#450 Becky Burleigh, NCAA Champion Soccer Coach and Co-Founder of What Drives Winning (replay)

Oct 10, 2025

Becky Burleigh, a former NCAA champion soccer coach and co-founder of What Drives Winning, shares her coaching journey starting at just 21. She discusses the importance of building trust through innovative team exercises and how vulnerability can enhance leadership. Becky also highlights her unique question-based approach to coaching, fostering player autonomy. With insights on supporting women coaches and the future of U.S. women's soccer, she inspires listeners to find their inner confidence and trust in their coaching journey.

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ANECDOTE

Chemistry Class Led To Deeper Truth

A player said her chemistry class mattered most, revealing family and identity pressures underneath.
Becky avoided an immediate fix and used questions to uncover the true problem.

ADVICE

Lead With Questions To Build Ownership

Use question-based leadership to help players own solutions and build their inner coach.
Ask questions that guide athletes to their own insights rather than prescribing fixes.

ANECDOTE

Flash Mob For Team Connection

Becky fulfilled a longtime dream when staff organized a surprise flash mob for her team.
The shared spectacle created group harmony and memorable connection.

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Becky Burleigh began her college soccer coaching career at the ripe old age of 21, coaching Berry College to two NAIA National Championships before moving onto the University of Florida. In her nearly three decades at Florida, she won the 1998 NCAA Championship, a combined 26 SEC regular season and tournament championships, and over 500 games. Upon retiring, she was named interim coach of the NWSL's Orlando Pride during a time of great turmoil, and currently she partners with Brett Ledbetter on coaching education through their business What Drives Winning (www.WhatDrivesWinning.com). In our podcast here, a replay from 2023, we discuss the relationship game, trust, the challenges facing women coaches, and the most important question that Becky would begin every individual player meeting with that is an absolute game changer.

Connect with Becky at Becky@WhatDrivesWinning.com

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