University of North Carolina Athletics
November 10, 2026 | Cross Country
For Ann Dunn, coaching has always been about more than what happens on the course.
Whether she is running alongside her athletes, joining them in the weight room or spending time getting to know them away from practice, Dunn believes the foundation of a successful program starts with the relationships built along the way.
In her first season as the head coach of North Carolina women's cross country, Dunn has embraced the opportunity to lead a program she believes has tremendous potential, bringing a coaching philosophy centered on trust, intentionality and finding joy in the process.
This past summer when Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Chris Miltenberg began the search for a new women's cross country head coach, Dunn's name continued to surface throughout the process.
The two initially connected during the recruiting process while Dunn was coaching at the high school level, maintaining some contact over the years. However, the opportunity to join Carolina's coaching staff was not something Dunn had necessarily anticipated.
Once the opportunity presented itself, the decision simply made sense.
"I think this program is, as Coach Milt would say, a big sleeping giant," Dunn said. "I think I felt the pressure early on in a really good way."
Representing a program with Carolina's tradition and history is an opportunity Dunn does not take lightly. With high standards across the entire department, she sees the potential to help the Tar Heels establish themselves among the nation's best.
Her path to Chapel Hill, however, was not necessarily a traditional one.
A former athlete at Wisconsin, Dunn spent her postgrad career coaching at the high school level as well as spending seven years coaching collegiately at Oklahoma, Kentucky and at California, working with the distance squads, before taking a step away from the traditional coaching structure to run her own fitness business, Formula. Those experiences, though different, helped prepare her for the responsibilities that come with leading a Division I program.
From coaching elite high school athletes to managing a business that required early mornings and long workweeks, Dunn believes each chapter of her career has contributed to the kind of coach she is today.
"Now I know that all of my experiences have led me to this point," Dunn said.
Her time away from collegiate coaching also allowed her to develop a deeper understanding of strength training, exercise physiology and the mental side of distance running. Those interests have become important components of her coaching philosophy, particularly when it comes to preparing athletes for the demands of competition.
Dunn works closely with Carolina strength coach Alex Penner to incorporate strength training into the program's overall development. Her involvement extends beyond simply creating and executing a training plan, as she makes a point to be present throughout the athletes' daily routines.
Whether joining the team for a pre-meet run or being alongside the athletes in the weight room, Dunn values the opportunities to connect with them outside of traditional practice settings.
"The more you can get to know the athletes and the more you know about their lives and what's in between practices for them, the better you're going to be able to coach them and relate to them," said Dunn.
Dunn wanted each athlete to feel comfortable approaching her, knowing that she genuinely cares about their individual development. At the same time, she wanted to create an environment where the team could enjoy the process of competing together.
For Dunn, taking the sport seriously does not mean taking yourself too seriously.
"We can be very serious and intentional about what we do, but also not take ourselves too seriously," Dunn said.
While the atmosphere remains positive, Dunn emphasizes attention to detail and intentionality in every aspect of preparation. She believes finding joy in the process can ultimately translate to better performances, allowing athletes to compete freely while remaining committed to their goals.
The mental side of the sport is another area Dunn hopes to develop within her athletes.
Distance running requires athletes to spend a significant amount time with their own thoughts, and Dunn wants them to understand how those thoughts can influence their performances. Through building self-awareness and developing a productive mindset, she hopes to help the group better navigate both the highs and lows that come with competing.
Her own experiences as an athlete have shaped that perspective. Looking back on her collegiate running career, Dunn recognizes areas where a greater understanding of mental skills, strength training and training intensity could have benefited her own development.
Now, she hopes to provide her athletes with some of those lessons earlier in their careers.
As she continues to establish her identity as a Division I head coach, Dunn understands that the process will come with plenty of learning along the way. Still, she feels the transition has been a natural fit, both with Miltenberg and the group of 18 women she now leads.
While the ultimate goal is to build Carolina into one of the top programs in the country, Dunn's focus remains on making each athlete the best version of herself.
And when she looks back on her coaching career years from now, she hopes her athletes remember something much bigger than the results they achieved.
"I cared for them and that I believed in them," Dunn said when asked about her legacy.
For Dunn, the lessons of cross country extend well beyond the finish. She believes the challenges athletes face throughout the sport prepare them for whatever comes next, especially when they have a team beside them along the way.
"If you can master this sport, you can do anything," Dunn said. "The awesome part is that although everything that we do is really hard, you get to do it with a team, and that brings out the best in you."
It is a perspective she regularly shares with her athletes, reminding them to appreciate the opportunity in front of them and embrace the experiences that come with being a Tar Heel.
"These are the days," Dunn said. "This is the best time of your life right now, and embrace this opportunity. It's really special."
Whether she is running alongside her athletes, joining them in the weight room or spending time getting to know them away from practice, Dunn believes the foundation of a successful program starts with the relationships built along the way.
In her first season as the head coach of North Carolina women's cross country, Dunn has embraced the opportunity to lead a program she believes has tremendous potential, bringing a coaching philosophy centered on trust, intentionality and finding joy in the process.
This past summer when Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Chris Miltenberg began the search for a new women's cross country head coach, Dunn's name continued to surface throughout the process.
The two initially connected during the recruiting process while Dunn was coaching at the high school level, maintaining some contact over the years. However, the opportunity to join Carolina's coaching staff was not something Dunn had necessarily anticipated.
Once the opportunity presented itself, the decision simply made sense.
"I think this program is, as Coach Milt would say, a big sleeping giant," Dunn said. "I think I felt the pressure early on in a really good way."
Representing a program with Carolina's tradition and history is an opportunity Dunn does not take lightly. With high standards across the entire department, she sees the potential to help the Tar Heels establish themselves among the nation's best.
Her path to Chapel Hill, however, was not necessarily a traditional one.
A former athlete at Wisconsin, Dunn spent her postgrad career coaching at the high school level as well as spending seven years coaching collegiately at Oklahoma, Kentucky and at California, working with the distance squads, before taking a step away from the traditional coaching structure to run her own fitness business, Formula. Those experiences, though different, helped prepare her for the responsibilities that come with leading a Division I program.
From coaching elite high school athletes to managing a business that required early mornings and long workweeks, Dunn believes each chapter of her career has contributed to the kind of coach she is today.
"Now I know that all of my experiences have led me to this point," Dunn said.
Her time away from collegiate coaching also allowed her to develop a deeper understanding of strength training, exercise physiology and the mental side of distance running. Those interests have become important components of her coaching philosophy, particularly when it comes to preparing athletes for the demands of competition.
Dunn works closely with Carolina strength coach Alex Penner to incorporate strength training into the program's overall development. Her involvement extends beyond simply creating and executing a training plan, as she makes a point to be present throughout the athletes' daily routines.
Whether joining the team for a pre-meet run or being alongside the athletes in the weight room, Dunn values the opportunities to connect with them outside of traditional practice settings.
"The more you can get to know the athletes and the more you know about their lives and what's in between practices for them, the better you're going to be able to coach them and relate to them," said Dunn.
Dunn wanted each athlete to feel comfortable approaching her, knowing that she genuinely cares about their individual development. At the same time, she wanted to create an environment where the team could enjoy the process of competing together.
For Dunn, taking the sport seriously does not mean taking yourself too seriously.
"We can be very serious and intentional about what we do, but also not take ourselves too seriously," Dunn said.
While the atmosphere remains positive, Dunn emphasizes attention to detail and intentionality in every aspect of preparation. She believes finding joy in the process can ultimately translate to better performances, allowing athletes to compete freely while remaining committed to their goals.
The mental side of the sport is another area Dunn hopes to develop within her athletes.
Distance running requires athletes to spend a significant amount time with their own thoughts, and Dunn wants them to understand how those thoughts can influence their performances. Through building self-awareness and developing a productive mindset, she hopes to help the group better navigate both the highs and lows that come with competing.
Her own experiences as an athlete have shaped that perspective. Looking back on her collegiate running career, Dunn recognizes areas where a greater understanding of mental skills, strength training and training intensity could have benefited her own development.
Now, she hopes to provide her athletes with some of those lessons earlier in their careers.
As she continues to establish her identity as a Division I head coach, Dunn understands that the process will come with plenty of learning along the way. Still, she feels the transition has been a natural fit, both with Miltenberg and the group of 18 women she now leads.
While the ultimate goal is to build Carolina into one of the top programs in the country, Dunn's focus remains on making each athlete the best version of herself.
And when she looks back on her coaching career years from now, she hopes her athletes remember something much bigger than the results they achieved.
"I cared for them and that I believed in them," Dunn said when asked about her legacy.
For Dunn, the lessons of cross country extend well beyond the finish. She believes the challenges athletes face throughout the sport prepare them for whatever comes next, especially when they have a team beside them along the way.
"If you can master this sport, you can do anything," Dunn said. "The awesome part is that although everything that we do is really hard, you get to do it with a team, and that brings out the best in you."
It is a perspective she regularly shares with her athletes, reminding them to appreciate the opportunity in front of them and embrace the experiences that come with being a Tar Heel.
"These are the days," Dunn said. "This is the best time of your life right now, and embrace this opportunity. It's really special."
Thursday, November 12
Thursday, November 12
Thursday, November 12
Thursday, November 12