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Brian HarveyThe Dallas Tornado NASL original, who played a major role in popularizing football in Oklahoma football, died Friday at the age of 75.
Harvey, who played on Tornado’s legendary 1967-68 World Tour and played for the NASL team for three seasons (1968-70), coached the Oklahoma City Slickers of the American Soccer League in 1982. I first moved to Oklahoma to become
“When I first came to Oklahoma City, football was a bad word,” he told The Oklahoman in 2014. “It was like a communist sport.”
Harvey also coached the Oklahoma City Spirit in the 1990 Lone Star Soccer Alliance Championship and coached the Oklahoma City and Tulsa teams in the USL, but is best known for his work as a college and youth coach. .
Brian Harvey (top, right) played for the Dallas Tornado, owned by Lamar Hunt (bottom, second from right), and toured the world in 1967-68, making 48 appearances in 25 countries. and traveled through Europe, North Africa and Asia. before ending in Tahiti. The tour took place during a time of turmoil around the world, including South Vietnam. Tornado played his three games during the war, two months before his Tet Offensive. Of the 18 players selected, only Brian Renshaw and Harvey, who passed away in 2021, have played more than one season for the Tornados.
Harvey became a coach at Oklahoma City University when it introduced men’s soccer in 1986 and women’s soccer in 1994. In his 34 years, he coached his 1,224 men’s and women’s matches at his NAIA school and compiled a record of 813-341-70 before retiring in 2019.
For many years he was active in the US Youth Soccer Region III Olympic Development Program, leading Dallas Club America’s under-16 boys to the 1979 DJ Naiotis Cup. Brian Harvey American Youth Soccer Camps has attracted over 6,000 campers for nearly 30 years.
“Brian Harvey is an iconic figure in the history of University of Oklahoma City athletics. Jim Abbott Former OCU track and field director. “what abe lemons Basketball, Brian in soccer. Bryan’s influence on the sport of Oklahoma football is immeasurable and his positive impact on the men and women who played for him is his true legacy. Brian was full of integrity, positivity, and personality. I am so grateful for his friendship and the example he set for our department every day. ”
Brother of legendary former Everton player and manager Harvey Colin Harveyfirst came to the United States to pursue a college degree, graduating from St. Bonaventure College in 1966. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the OCU Athletics, the Oklahoma Football Association, and his NAIA.
Harvey survived by his wife Judy and daughter Nicoleplayed for him at OCU in 2001-04.
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