A legendary figure in Canadian soccer history, Bruce Wilson entered his 32nd year in the fall of 2019 as head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team. Wilson has amassed an overall conference record of 212-107-63 and notably capped off a memorable 2011 season by winning the CIS National Championship. The captain during Canada's lone World Cup appearance in 1986, Wilson has coached the Vikes to three CIS Championship titles (1996, 2004, 2011) and nine Canada West conference titles (1987, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009).
This past season, Wilson showed he still had the magic touch, as he led the Vikes to their best season since 2014 with an 8-6-1 record, which was good enough for third in one of the tightest Pacific Divisions in recent memory.
The Vikes also went back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and drew the unfortunate matchup of travelling to Saskatoon to battle the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in freezing conditions.
Wilson also helped striker Isaac Koch return to full health after missing the 2018 season with a knee injury. Koch went on to lead the Canada West in scoring with 17 points. He was later named the Canada West Player of the Year, was the runner up for the U SPORTS Player of the Year and was the Vikes Male Athlete of the Year.
Under Wilson’s guidance the Vikes had a phenomenal 2011 season. UVic hosted the CIS National Championship, giving the Vikes an automatic berth. The Vikes finished first in the Canada West conference and proved that they weren’t looking for a free ride to Nationals. The Vikes missed their chance at a Canada West banner after losing to Alberta but were unstoppable in the CIS Championship final, defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-1.
Wilson has twice been recognized as CIS Coach of the Year (1991, 1996) and in 2011 was presented as the Canada West Coach of the Year for a record nine times (1991, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011). In 1993, Wilson was appointed head coach of Team Canada's entry in the World University Games.
During a prolific playing career that included 13 years of professional soccer and 11 years with Team Canada, Wilson was regarded as one of the game's best stay-at-home style of defenders. He captained the Canadian team at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the sole time Canada has appeared, and totaled 51 caps for the nation. He was selected to CONCACAF's All-Century team and led Canada to the quarterfinals of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Summer Games.
In the North American Soccer League, Wilson was a six-time All-Star and only Bob Lenarduzzi played in more NASL games than Wilson's total of 276. He suited up for four different clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps (1974-77), Chicago Sting (1978-79), New York Cosmos (1980), and Toronto Blizzard (1981-84). In 1980 he won a NASL Championship with the Cosmos.
Wilson was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000, and the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2004 he was presented with the FIFA Centennial Award of Merit. In 2012, for the Canadian Soccer Association’s centennial celebrations, Wilson was selected to be a member of the All-Time Canada XI team.
Last updated April 2020
ARTICLES:
MAJOR AWARDS:
CIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (5): 1975, 1987, 1996, 2004, 2011
CANADA WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS (6): 1987, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009
CIS COACH OF THE YEAR (2): 1991, 1996
CANADA WEST COACH OF THE YEAR (9): 1991, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011
BRUCE WILSON'S RECORD AT UVIC:
| Year |
Overall |
Conference |
Notes |
| 1987 |
10-1-1 |
8-1-1 (1st) |
Won CIS; Won Can West |
| 1988 |
6-4-0 |
6-4-0 (3rd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1989 |
6-1-3 |
6-1-3 (2nd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1990 |
3-5-2 |
5-3-2 (3rd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1991 |
5-2-1 |
5-2-1 (3rd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1992 |
6-2-3 |
6-1-3 (2nd) |
Lost CW Finals |
| 1993 |
6-2-2 |
6-2-2 (3rd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1994 |
5-3-2 |
5-3-2 (3rd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1995 |
4-2-4 |
4-2-4 (4th) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1996 |
8-3-2 |
6-3-1 (2nd) |
Won CIS; Won Can West |
| 1997 |
5-3-2 |
5-3-2 (3rd) |
Missed playoffs |
| 1998 |
9-1-2 |
8-0-2 (1st) |
Lost CW Finals |
| 1999 |
11-1-1 |
9-0-1 (1st) |
Won CW; CIS Bronze |
| 2000 |
13-2-1 |
8-1-1 (1st) |
Won CW; CIS Bronze |
| 2001 |
9-4-3 |
6-3-3 (2nd) |
Won CW; CIS Bronze |
| 2002 |
10-1-5 |
8-0-4 (1st) |
Won CW; CIS 5th Place |
| 2003 |
7-4-1 |
7-4-1 (4th) |
Missed playoffs |
| 2004 |
12-2-3 |
8-2-2 (2nd) |
Won CIS; Won Can West |
| 2005 |
5-5-2 |
5-5-2 (5th) |
Missed playoffs |
| 2006 |
6-5-3 |
6-5-3 (5th) |
Missed playoffs |
| 2007 |
7-7-3 |
6-5-3 (3rd) |
Lost in CW Semis |
| 2008 |
11-5-2 |
9-3-2 (1st) |
Won CW; CIS 8th |
| 2009 |
10-6-1 |
8-5-1 (3rd) |
Won CW; CIS 5th |
| 2010 |
4-9-1 |
4-9-1 (6th) |
Missed Playoffs |
| 2011 |
14-3-2 |
10-2-2 (1st) |
Won CIS; Won CW RS Title, 3rd CW Chp. |
| 2012 |
6-7-2 |
6-6-2 (3rd) |
CW 3rd; CIS DNQ |
| 2013 |
11-5-1 |
10-3-1 (2nd) |
CW 4th: CIS DNQ |
| 2014 |
8-1-5 |
8-1-3 (2nd) |
CW 4th: CIS DNQ |
| 2015 |
7-3-6 |
6-3-3 (2nd) |
CW 2nd: CIS 7th |
| 2016 |
5-10-1 |
5-10-1 |
Pacific: 6th, Missed playoffs |
| 2017 |
6-8-1 |
6-8-1 |
Pacific: 5th, Missed playoffs |
| 2018 |
5-8-3 |
5-8-3 |
Pacific: 6th, Missed playoffs |
| 2019 |
8-6-1 |
8-6-1 |
Pacific: 3rd, lost in CW quarterfinals |
| TOTAL |
232-122-70 |
212-107-63 |
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