April 4, 2002

GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the ninth time in his career University of North Carolina women's swimming coach Frank Comfort was named Thursday as the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.

Comfort, head coach at North Carolina since 1977, led the Tar Heels to their third successive conference championship in 2002. UNC has won 15 ACC women's swimming championships in the past 22 seasons.

After claiming the ACC Championship, the Tar Heels turned in an outstanding performance at the 2002 NCAA Championships, claiming 13th place. UNC finished 15th in the final College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll of the campaign.