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Hank Steinbrecher

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Hank Steinbrecher
U.S. Soccer Secretary General
In office
1990–2000
Personal details
Born(1947-07-11)July 11, 1947
Rockaway, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 25, 2025(2025-03-25) (aged 77)
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Alma materDavis & Elkins College
West Virginia University
OccupationSoccer coach and administrator
Known forGeneral Secretary, US Soccer Federation
AwardsNational Soccer Hall of Fame

Hank Steinbrecher (July 11, 1947 – March 25, 2025) was an American soccer executive, player and coach, who was a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Early career

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Steinbrecher attended Davis & Elkins College, where he was a member of the school's 1970 NAIA national championship soccer team. He graduated from Davis & Elkins, then earned a master's degree in education from West Virginia University.[1]

He began his coaching career at Warren Wilson College, where he served as head soccer coach and athletic director.[2] He then coached the Appalachian State Mountaineers from 1978 to 1980, leading the team to three consecutive Southern Conference championships.[3] He coached at Boston University from 1980 to 1984.[4] From 1985 to 1990, he was the director of sports marketing for Quaker Oats Company, where he helped popularize the ritual of dumping a cooler of Gatorade on the head football coach in celebration after a victory.[5]

U.S. Soccer

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On November 5, 1990, Steinbrecher became the Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation. He took a lead role in marketing the sport and was directly involved in developing U.S. Soccer's sponsorship programs.[6] He also oversaw the staging of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 1996 Summer Olympics Soccer Tournament, and the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. He stepped down from his position in February 2000.[6]

Accolades

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Steinbrecher was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a builder in 2005.[7] In 2012, he received the Werner Fricker Builder Award, which honors those "who have established a lasting legacy in the history and structure of soccer in the United States."[8]

He was also a member of the New England Soccer Hall of Fame,[4] the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame,[9] and the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.[2]

The Hank Steinbrecher Cup is a USASA competition started in 2013 that crowns the National Amateur Champions.[10] On March 25, 2025, Steinbrecher died at the age of 77.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "'Hank' Steinbrecher Shares His Lessons in Life with D&E - Davis & Elkins College". www.dewv.edu. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Hank Steinbrecher – NC Soccer Hall of Fame". ncsoccerhalloffame.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "Hank Steinbrecher to speak at Appalachian Nov. 7 " News Archive " Appalachian State University News". newsarchive.appstate.edu.
  4. ^ a b "Steinbrecher heads Fame class".
  5. ^ Longman, Jeré (March 31, 2025). "Hank Steinbrecher, Who Helped Elevate Soccer in the U.S., Dies at 77". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Hank Steinbrecher Steps Down as Secretary General After Nine Years of Prosperity and Growth". www.ussoccer.com.
  7. ^ "Steinbrecher Elected to Soccer Hall as Builder". www.ussoccer.com.
  8. ^ "Hank Steinbrecher Named Winner of the Prestigious Werner Fricker Award in 2012". www.ussoccer.com.
  9. ^ "Hank Steinbrecher Inducted into Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame - Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association". Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  10. ^ Coreschi, Colton (June 8, 2018). "Bucks Capture Second Straight Hank Steinbrecher Cup".
  11. ^ "Former US Soccer Federation secretary general Hank Steinbrecher dies at age 77". kdhnews.com. Associated Press (AP). March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
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