Women's Soccer
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 719-333-2061
Larry Friend enters his 13th season as head coach of the United States Air Force Academy women’s soccer program in 2021. “I have been blessed to live two lives. One as an Air Force Officer and Pilot and one as a soccer coach”.
The 1985 Academy graduate is the 2nd head coach to lead the Falcons in their 29-year history. He was an assistant from 1992-1996 and 2002-2008 under former head Coach Marty Buckley. Coach Buckley passed of cancer Spring of 2019. The Falcon and soccer community still miss him very much.
”Marty was one of the most loyal and genuine people I have ever met. I am honored to share a friendship with him. Power and money were never high on his list of priorities. He was a man who cared about good friends, good food and helping others. Ala Beem!”
Coach Buckley and Friend started the women’s soccer program in 1992. In their second season, the team broke into the top 20 of the NCAA Division II weekly rankings. They continued to improve each year with consistent top 20 NCAA rankings. By the 4th season, the 1995 team went 14-3-2 with an NCAA Division II ranking of 7th in the nation and produced their 1st All American.
In 1996, Friend helped Buckley and the Falcons transition from Division II to Division I. They coached the team to its first Division I tournament appearance in the Western Athletic Conference Championships.
Friend calls Columbia, Md., his hometown. His father, Joseph F. Friend, moved the family to Columbia in 1969 and retired from the Navy in 1971. Friend graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 1980, where he was team captain and won a state championship in 1976.
Friend went to the Air Force Academy and played for Coach Luis Sagastume as a four-year starter and team captain. “I’m always grateful to Coach Sags for mentoring me and passing on his passion for the game. His attention to detail on the field is incredible. He has forgotten more then I know.” Friend and his teams compiled a 46-24-7 record at USAFA. Friend was 4 time all-leaguer and selected to the NCAA “All-Midwest Regional Team” his junior year. Friend is ranked 3rd in the men’s program for career assists and 20th for most points overall.
Friend continued his soccer career after graduating from the Academy to include playing overseas for the Japanese team Sukazan while on active duty. He also competed on the All-Air Force and US All-Armed Forces team. He captained All Air Force to a pair of inter-service championships. He also captained the U.S. Armed Forces team to a 1990 North American Championship in Victoria, Canada. This victory qualified the U.S. for the 1991 Military World Football Championship in Holland.
Friend ended his playing career after the Military World Championships in 1991 and moved on to the coaching ranks. Friend has worked with numerous clubs teams, state and region Olympic Development Programs since 1992. Friend traveled with the United States Soccer Federation on coaching courses to Germany and Holland in 2011 and Portugal in 2015. He has visited 8 professional clubs in 4 different countries. “Those experiences were fantastic. They broadened me as coach and gave me different approaches to teach this great game.” In the summer of 2015 Friend assisted Coach Bennett and Colorado College to represent the United States at the World University Games in Korea.
Friend retired from the Air Force in 2005 after 20 years of service. He flew over 2,000 hours as an instructor pilot, on search and rescue and VIP helicopters. He was assigned to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan (86-88), as a combat search and rescue pilot with the 33rd Air Rescue Squadron. Then the 41st Air Rescue Squadron at Patrick AFB, Florida (89-92), as an instructor pilot and NASA shuttle liaison officer. In 1992, Friend had his first stint coaching soccer and instructing at the Air Force Academy. In 1997, Friend was assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB, Maryland to fly VIP missions. He returned to the Academy in 2001.
“It always about the cadets. I’m so impressed with the amazing women who have entered the Academy, battled on the soccer field, developed into leaders of character, and have formed the long blue line.”
Here are some recent program highlights to celebrate. In 2019 Air Force had one of its best season's in program history. The Falcons finished with a 10-7-1 record. The 10 wins were the most since 1999. The team scored 36 goals, the most since 2000, while also adding 7 shutouts, which tied the most in program history. 2017 was another monumental season in program history with the Falcons qualifying for the MWC Tournament.
Friend and his wife, Maribeth, have been married 32 years. They have 3 children, Corey, Carina, and Felicia. They also have a wonderful daughter in-law in Chloe and 3 grandchildren, Landon, Trystan, and Jayden.
Friend File
Hometown:
Columbia, Md.
Education:
USAFA, 1985 (Bachelor's)
Squadron Officer School,1989
Northern Colorado, 1994 (Master's)
Air Command and Staff College,1999
Playing Experience:
USAFA 1981-84
All-Air Force Soccer Team 1985, 86, 87, 90
U.S. All-Armed Forces Soccer Team 1985, 86, 90, 91
Coaching Experience:
Head Coach, USAFA 2009-Present
United States Soccer Federation (USSF)
Goalkeeper license 2007.
USSF “A” license 1994
Assistant Coach, USAFA 1992-96, 02-08
Pilot Jobs:
Sikorsky HH-3 Search & Rescue Helicopter Pilot
Bell UH-1 Huey VIP Pilot
Instructor Pilot
Assignments:
Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan
Patrick AFB, Florida.
Andrews AFB, Maryland.
US Air Force Academy, Colorado (Twice)
