North Carolina’s Dorrance Target of Harassment Suit

Two former North Carolina soccer players, including U.S. national team striker Debbie Keller, have sued Coach Anson Dorrance, accusing him of sexual harassment and other misconduct.

Keller, from Naperville, Ill., and a Tar Heel player from 1993-96, alleges in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago that Dorrance repeatedly made “uninvited, unauthorized and offensive physical contact” with her between 1994 and 1996.

The other player, Melissa Jennings of St. Charles, Ill., alleges in the same lawsuit that Dorrance encouraged her to drink alcohol while she was still a minor.

The women are seeking a combined $12 million in compensatory and punitive damages against Dorrance and other defendants, which include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, school and athletic administrators and women’s assistant coaches.

“I am shocked and saddened by these allegations,” Dorrance said. “I intend to vigorously defend myself and the program’s integrity. The allegations of sexual harassment and advances are not true. I have never and would never abuse my position here in any way.”

Dick Baddour, North Carolina’s athletic director, said school finished an internal investigation of Dorrance and the women’s soccer program about two weeks ago.

“Although we found no evidence of misconduct, we did conclude his conduct did fall short of the standards of good judgment we expect,” Baddour said.

Under Dorrance, North Carolina has won 14 NCAA women’s soccer titles.