Laura Harvey: A Winning Model for NWSL Coaches
Laura Harvey coached the OL Reign to their first-place regular season slot this year, adding to an already storied coaching legacy, including the most NWSL wins.
Coaching the OL Reign was not new for Harvey, who was head coach from 2013-2017 and won Coach of the Year twice in that time. (She won it again in 2021). However, when Harvey was hired back in July 2021, OL Reign was a different team. They had a healthy mix of veterans and young talent creating scoring opportunities but were having trouble putting the ball in the back of the net.
Other NWSL clubs had hired and recruited well since Harvey had been gone. The Seattle squad had an uphill climb ahead of them.
Here, we’ll explore Harvey’s history with the beautiful game, her coaching tactics, and her successes with OL Reign and abroad.
NWSL Shield Winners OL Reign
OL Reign completed their 2022 season first in the standings during the regular season, winning the 2022 NWSL Shield. This was the team’s third since its introduction in 2012, and its first since 2015. And, with a win against Gotham FC on August 16, Laura Harvey set her own record for 82 all-time regular-season wins in the NWSL.
A coaching staff, as we know, can make or break teams regardless of talent. And it seems Laura Harvey’s style bolstered this Seattle-based team to the top of the table this season.
Much of the club’s success this year can be attributed to the team’s immense depth and the coach staff’s real leadership. No matter who was out on the field, the Reign figured out how to end with winning results repeatedly throughout the season. For example, they had 21 different starting XIs in all 22 games.
The powerhouse squad boasts established international names like Jess Fishlock, Jimena López, Megan Rapinoe, Jordyn Huitema, Rose Lavelle, and Quinn. But the team was dominantly young this year, with players like Ally Watt, Zsani Kaján, Tziarra King, Bethany Balcer, and Sofia Huerta. With a slow start to the season, it was anyone’s guess how the Reign would look come October. But the team built momentum and scrapped through nail-biting games, ending with 11 wins, four losses, seven ties, and clinching a playoff semi-final spot.
Laura Harvey and the OL Reign have a lot to celebrate after this phenomenal regular-season run. But what makes Harvey stand out as a coach?
Laura Harvey’s Coaching Style
Harvey’s coaching style is honest and direct, with genuine connection underlying every challenge and question. She trusts her players to give their best, and they trust her to lead them.
“It’s not about making huge change. I don’t think there needs to be huge change,” Harvey said when she re-joined OL Reign mid-season in 2021. “I think it is all about building on the foundations that are already there and getting the players in a position where they can show their true potential as individuals and as a team.”
Basically: Team first, ego second.
Unfortunately, this attitude is often not the norm in coaching. However, Harvey’ ’s success on and off the field shows just how much of an impact respecting players and caring about them can have on a team’s outcome.
U.S. Soccer Experience
Harvey was the USWNT U-20 Head Coach in 2020. She also served as an assistant coach of the USWNT.
That same year, Harvey was the second female candidate to take the U.S. Soccer Pro License Course. She currently has USSF “A” and UEFA “A” coaching licenses.
International Coaching Experience
Laura Harvey has also made a name for herself worldwide, coaching several of England’s National Teams.
Moreover, the Coventry, England native had a highly successful run with the Arsenal women from 2008-2012, ending with three consecutive FA WSL titles, two Continental Cup wins, and one FA Women’s Cup.
Playing Career
Harvey played for the FA Women’s Super League. After a knee injury in 2002, she moved to coach for Birmingham City and thus started her coaching career.
What’s Next?
In a world where the NWSL lacks credibility and is desperate for quality coaches, Laura Harvey stands out. Not only because her team produced phenomenal results this season but also because of the strong, respectful relationships she forms with those around her.
Laura Harvey has proven that she knows how to get the best from her players.
And that’s not because players don’t fail; that’s because good coaches know how to teach players the beauty in the struggle.
Featured image via @olreign on Instagram
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