She left the Utah Royals of NWSL a short time before the draft and now is at the helm of the U-20's. I am sure Laura who we have seen over recent years at the USC Soccer Convention where she gives tremendous sessions is now making more money, but I am also sure it comes with far less job security, I say this with no inside details out of SLC, but NT HC's do not have as long of a career as would a pro team coach. A highly successful 7 seasons in the women's pro game have come to a halt, the last 2 with the relocated Royals and the balance with the Seattle Reign who have since moved, rebranded and sold in the northwest, where she was also the GM. Laura holds the #2 spot in wins for the NWSL while 2014 & '15 both saw her garnering NWSL Coach of the Year and title appearances. In the league since its inception of 2013 her overall record of 72-52-38 is a great mark. She will soon embark on her journey with the USSF Pro License Course following in the footsteps of the sole other women to hold this high degree, Jill Ellis.
Kate Markgraf, the newly named USWNT GM, who made the decision to take her on in this role stated "Laura is a talented and passionate coach whose knowledge translates extremely well to the international game, Her women's club and Youth National Team experience in England, her time with our Youth National Teams and her 7 professional seasons in the NWSL have prepared her well to mold the development of our next generation. We are extremely excited to have her as a part of our coaching staff and the US Soccer family.
First up in a trio of days, is her 26 player camp in Lakewood Ranch Florida from the 9th -20th. Then she must whittle it down to 20 for the Concacaf Womens U-20 Championship from Feb. 15- Mar. 1 in the Dominican Republic. Come Aug. is the big one, The U-20 World Cup , co-hosted by Panama & Costa Rica.
Laura informed, "I'm really excited and happy to come on board with US Soccer. I have enjoyed my time in the NWSL, I want to sincerely thank the Utah Royals and specifically our owner Dell Loy Hansen. I'm very grateful to the Utah Royals and the Reign FC. Now, working for US Soccer will be extremely rewarding for me."
She will be assuming all aspects of the U-20 WNT and handle the joining with and programming with the U-18 & 19 NTs to get the most out of valuing and the calling up of players among the teams, camps and games in the WC cycle. Her former asst. with the Reign, Tracey Kevins and Laura will again link up and have much contact as she is the U-17 HC. Harvey has stepped into the position left open by Mark Carr, now the HC of the women's team at Univ. of Oklahoma.
USSF is not an unknown to coach, she has been utilized for scouting with the U-17's, and as HC and asst. with the U-23's. 2017 had her at the helm for the La Manga Tourney 2017 in Spain.
A native of Coventry England, Laura was a player for Woverhampton Wanderers & Birmingham City in the FA Women's Premier Lg. A bad knee injury put a premature end to that, then off to coach in 2002. Her first time off field was with Birmingham City as asst. for a quartet of seasons, HC there for the next pair. Onto Arsenal and a terrific tenure from 2008-'12 with the last 3 years having FA WSL champion teams, a pair for Continental Cup titles and a single FA Women's Cup, along with the semi of the UEFA Women's Championship League. Her time at Arsenal also had her as an Academy coach, Director and Reserve Team HC.
Her international exposure in England should prove valuable in her new position, HC of the U-15 NT, U-23's, an asst. for the U-23's, U-19 & U-17 NTs are all on her extensive resume. While with the U-17 team, they were in the Euros and 2008 WC in Chile. The U-19 team made it as a runner up in the 2010 UEFA U-19 Championship in North Macedonia.
Her credentials include a USSF A lic., UEFA Coaching lic., BA in Sports Studies at Univ. of Wolverhampton in 2001 and BTEC (Business & Technology Education Council) National Diploma in Sport from Henley College, 1998.
Photo credit: Fatima Nawabi Soccer SLC Magazine.