For UAlbany Men's Soccer Coach Trevor Gorman, Success Is About More Than Rankings
By Maria Runco | November 5, 2026
After the University at Albany men’s soccer team reached No. 24 in the national rankings, head coach Trevor Gorman said the team’s success comes from focusing on daily improvement rather than championships or outside recognition.
"Our process is not to worry about big things like being ranked or winning championships or, you know, how people on the outside see us," Gorman said. "We just want to get better every day."
Gorman, who has led the Great Danes for the past 15 seasons, believes that building a successful team takes time, consistency and hard work. While he recognizes and understands the importance of the national rankings, he emphasized that they can change quickly and should not define the team’s progress.
"To have enough success to be ranked in the national polls is certainly nice, and it's exciting," Gorman said. "But then it can always change the next week."
In 2015, UAlbany finished first in the America East standings, but lost in the conference tournament. The following year, the Great Danes won the championship with a group of players who had spent several seasons together.
The coach sees the 2016 America East championship not only as one good year that resulted in a trophy, but as the result of several years of development rather than one successful season.
"It didn't feel like just one year. It felt like many years," Gorman said.
Gorman grew up with college soccer all around him. His father, Barry Gorman, coached at Penn State University for 22 years, which exposed him to the sport and the responsibilities of coaching from an early age.
His own playing career was affected by injuries, including three knee surgeries during four years of college. Those experiences eventually pushed him to reconsider his career goals and pursue coaching.
For him, overcoming those challenges helped him develop perspective as a coach, particularly when dealing with the difficulties his players face.
Despite the attention surrounding UAlbany’s national ranking, Gorman continues to emphasize the importance of working hard, enjoying the sport and improving together.
"We want to have fun. We want to work hard, and we want to appreciate that we get to do this together every single day," he said.
Comments