KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 8, 2026) – United Soccer Coaches has announced the election of four individuals as the newest inductees of its Hall of Fame. All four will be inducted as members of the Class of 2027 during the 87th annual United Soccer Coaches Convention, January 20-23, 2027, in Kansas City, MO.
Becky Burleigh, a legend in women’s college soccer; Barry Gorman, a long-time college coach and a member of the association’s Academy Staff; Timo Liekoski, a coaching legend across three levels; and Bob Warming, a pillar of men’s college coaching with four decades of excellence, will be honored at the Awards Ceremony, Friday, Jan. 22, 2027, in Kansas City, MO.
The four individuals will become the 90th, 91st, 92nd, and 93rd inductees into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame, established in 1991 to honor achievements in coaching, work on behalf of the association, and lifetime contributions to the game of soccer.
Rebecca “Becky” Burleigh built a legendary coaching legacy across nearly three decades in collegiate women’s soccer. She launched her head coaching career at Berry College, compiling an impressive 82-23-6 overall record and capturing two NAIA national championships.
In 1994, Burleigh took on the challenge of establishing the first-ever women’s soccer program at the University of Florida. Her impact was immediate and extraordinary. In 1998—just the fourth year of the program’s existence—she guided the Gators to the NCAA Division I National Championship.
Over her 26 seasons at Florida, Burleigh accumulated a 431-154-23 record while transforming the Gators into a national powerhouse. Under her guidance, Florida dominated regional play, winning 14 Southeastern Conference regular-season titles and 12 SEC tournament championships.
Her remarkable career ended with an overall record of 516-166-49 (.705 winning percentage). Burleigh’s extraordinary leadership earned her SEC Coach of the Year honors four times and the prestigious NSCAA Division I Women’s Coach of the Year award in 1998. In recognition of her contributions to the sport, she has been inducted into both the Methodist University and University of Florida Athletics Halls of Fame.
Barry Gorman served as head coach at Penn State University from 1987 to 2009, becoming the all-time winningest men’s soccer coach in Nittany Lions history. Over 22 seasons, he compiled 254 victories, earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2005, and guided the program to 13 NCAA tournament appearances while being named a three-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year (1992, 1999, and 2005).
Gorman began his coaching career in 1977 as an assistant at Lock Haven University, helping lead the team to an NCAA Division III national championship. In 1978, he took over as head coach at Elco High School in Pennsylvania, compiling a stellar 133-13-3 record (.903) over six seasons and winning a state championship in 1979. He then spent one year (1984–1985) heading NCAA Division II program Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia, directing them to an NCAA Division II semifinal appearance before moving to Penn State.
Gorman was also involved with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) and the Region 1 ODP. He was awarded the EPYSA Service to Youth Award in 2024. In addition, Gorman who was the President of the Pennsylvania High School Coaches Association from 1980 to 1984 was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2005, he received the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association’s Honor Award.
Throughout his distinguished career, Gorman received the Mike Berticelli Award for Excellence in Coaching Education and served as three-time Division I Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. Beyond coaching, he has been a long-standing staff member of the United Soccer Coaches Academy and served as the organization’s president in 2002.
Timo Liekoski built a distinguished career as an elite player and pioneer in soccer coaching across collegiate, professional, and international levels. He first excelled on the pitch as an All-America defender at Hartwick College from 1967 to 1969.
Transitioning to coaching, Liekoski led Whittier College (Calif.), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Hartwick, guiding the Hawks to a third- place finish in the 1974 NCAA Tournament. His first move into professional soccer was as an assistant with the Dallas Tornado under Al Miller. He moved from there to be a head coach for the NASL’s Houston Hurricane (earning 1978–79 Coach of the Year honors in both indoor and outdoor play) and later the Edmonton Drillers. Between 1981 and 1990, he guided indoor teams in New Jersey, Cleveland, and Canton, capturing championships across the NASL, MISL, and AISL.
Liekoski served as assistant coach for the United States Men’s National Team during the 1994 World Cup and headed the U-23 national team in 1995. He then made history as the inaugural head coach of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew. He became the first American coach to work professionally in Europe as he coached national and club teams in Finland from 1997 to 2009. he became the first American coach to work professionally in Europe. While in Finland, he coached the Finnish Homeless World Cup team for seven years. He later served as Washington State Youth Soccer’s technical director in 2012. His legendary achievements earned him inductions into the Hartwick and Indoor Soccer Halls of Fame. In addition, Liekoski is a recipient of the association’s Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award and the US Youth Soccer’s Dr. Thomas Fleck Award.
Bob Warming has been a pillar of collegiate soccer and a dedicated member of United Soccer Coaches since 1977. Over a distinguished career of 44 seasons and eight institutions, he amassed 485 victories and 28 conference championships, retiring as the winningest active coach in NCAA Division I men’s soccer. A two-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year, Warming became the only Division I men’s coach to lead four different programs to NCAA tournament victories and one of only four coaches to lead two different programs to the NCAA Division I College Cup.
Warming’s impact extended well beyond wins and championships. He contributed to the design and development of collegiate soccer facilities at Saint Louis University, Creighton University, Furman University, Penn State University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Warming served on NCAA Division I committees and worked as a liaison to Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer. Through Audrey’s Shoes for Kids, he also helped provide thousands of pairs of new soccer shoes to disadvantaged inner-city children. A passionate advocate for coaching education, Warming created The Triangle Training Method as a free educational resource and hosted the nation’s largest free coaching seminar.
His influence is also reflected in the players and coaches he developed. More than 60 of Warming’s players went on to play professionally, spanning from Brian Kamler in Major League Soccer’s inaugural 1996 season to Kenji Mboma Dem 30 years later. United Soccer Coaches previously honored Warming with a Certificate of Appreciation (2017), Letter of Commendation (2018), and the Bill Jeffrey College Long-Term Service Award (2024).
“Congratulations to the 2026 inductees of the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame: Becky Burleigh, Barry Gorman, Timo Liekoski, and Bob Warming,” United Soccer Coaches President Paul Payne said. “Throughout their distinguished careers as coaches and educators, they have made a lasting impact on the game both on and off the field. By leading collegiate, professional, and international teams, they have served as role models for players and fellow coaches while helping shape the future of our sport. United Soccer Coaches is proud to welcome Becky, Barry, Timo and Bob into our Hall of Fame, congratulations.”
The United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to honor achievements in coaching, work on behalf of the association, and lifetime contributions to the game of soccer. Individuals are elected to the association’s Hall of Fame based on selections made through balloting of the Hall of Fame Council. Click here for a list of previous United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame inductees.