The North Carolina Tar Heels are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State. The campus at Chapel Hill is referred to as the University of North Carolina for the purposes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Since the school fostered the oldest collegiate team in the Carolinas, the school took on the nickname Carolina, especially in athletics. The Tar Heels are also referred to as UNC or The Heels.
Athletes and sports teams from North Carolina compete across an array of professional and amateur levels of competition, along with athletes who compete at the World and Olympic levels in their respective sport. Major league professional teams based in North Carolina include teams that compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The state is also home to NASCAR Cup Series races. At the collegiate and university level, there are several North Carolina schools in various conferences across an array of divisions. North Carolina also has many minor league baseball teams. There are also a number of indoor football, indoor soccer, minor league basketball, and minor league ice hockey teams based throughout the state.
Casey Nicole Loyd is an American former professional soccer midfielder. She played collegiately for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she won two national championships. She played professionally for the Los Angeles Sol, Sky Blue FC, and Chicago Red Stars of the WPS and FC Kansas City of the NWSL. She earned five caps with the United States national team. As a member of the national under-20 team, she played at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship and the 2007 Pan American Games.
Elmar Bolowich was most recently head coach of the George Mason Patriots men's soccer team at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, United States. He was previously the head coach of the Creighton Bluejays men's soccer team at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for eight years after leaving his 22-year tenure as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer team at the University of North Carolina.
Amber Jean Brooks is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Dallas Trinity FC in the USL Super League. She has previously played for Adelaide United, the Houston Dash, OL Reign, the Washington Spirit, the Portland Thorns, Bayern Munich, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. She won two NCAA championships with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Paige Kathleen Nielsen is an American professional soccer defender who currently plays for Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The 2018 North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 72nd season of the university fielding a program.
Ryan Louis Spaulding is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Tampa Bay Rowdies on loan from Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.
Victoria "Vicky" Frances Bruce is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Carolina Ascent in the USL Super League.
Giovanni Montesdeoca is an American soccer player who plays as a forward.
Tori Elizabeth Hansen is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Brooklyn FC of the USL Super League. Internationally she has represented the United States at multiple youth levels.
Milo Garvanian is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chattanooga FC in MLS Next Pro.
Barrie Cannon Clough is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Carolina Ascent.
Maycee Nicole Bell is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, she played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She was selected by NJ/NY Gotham FC in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. She represented the United States at the youth international level.
Emmie Allen is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played two seasons of college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels, which she helped reach the 2022 national title game.
Samantha Meza is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League, on loan from Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was drafted by the Reign in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She represented the United States at the under-15, under-17, and under-20 level, winning CONCACAF tournaments at each level.
Julia Carroll Dorsey is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Super League club Dallas Trinity FC. A former two-sport athlete, she played soccer and lacrosse at the University of North Carolina, winning the NCAA championship with the lacrosse team in 2022. She was selected by the North Carolina Courage in the 2024 NWSL Draft.
Tessa Dellarose is an American college soccer player who plays as a left back or defensive midfielder for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She won the 2024 national championship with the Tar Heels. She represented the United States at the under-20 level.
Mia Katherine Oliaro is an American college soccer player who plays as a wingback for the Duke Blue Devils. She previously played for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She has represented the United States at the youth international level.
Alexandra Amalia Kimball-Suarez is a Peruvian-American soccer coach and player. Born and raised in the United States, she has represented Peru at the international level. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels before being drafted by Utah Royals FC in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.
