OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University mourns the loss of Brian Harvey, legendary soccer coach at OCU.
Harvey, who was 76, became the coach when OCU introduced men's soccer in 1986 and women's soccer in 1994. He built a hall of fame career in his 34 years at the university.
Harvey made a huge impact on soccer throughout the community, region and country. Harvey served as the coach of several professional soccer teams in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, including the Oklahoma City Slickers and Heat. Through the Brian Harvey American Youth Soccer Camps, more than 6,000 youth gained instruction in soccer from Harvey for nearly 30 years. Many OCU alumni have entered coaching as well.
"Brian Harvey is an iconic figure in the history of Oklahoma City University Athletics," said Jim Abbott, former OCU athletics director. "What Abe Lemons was to basketball, Brian was to soccer. Brian's impact on the sport of soccer in Oklahoma is immeasurable, and his positive influence on the men and women who played for him is his real legacy. Brian exuded integrity, positivity and character, and I'm so grateful for his friendship and the example he set for our department every day."
Memorial services or ways to memorialize Harvey have not been determined at this time, but will be made available as they are determined by the Harvey family.
"Brian Harvey was the preeminent figure in the Oklahoma soccer community," Oklahoma City University President Dr. Kenneth R. Evans said. "Oklahoma City University is forever grateful for his contributions to the sport and the school over his illustrious career. The university community extends its sympathy to Coach Harvey's family and friends and to those whose lives he impacted before, during and after his time at OCU."
Harvey completed his coaching career in 2019, finishing with a combined men's and women's record of 813-341-70 through 34 years. Harvey guided the OCU men's program to a 435-211-43 mark and the women to a 378-130-27 record in 26 years. Harvey's win totals stand second all-time among NAIA women's soccer coaches and sixth on the men's list.
"The OCU Athletics family has lost another shining Star in hall of fame soccer coach Brian Harvey," Oklahoma City Director of Athletics Corey Bray said. "While I did not get the privilege of working with Coach Harvey, I have heard many wonderful stories about the positive impact he made on countless members of our men's and women's soccer programs. While we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his contributions to Oklahoma City University over many years of faithful service. Please join me in supporting Coach Harvey's family, friends, colleagues and former student-athletes during this difficult time."
Harvey notched his 800th career victory against the Houston-Victoria women 3-0 on Aug. 31, 2019 in Victoria, Texas. He gained hall of fame recognition from OCU Athletics, the Oklahoma Soccer Association and the NAIA.
"As an institution, it's been my second home," Harvey once said about OCU. "This is where I've spent the majority of my time. It will stay with me the rest of my life. There's so many memories, so many people I've met here in and out of soccer.
"Being a pro coach was great. It was about results, and about winning and crowds. But being a college coach was a little bit different. It was about shaping people's lives at a time where they needed it most, when they left the nest at home and they were finding their own way in life. I felt a discipline like soccer could help. I think that was one of the main times I felt like that could be a good niche for me."
Oklahoma City University reached the 2001 NAIA women's national championship match, the 1999 and 2000 NAIA women's semifinals as well as the 1991 NAIA men's championships and the 2008 NAIA men's championships semifinals under Harvey's direction. His 1999 women's team went 24-2, and the men recorded a 21-4-1 season in 1991. Oklahoma City made two appearances in the NAIA men's championships and seven in the women's tournament.
"He has touched so many lives, and I'm so lucky I got to be a small part of that," OCU head soccer coach Billy Martin said. "He made so many of us fall in love with the sport of soccer. I don't know where I would be without him. It didn't matter what the situation was, he could always make you smile and would just make things better. Life was definitely better with Brian Harvey in it. OCU soccer alumni, I know he loved you all."
Prior to OCU, Harvey was head coach of the Oklahoma City Slickers, an American Professional Soccer League team that he took to the 1982 Soccer Bowl played before 42,000 at the Silverdome in Detroit. He led the Oklahoma City Spirit to the 1990 Lone Star Soccer Alliance championship. He also coached Oklahoma City and Tulsa in the United Soccer League and the Oklahoma City teams of the U.S. Interregional Soccer League.
"Coach Harvey is the standard in Oklahoma soccer," Science & Arts coach Jimmy Hampton said. "He has had such a large influence on so many people in raising the standard and level of the game for so many players and coaches. He treated young and old alike with respect, honesty and grace. As a coaching colleague, his standard was the bar set for all to aspire to, and his impact on so many is immeasurable. Coach Harvey has not only been missed since his resignation in the competitive arena, but I have also missed Brian much more so as a person who always had time to give advice or guidance on how to be a better coach and better version of oneself. The loss of such an esteemed coach, father and husband is met with a heavy heart, and I like so many others have been so blessed to have crossed paths with him in this arena called life. He will be missed more than words can articulate, but his memory will be carried on forever in this great game by so many of us that have been lucky enough to call him a friend."
Harvey took every opportunity to introduce youth to soccer, coaching in the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Olympic development program for more than 15 years as well as coaching club programs and conducting his American Youth Soccer Camps. He was named Region III boys competitive coach of the year in 2007 and Oklahoma girls competitive coach of the year in 2002. Harvey guided the Dallas Club America to the 1979 Notis Cup title.
"It's pretty much impossible to explain the influence Brian Harvey has had over so many people, not just in Oklahoma but across the country and around the world," said Tommy Riley, coach at Rose State and Heritage Hall as well as OCU alum. "His love for the game is second only to the love he's had for his players. Because of this, he was always hard but fair in assessments, would kick you in the rear end when you needed it, but also had a hug when needed. He could read people so phenomenally well and wanted everyone to succeed in not just soccer, but life. He's positively impacted more people than any of us will probably ever know, and for me personally, I can't even begin to explain his effect on my life."
Oklahoma City won the Sooner Athletic Conference 10 times in men's play, while on the women's side, OCU took 14 SAC regular-season crowns and five tournament titles. At OCU, Harvey produced 77 all-Americans, 124 NAIA scholar-athlete award winners and 15 CoSIDA academic all-Americans. On the men's side, Harvey developed 37 NAIA all-Americans, 54 NAIA scholar-athlete award winners and five CoSIDA academic all-Americans. In women's play, Harvey mentored 40 all-Americans, 80 NAIA scholar-athletes and 10 CoSIDA academic all-Americans. Among those all-Americans, six Harvey pupils turned professional.
"He has done more for soccer in Oklahoma City than anyone," said Murray Evans, former Oklahoman soccer reporter and sports information director at Oklahoma Christian. "He's certainly done more than any single person to make soccer viable in Oklahoma City. He is the godfather of the sport in Oklahoma City. His influence is felt far and wide in Oklahoma and this region."
Harvey became conference coach of the year 16 times, including the men's SAC coach of the year in 2014. He was named 1999 NAIA Region VI men's and women's coach of the year and 1991 Arkansas-Oklahoma coach of the year. He led the Chiefs and Stars to four section titles (two men, two women), two NAIA District IX men's crowns and three NAIA Region VI women's titles.
A native of Liverpool, England, Harvey graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1966 with a degree in physical education. He played soccer professionally in Australia, China, England and the United States. Harvey first came to the United States to play for the Dallas Tornadoes in the North American Soccer League and toured with the Tornadoes around the world. He competed against the legendary Pele in Hong Kong in 1972.
Harvey is survived by his wife Judy and daughter, Nicole, who played for OCU in 2001-04 and served as Harvey's student assistant in 2005.
| HARVEY'S OCU CAREER RECORD |
| Season |
School |
MEN |
WOMEN |
| W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
| 1986 |
Oklahoma City |
8 |
6 |
0 |
.571 |
|
|
|
|
| 1987 |
Oklahoma City |
11 |
8 |
1 |
.575 |
|
|
|
|
| 1988 |
Oklahoma City |
19 |
6 |
1 |
.750 |
|
|
|
|
| 1989 |
Oklahoma City |
19 |
4 |
2 |
.800 |
|
|
|
|
| 1990 |
Oklahoma City |
14 |
9 |
0 |
.609 |
|
|
|
|
| 1991 |
Oklahoma City |
21 |
4 |
1 |
.827 |
|
|
|
|
| 1992 |
Oklahoma City |
15 |
5 |
1 |
.738 |
|
|
|
|
| 1993 |
Oklahoma City |
8 |
13 |
1 |
.386 |
|
|
|
|
| 1994 |
Oklahoma City |
11 |
11 |
0 |
.500 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
.857 |
| 1995 |
Oklahoma City |
17 |
7 |
0 |
.708 |
14 |
6 |
0 |
.700 |
| 1996 |
Oklahoma City |
17 |
4 |
2 |
.783 |
15 |
7 |
0 |
.682 |
| 1997 |
Oklahoma City |
17 |
5 |
0 |
.773 |
18 |
6 |
0 |
.750 |
| 1998 |
Oklahoma City |
14 |
4 |
1 |
.763 |
13 |
7 |
0 |
.650 |
| 1999 |
Oklahoma City |
19 |
4 |
0 |
.826 |
24 |
2 |
0 |
.923 |
| 2000 |
Oklahoma City |
13 |
8 |
0 |
.619 |
22 |
1 |
2 |
.920 |
| 2001 |
Oklahoma City |
15 |
5 |
0 |
.750 |
22 |
2 |
1 |
.900 |
| 2002 |
Oklahoma City |
12 |
7 |
2 |
.619 |
17 |
4 |
2 |
.783 |
| 2003 |
Oklahoma City |
6 |
9 |
4 |
.421 |
12 |
8 |
4 |
.583 |
| 2004 |
Oklahoma City |
9 |
8 |
0 |
.529 |
12 |
5 |
4 |
.667 |
| 2005 |
Oklahoma City |
15 |
5 |
1 |
.738 |
16 |
3 |
2 |
.810 |
| 2006 |
Oklahoma City |
9 |
6 |
2 |
.588 |
14 |
5 |
1 |
.725 |
| 2007 |
Oklahoma City |
15 |
5 |
1 |
.738 |
15 |
5 |
0 |
.750 |
| 2008 |
Oklahoma City |
20 |
3 |
1 |
.854 |
16 |
5 |
1 |
.750 |
| 2009 |
Oklahoma City |
15 |
4 |
2 |
.762 |
11 |
7 |
1 |
.605 |
| 2010 |
Oklahoma City |
11 |
6 |
2 |
.632 |
19 |
3 |
1 |
.848 |
| 2011 |
Oklahoma City |
7 |
6 |
4 |
.529 |
17 |
3 |
2 |
.818 |
| 2012 |
Oklahoma City |
9 |
6 |
4 |
.579 |
20 |
2 |
0 |
.909 |
| 2013 |
Oklahoma City |
8 |
8 |
2 |
.500 |
15 |
4 |
1 |
.775 |
| 2014 |
Oklahoma City |
10 |
5 |
2 |
.647 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
.367 |
| 2015 |
Oklahoma City |
9 |
8 |
0 |
.529 |
12 |
5 |
1 |
.694 |
| 2016 |
Oklahoma City |
11 |
5 |
2 |
.667 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
.412 |
| 2017 |
Oklahoma City |
14 |
3 |
2 |
.789 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
.583 |
| 2018 |
Oklahoma City |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
11 |
3 |
2 |
.750 |
| 2019 |
Oklahoma City |
6 |
9 |
2 |
.412 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
.500 |
| Career Totals |
34 years |
435 |
211 |
43 |
.669 |
378 |
130 |
27 |
.732 |
| Combined Totals |
34 years |
813 |
341 |
70 |
.693 |
|
|
|
|
