The business was done quickly. Dan Lauletta, from The Equalizer, reported that Utah Royals FC head coach Laura Harvey was set to depart the NWSL side for a position within the United States Soccer Federation on Friday. The deal was done by Monday when she was formally announced head coach of the U-20 United States Women's National Team, and simultaneously, URFC assistant coach Scott Parkinson was named interim coach.
The move was eminent given the fact that Harvey was linked to coaching the next US U-18 WNT camp as it prepares for a four-nation tournament on January 21 in Florida according to Anthony DiCicco. It appears that the Englishwoman expressed her interests of an international position and U.S. Soccer did not hesitate to give her charge of the U-20.
Harvey was one of the favorites for the Team USA head coach position after Jill Ellis stepped down last fall. But the job was secured by her NWSL rival Vlatko Andonovski.
The 39-year-old coached the Utah Royals for two seasons leaving behind a 19-17-12 record without ever qualifying to a play off. But she has had plenty of experience coaching youth international teams.
Harvey coached the U-23 USWNT in 2017 after coaching them through January camp. She took an expanded role with the United States Soccer Federation after stepping down as the Seattle Reign FC's head coach, where she back-to-back two NWSL Shields. A coaching job in U.S. Soccer was approaching but never happened due to her unexpected move to Utah.
In England, Harvey spent time coaching as an assistant for the U-17, U-19 and U-23 national teams and led Arsenal W.F.C. to two FA Women's Super League titles.
The U-20 USWNT has not looked sharp since their runner-up-finish in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. The Americans failed to headway out of group stages in the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, something that had never happened before. U.S. Soccer believes Harvey will turn things around for the U-20 side.
