FC Dallas hires first technical director, a coach from Penn State

Gorman is Penn State’s all-time winningest coach, with a 266-158-42 overall record in 22 years as head coach.

NSCAA

Barry Gorman

FRISCO — FC Dallas has hired former Penn State head coach Barry Gorman as the club’s first technical director. FC Dallas Investor-Operator and Hunt Sports Group Chairman Clark Hunt will introduce Gorman to the media before the club’s training session Tuesday at 10 a.m.

“We are very excited to add Barry to the club, and look forward to his leadership as technical director,” Hunt said. “Barry’s proven soccer acumen, coaching experience, and domestic, collegiate, and international soccer relationships are a tremendous asset to FC Dallas. We are confident that he will do an outstanding job in his new role while working side-by-side with Coach Hyndman to reach our goal of winning championships.”

As technical director, Gorman will direct the club’s player personnel operations including international and domestic scouting, trades and acquisitions, player contracts, and team administration. Additionally, Gorman will evaluate the development of FC Dallas Juniors prospects for the professional team, and he will work in conjunction with Hyndman to monitor and promote the quality of the professional team. He will also manage FC Dallas’ relationships with its international partner clubs.

“I am delighted and honored to join the FC Dallas staff,” Gorman said. "Everything about the organization, from its structure and its people at all levels, conveys a strong shared desire for success. I look forward to contributing to our collective goal of building a first-class organization and winning championships."

Gorman is Penn State’s all-time winningest coach with a 266-158-42 overall record in 22 years as head coach, leading the Nittany Lions to three Big Ten Championships. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and was named NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 1992, 1999, and 2005. Under Gorman, Penn State made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing four times to the round of 16 and twice to the national quarterfinals. His players earned 145 Academic All-Big Ten honors, including a program-best 13 academic honors in 2009. During his tenure at Penn State, Gorman coached two first team All-Americans, 41 First Team All-Big Ten selections, four Big Ten Players of the Year, and four Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. FC Dallas rookie forward Jason Yeisley was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year under Gorman. During his 22 years with the Nittany Lions, Gorman’s Penn State squads included student-athletes from more than a dozen countries, including Germany, Spain, Finland, and England.

The Belfast, Northern Ireland native served as the 2002 President of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, which is the world’s largest coaching organization. Gorman also has served as President of the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association, Regional Chairman of the NSCAA Regional/National Ranking Committee, Mid-Atlantic Chairman of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Division I Championship Committee and as a member of the “Senior Select” Committee for the MLS Combine. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania High School Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999, and in February 2006, he was recognized with the Hall of Fame’s highest honor, the PA Soccer Coaches Honor Award.

Gorman, a former Irish youth international player, immigrated to the United States in 1976 after a 10-year playing career in the Irish League. He was part of multiple championship teams during his playing career, including the Gold Cup, Intermediate Shield, the Steel and Sons Cup while playing at Linfield Football Club and the Texaco All-Ireland title while playing for Portadown Football Club.

Following a stint as a player/coach in the American Soccer League, Gorman began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant with Lock Haven College, helping guide the school to its first NCAA Division III National Championship in 1977. In 1978, Gorman was appointed coach of the ELCO High School soccer program where in seven years, his teams were 133-13-3 with an unprecedented five league championships and the 1979 PIAA State Championship.

In addition to his passion and commitment to soccer as a pro player, past coaching roles and soccer leadership positions, Gorman has further developed his soccer philosophy, insight and strategy by traveling around the world attending and teaching soccer seminars in Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Holland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Gorman is a senior staff instructor for the NSCAA Coaching Academies and is a qualified USSF “A” Licensed coach and Irish FA “A” Licensed coach. A former Irish FA staff coach, Gorman recently obtained his UEFA “A” License and has been certified as a UEFA Assessor for the Irish FA.

Source: FC Dallas