About Hank Steinbrecher
Hank Steinbrecher, 77, American soccer coach and executive, heart disease.
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Full Biography
|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
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.
He began his coaching career at Warren Wilson College, where he served as head soccer coach and athletic director. He then coached the Appalachian State Mountaineers from 1978 to 1980, leading the team to three consecutive Southern Conference championships. He coached at Boston University from 1980 to 1984. 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.
U.S. Soccer
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. 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.
Accolades
Steinbrecher was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a builder in 2005. 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."
He was also a member of the New England Soccer Hall of Fame, the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.
The Hank Steinbrecher Cup is a USASA competition started in 2013 that crowns the National Amateur Champions.
Personal life and death
On March 25, 2025, Steinbrecher died in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 77.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Steinbrecher
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Hank Steinbrecher's archived record and the sources above.
1.At what age did Hank Steinbrecher die?
- A.80
- B.77correct
- C.70
- D.75
Hank Steinbrecher passed away at the age of 77.
Source: Personal life and death section
2.What health condition is associated with Hank Steinbrecher's death in the biography?
- A.Pneumonia
- B.Heart diseasecorrect
- C.Stroke
- D.Cancer
Hank Steinbrecher, 77, passed away due to heart disease.
Source: Biographical introduction
3.When did Hank Steinbrecher step down from his position as Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation?
- A.November 1990
- B.March 2005
- C.February 2000correct
- D.January 2012
Hank Steinbrecher served as Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation until he stepped down in February 2000.
Source: U.S. Soccer section
4.On what date was Hank Steinbrecher born?
- A.January 1, 1947
- B.July 11, 1947correct
- C.November 5, 1947
- D.March 25, 1947
Hank Steinbrecher was born on July 11, 1947.
Source: Biographical introduction
5.Which college did Hank Steinbrecher attend for his undergraduate studies?
- A.Boston University
- B.Davis & Elkins Collegecorrect
- C.Appalachian State University
- D.West Virginia University
Hank Steinbrecher attended Davis & Elkins College, where he was a member of the school's 1970 NAIA national championship soccer team.
Source: Early career section
6.Where did Hank Steinbrecher earn his master's degree in education?
- A.West Virginia Universitycorrect
- B.Warren Wilson College
- C.Boston University
- D.Davis & Elkins College
After graduating from Davis & Elkins, Hank Steinbrecher earned a master's degree in education from West Virginia University.
Source: Early career section
7.At which institution did Hank Steinbrecher begin his professional coaching career?
- A.Boston University
- B.Davis & Elkins College
- C.Warren Wilson Collegecorrect
- D.Appalachian State University
Hank Steinbrecher began his coaching career at Warren Wilson College, where he served as both head soccer coach and athletic director.
Source: Early career section
8.How many consecutive Southern Conference championships did Hank Steinbrecher win with the Appalachian State Mountaineers?
- A.Threecorrect
- B.Five
- C.Two
- D.Four
Hank Steinbrecher coached the Appalachian State Mountaineers from 1978 to 1980, leading them to three consecutive Southern Conference championships.
Source: Early career section
9.What common sports celebration did Hank Steinbrecher help popularize while at the Quaker Oats Company?
- A.Dumping a cooler of Gatorade on the football coachcorrect
- B.Throwing hats onto the field after a goal
- C.Carrying the winning player on shoulders
- D.Spraying champagne in the locker room
While director of sports marketing at Quaker Oats, Hank Steinbrecher helped popularize the ritual of dumping a cooler of Gatorade on the head coach.
Source: Early career section
10.On what date was Hank Steinbrecher appointed Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation?
- A.February 1, 2000
- B.November 5, 1990correct
- C.July 11, 1990
- D.March 25, 2005
Hank Steinbrecher became the Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation on November 5, 1990.
Source: U.S. Soccer section
11.Which major event was Hank Steinbrecher NOT described as overseeing during his time at U.S. Soccer?
- A.2002 FIFA World Cupcorrect
- B.1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
- C.1996 Summer Olympics Soccer Tournament
- D.1994 FIFA World Cup
Hank Steinbrecher oversaw the 1994 World Cup, the 1996 Olympics Soccer Tournament, and the 1999 Women's World Cup before stepping down in 2000.
Source: U.S. Soccer section
12.In what year was Hank Steinbrecher inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame?
- A.2000
- B.2013
- C.2012
- D.2005correct
Hank Steinbrecher was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a builder in 2005.
Source: Accolades section
13.What award did Hank Steinbrecher receive in 2012 to honor his lasting legacy in U.S. soccer?
- A.The National Amateur Championship Award
- B.The Werner Fricker Builder Awardcorrect
- C.The Builder of the Year Award
- D.The Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2012, Hank Steinbrecher received the Werner Fricker Builder Award, which honors those with a lasting legacy in U.S. soccer.
Source: Accolades section
14.Which of these organizations does NOT list Hank Steinbrecher as a member of their Hall of Fame?
- A.Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame
- B.New England Soccer Hall of Fame
- C.Western States Soccer Hall of Famecorrect
- D.North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame
Hank Steinbrecher was a member of the New England, Eastern New York, and North Carolina Soccer Halls of Fame.
Source: Accolades section
15.What is the primary purpose of the Hank Steinbrecher Cup?
- A.To crown the National Amateur Championscorrect
- B.To fund youth soccer scholarships
- C.To award the best collegiate soccer coach
- D.To honor the top soccer executive in the US
The Hank Steinbrecher Cup is a USASA competition started in 2013 that crowns the National Amateur Champions.
Source: Accolades section
16.In what city did Hank Steinbrecher pass away?
- A.Boston, Massachusetts
- B.Tucson, Arizonacorrect
- C.Washington, D.C.
- D.Charlotte, North Carolina
Hank Steinbrecher died in Tucson, Arizona, on March 25, 2025.
Source: Personal life and death section
People who died on March 25
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