after a 79-63 win over Grambling State on Dec. 19, 2017. She’s the only coach to win NCAA, AIAW and NAIA national titles. Even with all of the accolades, Hatchell — who former player Ivory Latta calls her “my second mom” — remains passionate about coaching her players.

“A thousand wins, I look at that and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh,’” Hatchell said. “I remember my first game at Francis Marion, and it doesn’t seem that long ago. But life is good, and I’m just very thankful and blessed for all of the opportunities I’ve had throughout the years and this great game of basketball.”

Read the complete Carolina Story from GoHeels.com…Opens in new window

To honor her former players and to support the Campaign for Carolina, Hatchell made a gift that initiates a membership in The Rams Club for every former playerOpens in new window who has graduated from the University and is not yet a member of The Rams Club. 

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