| Donna Papa |
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Donna J. Papa, head softball coach at North Carolina since 1986, has been the veritable architect of a Carolina softball program that ranks among the country's best. Papa's Tar Heels continue to show improvement each season. In fact, Papa led the Tar Heels, NCAA Tournament participants in nine of the last 10 years, to a new school record for most wins in a season as the team went 50-12-1 in 2008 - hosting the first ever NCAA Regional at Anderson Stadium. The success continued as Carolina won 42 games in 2010 en route to their eighth straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Under her tutelage Carolina has established itself as a perennial top 25 program testimony that UNC competes at the highest levels on the field while excelling academically at one of the nation's top universities.
One of the 20 winningest coaches in NCAA history, Papa joined the 900-win club February 20, 2009 in a defeat over Cal State Fullerton. In her remarkable 27-year coaching career, she has compiled a 977-533-5 record, including a 949-518-2 mark as head coach at Carolina. Papa will aim for her 1,000th career victory in 2011, a feat fewer that 15 coaches have ever reached.
During her tenure at UNC, Papa has led the Tar Heels to 22 winning seasons, including the last 12 in a row. The team earned its first NCAA Tournament bid in 2001 and has made returns to the field the past eight years.
Carolina claimed the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, four regular season titles and has played in the title game on two other occasions. Papa has been named ACC Coach of the Year four times - in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2008.
Since coming to Chapel Hill in 1985, Papa has coached players to All-America seasons on 11 occasions and All-Southeast Region performances on 56.
Theresa Buscemi was the first Tar Heel to earn All-America honors when she was named to the third team in 1992. Christine Kubin earned first-team honors in 1996, and Brandy Arthur followed in 1998. Kelly Ramsey was named to the third team in 2000, Tiffany Tolleson was named a second team member in 2002 and third team in 2003, and Jaclyn Holden became the first Tar Heel freshman to earn the honor when she was named to the third team in 2003. In 2006, Crystal Cox was selected to the third team. Junior Danielle Spaulding is a three-time All-America after earning a first team nod in 2010.
UNC players who have earned first-team All-Southeast Region honors under Papa's coaching are Natalie Anter (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002), Brandy Arthur (1995, `98), Sonya Bright (1993), Theresa Buscemi (1992), Crystal Henderson (1999), Jaclyn Holden (2003), Jen Klesaris (2000), Christine Kubin (1996), Tracey Narwid (1989,`90), Maria Powers (1986), Emily Price (2004), Kelly Ramsey (2000), Michelle Semmes (2000), Lorin Slade (1996), Beverly Smith (1994), Tiffany Tolleson (2002 and 2003), Crystal Cox (2006), Jennifer Jacobs (2008), Lisa Norris (2008, `09) and Danielle Spaulding (2008, `09, `10), and Breanna Brown (2009).
"My goal for student-athletes in this program is that they become the best players they can be and they have a quality experience on the field," Papa says. "But we also want to be helping them off the field in terms of the things that they'll take with them for the rest of their lives - the discipline, the respect for others, time management. We want them to go away feeling like they weren't just a player in our program, they were part of a family. We have a softball family that goes on after they graduate."
In addition to success on the field, Papa's program is known for excellence in the classroom. Christine Kubin earned Academic All-America honors in 1995 and `96, and nine other Tar Heels have been named to the Academic All-America All-District team. Players who have earned that honor are Jenny Reed (1989), Julie O'Shields (1992), Lynnae Flynn (1993), Kubin (1994), Colleen Lefferts (1999), Beth Olen (2000), Sarah Young (2001, `02), Anna Tharrington (2003), Jessica Graziano (2004) and Anna Evans (2006, `07). In 2010, Stephanie Murad and senior Brittany Robinson were named NFCA Scholar Athletes.
Tar Heel softball players regularly earn spots on the ACC Academic Honor Roll, with four making the list for the 2008-09 school year. Breanna Brown is a three-time recipient, while Brittany McKinney and Emily Troup were also named to the All-ACC Academic Team in 2008. The 2009 All-ACC Academic team included Breanna Brown, Emily Troup, Brittany McKinney and Anna Roberts.
During her time at North Carolina, Papa has been a driving force behind the construction of the new UNC Softball Complex. The Tar Heels began play at Anderson Stadium and Williams field in 2002. The second phase of construction featured the additions of the team building, concessions, press box, restrooms and locker rooms. This second phase was completed and dedicated in 2006. It features many player-friendly innovations while allowing the fans to watch and players to play softball in a first class facilty.
"It was really a great thing to see happen," Papa says. "It was something I had been looking at on paper for years, but to have had it happen was a dream come true. You want to leave something behind and this facility is something I can leave as my mark. It was an exciting thing for our program."
Prior to arriving in Chapel Hill, Papa spent two seasons as head volleyball and softball coach at Susquehanna University. Her 1985 softball squad compiled a 16-8 record, won its conference division and qualified for the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. Papa's duties at Susquehanna also included working as the women's intramural coordinator, a physical education instructor and the school's primary recruiter for women's athletics.She served as an assistant softball coach at St. John's University from 1981-83 after spending one year as an assistant coach at UNC Greensboro while she worked toward a master's degree in physical education.
Papa earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Connecticut in 1979. She played four seasons of softball for the Huskies and was co-captain her junior and senior seasons. Papa's playing career also encompassed stints with ASA Major Fast Pitch teams including the Franklin Coronets (West Haven, Conn.) and the Waterford (Conn.) Mariners.
A respected clinician, Papa conducts Carolina softball camps and clinics throughout the year. She has been a member of the Louisville Slugger Advisory Board since 1994 and was a member of the Women's Pro Softball League Advisory Board. Papa is currently serving a two-year term on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Committee and NFCA recruiting committee. She also served on the NCAA All-Region Committee and completed a two-year term representing the ACC on the NFCA Top-25 Selection Committee in 2006 and 2007.
Born March 16, 1956, in Waterbury, Conn., she was a recipient of the Olympian Award, presented by the Olympian Club of Waterbury, Conn., in recognition of outstanding achievement in athletics.
