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{{Short description|American soccer player and coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
|embed =
|name = Becky Burleigh
|image =
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption =
|fullname = Rebecca Lund Burleigh<ref name=ufprofile/>
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|10|13|mf=y}}<ref name=ufprofile/>
|birth_place = [[Tarpon Springs, Florida]]
|height =
|position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]], [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]
|currentclub = [[Sporting Club Jacksonville]]
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 =
|collegeyears1 = 1985–1988
|college1 = [[Methodist University|Methodist College]]
|collegecaps1 =
|collegegoals1 =
|years1 =
|clubs1 =
|caps1 =
|goals1 =
|totalcaps =
|totalgoals =
|manageryears1 = 1989–1993
|managerclubs1 = [[Berry College]]
|manageryears2 = 1995–2021
|managerclubs2 = [[Florida Gators women's soccer|Florida Gators]]
|manageryears3 = 2021
|managerclubs3 = [[Orlando Pride]] (interim)
}}

'''Rebecca Lund 'Becky' Burleigh''' (born October 13, 1967) is an American [[soccer]] coach. She is currently a special advisor for [[Sporting Club Jacksonville]] of the [[United Soccer League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Legendary college soccer head coach Becky Burleigh join JAXUSL as women’s team advisor |url=https://www.sportingjax.com/news/2023/06/23/legendary-college-soccer-head-coach-becky-burleigh-join-jaxusl-as-womens-team-advisor/ |website=SportingJax.com |publisher=Sporting Club Jacksonville |access-date=23 April 2025}}</ref>

Formerly also a [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] player, she is best known for her 26-year tenure as the first [[head coach]] of the [[Florida Gators women's soccer]] team at the [[University of Florida]], where she led the Gators soccer team to a [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] national championship in [[1998 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament|1998]]. In 2021, Burleigh had a three-month spell as [[Caretaker manager|interim head coach]] of professional [[National Women's Soccer League]] team [[Orlando Pride]].

== Playing career ==
During her collegiate playing career at [[Methodist University|Methodist College]], Burleigh was a four-year varsity letterman in soccer for the Lady Monarchs, including Methodist's first four seasons as a varsity program.<ref name=halloffame>MUMonarchs.com, Methodist University Hall of Fame, [http://www.mumonarchs.com/hof.aspx?hof=8&path=&kiosk= Becky Burleigh]. Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref> During her four seasons of play, she helped Methodist to a 55–19–4 (.731) record, four [[Dixie Conference|Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (DIAC) championships, three NCAA [[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]] Tournament appearances, and a trip to the 1988 Division III Final Four.<ref name=halloffame/> Burleigh played [[Defender (association football)|defense]] for her first three seasons, and served as the team's [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalie]] as a senior.<ref name=halloffame/> She was a three-time First-Team All-DIAC selection and earned First-Team All-South honors in 1988.<ref name=halloffame/> In 1999, she was inducted into the Methodist University Hall of Fame.<ref name=halloffame/> She played under Head Coach Joe Pereira, who went on to a successful career at [[Old Dominion University]] following his departure from Methodist. She notes him as one of the people she admires.<ref>{{cite web |last1=GELTNER |first1=TED |title=Becky Burleigh: Goodwill Gator Program volunteer |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2003/11/17/becky-burleigh-goodwill-gator-program-volunteer/31651011007/ |website=Gainesville Sun |access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref>

== Coaching career ==
=== Berry College ===
In 1989, Burleigh was appointed head coach at [[Berry College]], located in [[Mount Berry, Georgia]].<ref name=ufprofile/> She was offered the Berry job within weeks of her own college graduation, at the age of 21.<ref name=ufprofile/> From 1989 to 1993, Burleigh compiled an 82–23–6 overall record during her five seasons at Berry, and her Lady Fury teams won two [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) national championships in 1990 and 1993.<ref name=ufprofile/>

=== Florida Gators ===
Burleigh was named the first head coach of the start-up Florida Gators soccer program on June 28, 1994.<ref name=ufprofile>GatorZone.com, Soccer, Coaching & Support Staff, [http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/staff/burleigh Becky Burleigh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425061506/http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/staff/burleigh |date=2011-04-25 }}. Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref>

In 1998, in the Gators soccer program's fourth year of existence, Burleigh coached the Gators to their first NCAA national title by defeating the defending national champion [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|North Carolina]] Tar Heels 1–0 in the final.<ref name=pdooley6042009>Pat Dooley, "[http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090620/ARTICLES/906049953/1136/sports?Title=Top-25-Gator-teams-5-1998-Women-s-soccer Top 25 Gator teams: #5 1998 Women's soccer]," ''Gainesville Sun'' (June 4, 2009). Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref> The 1998 Gators finished 26–1, their only regular season loss coming to the same [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|North Carolina]] team that the Gators defeated in the NCAA championship final.<ref name=pdooley6042009/> Players from her 1998 national championship team included All-Americans [[Danielle Fotopoulos]], [[Heather Mitts]] and Erin Baxter.<ref name=pdooley6042009/>

Burleigh's Gators played in the Eastern Division of the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC). In conference play, her Gators teams won thirteen SEC championships, and ten SEC tournament titles, leading all other SEC teams since the Florida soccer team began play in 1995.<ref>''[http://www.secsports.com/doc_lib/wsoc_recordbook.pdf SEC Soccer Record Book]'', Southeastern Conference, Birmingham, Alabama (2010). Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref>

Burleigh's later seasons were less successful, and she had losing records in two of her last three seasons as a head coach – the only losing seasons in her career. She announced she would retire at the end of the team's 2020–21 season,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Burleigh Retiring at Season's End|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2021/1/30/soccer-burleigh-stepping-down-at-seasons-end.aspx|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Florida Gators|language=en}}</ref> which concluded with a 2-0 win over the [[Miami Hurricanes women's soccer|Miami Hurricanes]] on April 3, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Becky Burleigh Era Closes with 2-0 Florida Win at Miami|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2021/4/3/soccer-becky-burleigh-era-closes-with-2-0-florida-win-at-miami.aspx|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Florida Gators|date=3 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

As a head coach, Burleigh compiled an overall career record of 513–160–46, with a winning percentage of 0.745.<ref name=ufprofile/> She ranks second in total number of all-time wins among Division I coaches.<ref name=ufprofile/> During her tenure at Florida, Burleigh coached seventeen [[All-American]] players.<ref name="ufmediasupplement">''[http://web.gatorzone.com/soccer/media/2010/supplement.pdf 2010 Florida Gators Soccer Media Supplement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402034723/http://web.gatorzone.com/soccer/media/2010/supplement.pdf|date=2012-04-02}}'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 5–6, 58–69, 60, 62, 67 (2010). Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref>

=== Orlando Pride ===
On July 25, 2021 Burleigh came out of retirement to become the interim head coach of professional [[National Women's Soccer League|NWSL]] team [[Orlando Pride]] for the remainder of the [[2021 Orlando Pride season|2021 season]] following the midseason resignation of [[Marc Skinner]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Poe |first1=Julia |title=Orlando Pride select celebrated Gators coach Becky Burleigh for interim manager |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-pride-soccer/os-sp-orlando-pride-florida-gators-coach-becky-burleigh-interim-manager-20210726-zm7zkmlsijacfipm5pmpzalxdy-story.html |website=Orlando Sentinel|date=26 July 2021 }}</ref> Her first game in charge was on July 31, a 1–1 tie with [[North Carolina Courage]]. She coached her first win the following week, a 2–0 victory on the road at [[Chicago Red Stars]]. Despite moving up to 4th place as Orlando picked up 12 points in Burleigh's first seven games, the team was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with one game remaining following a 3–1 defeat to [[Racing Louisville FC]] on October 16, part of a four-game losing streak.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rollins |first1=Sean |title=Final Score 3-1 as Pride Are Eliminated from Playoff Contention |url=https://www.themaneland.com/2021/10/16/22730607/orlando-pride-vs-racing-louisville-fc-final-score-3-1-as-pride-eliminated-from-playoff-contention |website=The Mane Land|date=16 October 2021 }}</ref> On October 27, it was announced Burleigh had withdrawn herself from consideration for the permanent head coach job and would end her interim tenure following the final game of the season on October 29.<ref>{{cite news |title=Update on Orlando Pride Head Coach Vacancy |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/update-on-orlando-pride-head-coach-vacancy |newspaper=Orlandocitysc |author1=Orlandocitysc }}</ref> The game extended Orlando's losing streak to five to finish the season as Chicago Red Stars won 1–0, leaving Burleigh with a 3–6–3 record during her interim tenure.

=== Sporting Club Jacksonville ===
On June 23, 2023, it was announced that Burleigh had joined [[Sporting Club Jacksonville]], an expansion franchise of the [[United Soccer League]], as women's team advisor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legendary college soccer head coach Becky Burleigh join JAXUSL as women’s team advisor |url=https://www.sportingjax.com/news/2023/06/23/legendary-college-soccer-head-coach-becky-burleigh-join-jaxusl-as-womens-team-advisor/ |website=SportingJax.com |publisher=Sporting Club Jacksonville |access-date=23 April 2025}}</ref>

== Personal ==
Burleigh grew up in [[Tarpon Springs, Florida]], where she began to play youth soccer at the age of ten.<ref name=ufprofile/> She graduated ''[[magna cum laude]]'' with a [[bachelor's degree]] in biology from Methodist College (now known as "Methodist University") located in [[Fayetteville, North Carolina]], in 1989.<ref name=ufprofile/> In 1993, Burleigh earned her [[master's degree]] in exercise science from [[Georgia State University]] located in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref name=ufprofile/>

In March 2018, Burleigh married Celia Slater.<ref>{{cite web |title=Becky Burleigh - Soccer Coach |url=https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/becky-burleigh/734 |website=Florida Gators |publisher=University of Florida |access-date=15 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== Coaching record ==
{{updated|October 30, 2021}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://floridagators.com/coaches.aspx?rc=734&path=soccer|title=2017 Soccer Coaching Staff - Florida Gators|website=floridagators.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-29}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Head coaching record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|T|Matches tied}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
| [[Berry College]]
| 1989
| 1993
{{WLD|111|82|6|23}}
|-
| [[Florida Gators women's soccer|Florida Gators]]
| June 28, 1994
| April 3, 2021
{{WDL|608|431|154|23}}
|-
| [[Orlando Pride]] (interim)
| July 25, 2021
| October 30, 2021
{{WDL|12|3|6|3}}
|-
! colspan=3|Career totals
{{WDLtot|731|516|166|49}}
|}

== Coaching honors ==
;Berry College
*[[NAIA Women's Soccer Championship]] (2): 1990, 1993

;Florida Gators
*[[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship]] (1): [[1998 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament|1998]]
*[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] regular season (14): 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015
*[[SEC Women's Soccer Tournament]] (12): 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, [[2016 Southeastern Conference women's soccer season|2016]]

;Individual
*[[United Soccer Coaches|NSCAA]] [[United Soccer Coaches College Coach of the Year|National Coach of the Year]] (1): 1998
*SEC Coach of the Year (4): 1996, 2006, 2008, 2010

== See also ==

{{Portal|Association football|Biography}}
* [[Florida Gators]]
* [[List of college women's soccer coaches with 300 wins]]
* [[List of Florida Gators soccer players]]
* [[History of the University of Florida]]
* [[University of Florida Athletic Association|University Athletic Association]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{NSCAA Coach of the Year}}
{{Florida Gators women's soccer}}
{{Orlando Pride managers}}
{{Sporting Club Jacksonville}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burleigh, Becky}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Tarpon Springs, Florida]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Florida]]
[[Category:American women's soccer players]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ soccer players]]
[[Category:American lesbian sportswomen]]
[[Category:Women's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Women's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Methodist Monarchs women's soccer players]]
[[Category:American women's soccer coaches]]
[[Category:Female association football managers]]
[[Category:Berry Vikings women's soccer coaches]]
[[Category:Florida Gators women's soccer coaches]]
[[Category:Orlando Pride head coaches]]
[[Category:National Women's Soccer League head coaches]]
[[Category:Georgia State University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:Sporting Club Jacksonville]]

Becky Burleigh - Revision history

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