Men's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- mrharrin@live.unc.edu
A former Tar Heel and two-time All-ACC defender, Michael Harrington enters his seventh season on the sidelines at his alma mater for the 2025 season.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Kansas City, he enjoyed a 12-year professional career before retiring in 2018. He was selected as an alternate for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and participated in the full National Team Training Camp in January 2014 as the United States prepared for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
During his playing career at North Carolina, Harrington was a four-year starter and started in 81 of the 82 matches in which he played. He helped lead the Tar Heels to the postseason in all four years, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals during his junior season in 2005.
As a senior in 2006, he was named First Team All-ACC as a defender while starting 19 games and recording one goal and four assists. His breakout campaign came one year prior when he switched from the midfielder to outside back and was an immediate impact in the lineup.
He started all 24 games his junior season and was named Second Team All-ACC and tabbed an NSCAA/adidas All-South Region player. Prior to his junior campaign, he played defense for the U.S. U20 National Team at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland.
Harrington was also named to the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2003 when he started all 20 matches for the Tar Heels at midfield in addition to being tabbed to the All-tournament team at the Nike Carolina Classic.
Prior to enrolling at UNC, Harrington attended Edison Academy and was a member of the U.S. U17 National Team and represented the United States at the 2003 FIFA U17 World Championship in Finland. He was also a member of the U.S. U14 and U16 National Teams and was a Parade Magazine All-America in 2002 as a high school senior year.
A native of Greenville, North Carolina, Harrington earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science in May 2019 from UNC.
