Laura Harvey of Seattle Reign FC has been named the National Women's Soccer League Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
The Reign’s Laura Harvey was named the National Women’s Soccer League Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season following a vote of the league’s journalists, club officials, players and fans, the NWSL announced Friday.
Harvey, 35, led the Reign to its second consecutive regular-season championship with 10 points to spare. Seattle finished 13-3-4 and went unbeaten at Memorial Stadium for the second year running, earning the top seed in the NWSL playoffs in the process. The Reign will face Kansas City in a rematch of the 2014 league championship match Oct. 1 in Portland, having defeated Washington 3-0 in last weekend’s semifinals.
“I can think of no other coach more deserving of this award than Laura,” Reign captain Keelin Winters said in a team statement. “To coach a team to the finals two years in a row in such a competitive league is a testament to her ability as a coach and manager. Laura is a world-class coach and we are lucky to have her here in Seattle.”
Seattle had two eight-game unbeaten runs during 2015, ably working around the World Cup break like few other teams in the NWSL. It finished top of the league in goals scored with 41 in 20 games.
“Laura connects with the squad first as people – not players. It is an honest, authentic approach that has created deep connections between her and the team,” Reign owner Bill Predmore said in the statement “Laura has coupled that approach with an incredible understanding of the game and a relentless drive for greatness. It is a unique combination of talent and tenacity that has been incredibly effective on and off the field, and has led directly to this well-deserved honor.”