Dec. 5, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina's Karen Shelton has been named the 2007 South Region Coach of the Year for field hockey in voting by her coaching peers who are part of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Shelton is one of five region honorees who are candidates for NFHCA National Coach of the Year, to be announced on Jan. 4.

In her 27th year at UNC, Shelton coached the Tar Heels to the 2007 NCAA title, the fifth in program history. Carolina finished the season 24-0 with a school-record 16 shutouts, including a 3-0 win over Penn State in the championship game. She also led the Tar Heels to the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference championship, the 16th in school history, and was named ACC Coach of the Year for the eighth time in her career.

Shelton has a career record of 448-125-9, all at UNC, and a winning percentage of .770.

2007 Dita/NFHCA Division I Regional Coaches of the Year

MidAtlantic Region Coach of the Year
Missy Meharg, University of Maryland

Mideast Region Coach of the Year
Char Morett, Penn State University

Northeast Region Coach of the Year
Sally Starr, Boston University

South Region Coach of the Year
Karen Shelton, University of North Carolina

West Region Coach of the Year
Neil Macmillan, Ohio University