UVU hires former RSL player Kyle Beckerman as head soccer coach
(KUTV) — Former Real Salt Lake star player Kyle Beckerman will be the new coach of the Utah Valley University Wolverine soccer team.
2News' Dave Fox confirmed the announcement Monday. The school confirmed the news shortly after.
Beckerman announced his retirement from Major League Soccer in December 2020. He played 21 seasons with MLS, 14 of which were with RSL.
Real Salt Lake called him the best defensive midfielder in MLS history, a view widely shared. The 38-year-old retires as the league’s all-time leader in regular-season matches played, matches started, and minutes played.
Beckerman also had 58 caps for the U.S. National Team, including appearances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2009, 2013 and 2015 and the Copa America tournament in 2007 and 2016. In winning the Gold Cup title in 2013, he was named MVP of the Gold Cup Final. At the U-17 level, he developed at the Bradenton Academy in Florida alongside teammates who would become the core of the U.S. National Team for years to come. In 1999, the U.S. reached the semifinals of the FIFA U-17 Championships, with Beckerman scoring the winning goal in the quarterfinals against Mexico.
