When Becky Burleigh took over the brand-new Florida Gators women’s soccer program at just 26 years old, there was no history to inherit, she had to build it. Three years later, she delivered a national championship.

Across 26 seasons at the University of Florida, Coach Burleigh became one of the winningest coaches in college soccer history. She amassed 513 career wins, 14 SEC regular-season titles, 12 SEC Tournament championships, 22 NCAA appearances, and a 2024 induction into the Florida Athletics Hall of Fame.

But Becky’s impact goes well beyond the sideline. She co-founded What Drives Winning, teaches a master’s course she created at the University of Florida on character, team dynamics, and self-awareness, she continues to consult with coaches and she's committed to creating a community for coaches to learn and grow together.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[5:27] — Two Words That Defined Her Coaching Experience

[11:31] — Coaches Need Career Gameplans

[14:11] — Defining Success as a Coach

[16:25] — Protecting What Matters

[18:50] — Coaching with Freedom

[23:21] — Bringing Home "Leftover Energy"

[31:44] — The Illusion of Control

[35:06] — Becky's Favorite Daily Reminder

[37:15] — What Drives Winning Environments

[44:50] — Truth-Tellers and Taking Feedback

[50:20] — Learning From Stars (Marta, Alex Morgan)

[53:48] — Impostor Syndrome

More Resources from Becky:

• To learn more about Becky's coaching and the What Drives Winning community, feel free to check out their website here: https://whatdriveswinning.com/

More Resources from Zach:

• For more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/