North Carolina Tar Heels baseball

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North Carolina Tar Heels
Baseball current event.svg 2025 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team
North Carolina Tar Heels logo.svg
Founded1867;158 years ago (1867)
University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Head coach Scott Forbes (5th season)
Conference ACC
Coastal Division
Location Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Home stadium Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium
(Capacity: 5,000)
Nickname Tar Heels
ColorsCarolina blue and white [1]
   
College World Series runner-up
2006, 2007
College World Series appearances
1960, 1966, 1978, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2024
NCAA regional champions
1978, 1989, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1948, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2013, 2019, 2022
Regular season conference champions
1901, 1922, 1933, 1934, 1948, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 2013, 2024

The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, commonly referred to as Carolina, represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels play their home games on campus at Boshamer Stadium, and are currently coached by Scott Forbes.

Contents

History

North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, 1885 North Carolina Tar Heels Baseball 1885.jpg
North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, 1885

The program's first recorded game took place in 1867, when the Tar Heels defeated a Raleigh all-star team, 34-17. Although baseball continued to be played at UNC, there exists a gap in record-keeping during Reconstruction, despite the noted existence of the UNC baseball team. The program's next recorded games were played in 1891. Thereafter, the University sponsored a varsity intercollegiate baseball program on a regular basis from that season onwards.

In 1921, the University of North Carolina became a founding member of the Southern Conference. Bunny Hearn became head coach of the Tar Heel baseball program in 1932, serving in that capacity for the next 15 years. The Tar Heels would win six Southern Conference baseball titles during the Hearn era, as well as two wartime Ration League titles in 1943 and 1945. In 1947, Hearn suffered a stroke and chose to relinquish his head coaching duties. Walter Rabb would thereafter take over as head coach of the Tar Heel baseball program, though Hearn remained as a coach at North Carolina for another ten years.

During the 1948 season, the program qualified for its first NCAA tournament, which had first been played in 1947. North Carolina's record in the tournament was 1-2.

North Carolina left the Southern Conference in 1953, opting to become a founding member of the newly formed Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels won their first ACC baseball title in 1960. The program's first College World Series appearance also came in 1960. In 1964, the Tar Heels won their second ACC baseball title, posting an undefeated record in conference play. No other team in ACC baseball history has ever been undefeated in conference play. [2]

The Tar Heels would appear in the College World Series three more times during the 20th century.

The Tar Heels reached the College World Series in four consecutive years between 2006 and 2009, and five times in six years between 2006 and 2011. They reached the national championship series in both 2006 and 2007, but lost on both occasions to the Oregon State Beavers. The Tar Heels made a third straight trip to Omaha in 2008.

While Boshamer Stadium was being renovated and rebuilt during the 2008 season, the Tar Heels played their home games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in nearby Cary. The Tar Heels returned to Chapel Hill in February 2009, following the completion of the extensive renovations to Boshamer Stadium. [3] The Tar Heels reached the 2009 College World Series, the program's fourth consecutive College World Series appearance, following their first season playing in newly renovated Boshamer Stadium.

The Tar Heels once again reached the College World Series in 2011. The Tar Heels were the top overall seed in the 2013 NCAA baseball tournament, during which they reached the 2013 College World Series once again. In 2018, the Tar Heels reached the College World Series for the seventh time in thirteen seasons.

Head coaches

Carolina Baseball dugout at Boshamer Stadium Carolina Baseball Dugout (42522238).jpeg
Carolina Baseball dugout at Boshamer Stadium
The 2009 Tar Heels baseball team in Nebraska for the College World Series 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team.jpg
The 2009 Tar Heels baseball team in Nebraska for the College World Series
CoachYearsRecordWin Pct.
Perrin Busbee 1891–18939–6.600
William R. Robertson189410–4.714
Jesse M. Oldham18956–4.600
Benjamin E. Stanley1896–189718–8–1.630
William A. Reynolds 1898–189921–5–1.796
Bob Lawson 1900, 1905–1906, 191047–23–2.667
Ernest Graves 190111–4–2.706
Edward M. Ashenbach19027–6.538
John Curran190313–2–-2.824
John Donnelly19045–8.385
Floyd Simmons190710–9–2.524
Otis Stocksdale 1908–190931–14.689
Charles M. Clancey1911–191226–14.650
George Bowers19137–11.389
Earl T. Mack19148–11.425
Charles A. Doak1915–191619–15.559
Bunny Hearn 1917–1918, 1932–1946214–132–2.618
William Lourcey1919–192019–16–4.538
Bill Fetzer 1921–192570–37–4.649
Vern Duncan 19269–16.360
James N. Ashmore 1927–193172–39–3.645
Walter Rabb1947–1977540–358–9.600
Mike Roberts 1978–1998780–428–3.645
Mike Fox 1999–2020840–355.703
Scott Forbes2021–present148–73.670

[4]

Boshamer Stadium

Steinbrenner Terrace at Boshamer Stadium BoshamerSteinbrenner.jpg
Steinbrenner Terrace at Boshamer Stadium

Boshamer Stadium, the program's home venue, originally opened in 1972 and was renovated in the late 2000s. It has a capacity of 4,100 spectators, with additional standing room. It has hosted five ACC tournaments, most recently in 1983. It is centrally located on the University campus, adjacent to Ehringhaus Residence Hall and Karen Shelton Stadium.

Notable alumni

Current MLB roster

Former Tar Heels on MLB opening day roster 2023 (updated March 30, 2023). [5]

PlayerPositionNumberTeam
Daniel Bard P 52 Colorado Rockies
Zac Gallen P 23 Arizona Diamondbacks
Trevor Kelley P 44 Tampa Bay Rays
Jacob Stallings C 58 Miami Marlins
Trent Thornton P 57 Toronto Blue Jays

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball</span> Intercollegiate basketball team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is a college basketball team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have won six NCAA championships in addition to a 1924 Helms Athletic Foundation title (retroactive). North Carolina has won a record 133 NCAA tournament matchups while advancing to 31 Sweet Sixteen berths, a record 21 Final Fours, and 12 title games. It is the only school to have an active streak of reaching the National Championship game for nine straight decades and at least two Final Fours for six straight decades, all while averaging more wins per season played (20.7) than any other program in college basketball. In 2012, ESPN ranked North Carolina No. 1 on its list of the 50 most successful programs of the past fifty years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse</span> Mens Lacrosse Team for North Carolina

The North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. North Carolina currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and plays its home games at Dorrance Field and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Their main rivalry series is with fellow ACC member Duke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2013 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team are representing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2013 NCAA Division I baseball season. Head Coach Mike Fox is in his 15th year coaching the Tar Heels. They play their home games at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2018 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team are representing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season. Head Coach Mike Fox is in his 20th year coaching the Tar Heels. They play their home games at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2007 NCAA Division I baseball season. They play their home games at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2006 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented the University of North Carolina in the 2006 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at the new Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. The team was coached by Mike Fox in his 6th season at North Carolina.

Robert Suiter Woodard is an American baseball coach and former pitcher. He is the head baseball coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Woodard played college baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2004 to 2007 for coach Mike Fox and in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) for three seasons from 2007 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke–North Carolina lacrosse rivalry</span> College sports rivalry

The Duke–North Carolina lacrosse rivalry is an intercollegiate lacrosse rivalry between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Located just 9.8 miles apart on Tobacco Road, the two programs are classic rivals in the Atlantic Coast Conference, headlined by their basketball and football rivalries, but also extending to lacrosse - even club lacrosse. The rivalry has carried national importance itself since the 1990s, leading to numerous thrilling contests between the two in the ACC and NCAA postseason tournaments. Duke leads the ACC series 9–4 and has compiled a perfect 4–0 mark against the heels in NCAA tournament play. Current Heels coach Joe Breschi summed up the rivalry as "when you’re 12 miles away from a school that you don’t like and doesn’t like you, it makes it more intense. There’s so much more meaning there than any other game. That’s what makes winning that much more sweet." In 2019, his counterpart Duke head coach John Danowski described the annual challenge of facing UNC: "They're really good. They're very well-coached, they get the best players in the country year after year, they have the top recruiting classes, and they hate Duke." As a testament to the national success between the two schools, the Blue Devils have won three national titles, while the Tar Heels lay claim to five. As of the end of the 2023 season, North Carolina leads the series 43–37.

Scott Forbes is an American baseball coach and former player, who is the current head baseball coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. He played college baseball at Middle Georgia College before transferring in 1994 to North Carolina Wesleyan College where he played for head coach Mike Fox from 1995 to 1997.

The 1978 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 1978 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium. The team was coached by Mike Roberts in his 1st year as head coach at North Carolina.

The 1989 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 1989 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium. The team was coached by Mike Roberts in his 12th year as head coach at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at USA Baseball National Training Complex. The team was coached by Mike Fox in his 10th year as head coach at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium. The team was coached by Mike Fox in his 11th year as head coach at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2022 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2022 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Scott Forbes, in his second season as head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium, and were a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Scott Forbes, who was in his third season. He was assisted by Bryant Gaines, Jesse Wierzbicki, and Jason Howell. Dave Arendas served as director of operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2024 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Scott Forbes, in his fourth season as head coach. Forbes was assisted by Bryant Gaines, Jesse Wierzbicki, and Jason Howell. Dave Arendas served as director of operations.

References

  1. ↑ "Primary Identity" (PDF). Carolina Athletics Brand Identity Guidelines. April 20, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ UNC Baseball History Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine ." CBS Sports Network Retrieved on June 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Tar Heel Baseball Archived 2008-02-22 at the Wayback Machine ." tarheelblue.com. Retrieved on February 23, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Record Book". TarHeelBlue.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  5. ↑ "UNC Baseball: Tar Heels on Opening Day MLB Rosters". fansided.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
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