April 12, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Barry Gorman has announced his resignation as head coach of the Penn State men's soccer program, effective today, in order to pursue other professional opportunities. Penn State will immediately launch a national search for his successor.
"Personally, at this time in my career, it is time to move on and explore other challenges and opportunities," said Gorman. "It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to have been the Penn State men's soccer coach. I owe great debt of gratitude to many people for their guidance, help and support over the course of my tenure."
Gorman is the program's all-time winningest coach, compiling a 266-158-42 overall record and a 79-54-13 mark in Big Ten play in his 22 years of head coaching service. He led the Nittany Lions to three Big Ten Championships, including an undefeated conference season in 2005 and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. Gorman's teams made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing four times to the round of 16 and twice to the national quarterfinals.
During his tenure, the three-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year had two first team All-Americans, 33 NSCAA All-Region selections, 44 first team All-Big Ten honorees, five Big Ten Players of the Year and four Big Ten Freshmen of the Year.
Gorman's student-athletes also were successful in the classroom. His players earned 145 Academic All-Big Ten honors, including a program-high 13 in 2009, and a total of 39 academic/scholar all-region/district or all-America accolades. In 2009, Jason Yeisley became Penn State's first recipient of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, presented annually to the nation's most outstanding senior student-athlete in men's soccer.
A member of the Nittany Lion coaching staff for 24 years, Gorman served as an assistant under Walter Bahr for two years before being hired as Penn State's 10th head coach in program history in 1988.
A respected soccer educator worldwide, the Belfast, Northern Ireland native served as president of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2002.
"We appreciate Barry's dedicated leadership of the men's soccer program and his contributions to Penn State," said Tim Curley, Director of Athletics. "Barry is a well-respected coach in the national and international soccer communities and has been an enthusiastic ambassador for Penn State. Barry has been instrumental in developing young men as soccer student-athletes and preparing them to be successful once their playing career has ended. We wish him all the best."