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Carin Gabarra

Former member, U.S. Women's National Team
Head Coach, U.S. Naval Academy

Carin Gabarra headshot

Carin Gabarra is a former American soccer forward and currently serves as the head coach for the United States Naval Academy women’s soccer team. Carin attended college at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she set the NCAA Division I women’s soccer single-season records for goals (34), goals per game (1.55), points (80), and points per game (3.64). She was awarded the school’s Woman Athlete of the Decade in 1987 and was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 1991.

As a member of the United States Women’s National Team, Carin earned 117 caps and scored 53 goals during her 10-year career. In the 1991 FIFA World Cup, Carin helped the team to claim the championship title, scoring six goals as the tournament’s second-leading scorer and earning the Golden Ball Award as the tournament’s top player. Carin also represented the United States at the 1995 World Cup and the 1996 Olympics.

Carin began her collegiate coaching career at Westmont College. After one season, she moved to Harvard where she was the assistant coach of the women’s varsity team. In 1993, she became the United States Naval Academy’s first and only women’s soccer coach. At the time of her hiring, the women’s team competed at the club level. Now, the team competes at the NCAA Division I level and has won three Patriot League Tournament titles and featured in three NCAA tournaments.

Coaching Accolades 

  • 2013, 2006, 1996 Patriot League Coach of the Year
  • 22 Patriot League Players of the Year
  • 35 All-Regional Players
  • 4 Scholar All-Americans
  • 16 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
  • 2 US Soccer Coaches All-Americans
  • 2 Academic All-Americans of the Year

Playing Accolades 

  • 2003 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (1996 team)
  • 2003 American Youth Soccer Organization Hall of Fame
  • 2001 National Soccer Medal of Honor
  • 2000 National Soccer Hall of Fame
  • Stars of the Century Team
  • 1996 Olympic Games Gold Medalist
  • 1987 ’92 United States Soccer Female Athlete of the Year
  • 1987 ’92 United States Olympic Committee Player of the Year
  • 1991 World Cup Champion
  • 1991 World Cup Golden Ball recipient
  • Four-time Collegiate All-American
  • UCSB’s all-time leading scorer
  • UCSB Woman Athlete of the Decade
  • UCSB Hall of Fame

Current

  • Member, FIFA United Bid 2026 Leaders Council
  • Member, Athletes for Hope
  • US Soccer Technical Committee