UVic Coach Bruce Wilson Retires After Storied 34-Year Career With Men’s Soccer Vikes
Bruce Wilson followed a successful pro and national team career by taking the reins at UVic in 1987
University of Victoria men’s soccer coach Bruce Wilson has retired after a 34-year career with the Vikes.
Wilson, 70, began his long-standing career on the pitch at age six with the North Burnaby Eagles of the BC Youth Soccer Program. His early start set him up for success and he later began playing professionally in 1974 during the Vancouver Whitecaps’ inaugural season.
For 15 years Wilson played professionally for a number of teams in the now-defunct North American Soccer League, including the that first iteration of the Vancouver Whitecaps between 1974-1977, the Chicago Sting from 1978-1979, New York Cosmos in 1980, and the Toronto Blizzard from 1981-1984. In 1978, he became the first Canadian to be named NASL player of the year and a 6-time all-star selection. Wilson represented Canada 57 times in his 13 year national team career and was also the national team captain for 10 years until his retirement from the national program. In that time, Wilson helped Canada reach the quarter-finals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles – Canada’s best-ever men’s Olympic soccer result and the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the first and only time Canada qualified for the international tournament.
In 1987, the Vancouver native took over the coaching reigns of the UVIC program and coached the Vikes to national championships in 1996, 2004 and 2011 and seven Canada West titles.
His excellence as a coach led Wilson to being named CIS or USPORT national coach of the year on three separate occasions and Canada West coach of the year 10 times.
Coaching Experience:
1987-2021: University of Victoria Vikes Head Coach
1985-87: Player/Coach of Toronto (formerly Toronto Blizzard)
Coaching Highlights:
1996, 1997, 2004: Canada West and CIS Champions.
1993: Coach of the Canadian FISU Games team.
1991-92 and 1996-97 CIS Coach of the Year.
Playing Experience:
Inducted into the National Hall of Fame.
Member of the BC Hall of Fame.
Played 13 years in professional soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Chicago
Sting, New York Cosmos, and the Toronto Blizzard
1978 NASL Player of the Year
Member of Canada’s World Cup Soccer team for 13 years.
Played in the 1984 Olympics for Canada.
Captained Canada in FIFA World Cup (Mexico 1986).
Named to CONCACAF’s All-Century Team.
Named to Peles’ World 11 team – scored goal in Tokyo against Japan
The Vikes search for a new coach is ongoing.
Sources:
Victoria Now: https://www.victorianow.com/watercooler/news/news/Local_Sports/Canadian_soccer_legend_Bruce_Wilson_retires_as_coach_of_UVic_Vikes_men_s_soccer_team_after_34_years/#fs_107723
Victoria News: https://www.vicnews.com/sports/uvic-coach-retires-after-storied-34-year-career-with-mens-soccer-vikes/
https://fcvictoria.typepad.com/home/2006/01/soccer_hall_of_.html