North Carolina women's tennis lost one of its foundational figures. Former head coach Kitty Harrison has died, the program announced.
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No additional details were released, but the impact she leaves behind is clear.
Harrison didn't just coach at UNC. She built it.
She led the Tar Heels from 1976 to 1998 and walked away as the winningest coach in ACC history at the time, finishing with 362 career victories. Her teams set the tone early, winning the first four ACC championships ever contested and consistently competing at a high level.
Kitty Harrison, right, was UNC tennis pioneer. (Facebook)
Eight of her teams finished ranked in the national top 25. She coached some of the best players in program history, including Cinda Gurney, a two-time All-American and three-time ACC Player of the Year who reached as high as No. 3 in the country.
Harrison's influence went beyond wins and rankings.
She emphasized academics just as much as results, with players earning both All-American honors and academic recognition. She also played a key role in helping bring the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center to life, giving UNC a long-term home for the program.
That's how you build something that lasts.
Harrison was later inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, another nod to the career she put together.
UNC said it best: Her legacy will always be part of the program, and it's not going anywhere.
