Coach Hatchell began her head coaching career at Francis Marion in 1975. In 1986, she took her talent to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, taking over the role of Head Coach for the Tarheels.
Hatchell became a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the class of 2013 nine years after her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Her effectiveness transpired on many levels during her tenure. After she coached the Tarheels to a thrilling 60-59 win against Louisiana Tech in 1994 to secure UNC its first NCAA National Championship, Hatchell became the first and only coach to led teams to titles in AIAW, NAIA and NCAA levels-AIAW and NAIA both at Francis Marion).
Hatchell has gotten her teams to at least 20 wins 31 times in the span of her career. This is good good for fourth-most nationally.
She also received National Coach of the Year honors three times. The 2005-06 season, Hatchell was recognized nationally by the Associated Press, WBCA and Basketball Times. In addition to Coach of the Year, she received the Naismith Award for the season as well.