Keith Tozer, a longtime indoor soccer coach, collapsed at the top of an escalator at Boston Logan International Airport and nearly died before eight minutes of chest compressions brought him back. Now the man who led the Milwaukee Wave to six championships over 22 seasons is channeling that second chance into a very public campaign, urging Milwaukee residents to learn CPR and support cardiac research at a local walk.
Tozer suffered cardiac arrest around 4:45 a.m. on Nov. 12 at Boston Logan International Airport while making his way home to Milwaukee, according to the Major Arena Soccer League. A medical student named AnnMarie Marquis happened to be nearby, asked someone to get an AED and began eight minutes of CPR. As reported by FOX6 News Milwaukee, Tozer is revered in the local soccer community, and his coaching accomplishments have long fueled that reputation.
The rescue effort was intense enough to leave a mark: Tozer suffered eight broken ribs from the chest compressions before he was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he woke up a day later, per the same MASL account. It's a stark reminder of how physically demanding effective CPR can be, and how that intensity is often exactly what keeps a heart pumping until professional help takes over.
A Legacy Built Over 22 Seasons in Milwaukee
Long before Boston, Tozer built his name in Milwaukee arenas. He coached the Wave for 22 seasons, from 1992 to 2014, winning six league championships across multiple indoor soccer organizations, according to the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame. Tozer recorded 747 overall victories across his career.
His résumé extends well beyond Milwaukee's Wave franchise. Tozer was inducted into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019 and previously served as head coach of the U.S. Futsal National Team starting in 1998, per Futsal Planet's coverage of the honor. He currently serves as Commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League.
Turning Survival Into a Community Mission
Tozer is raising funds for the 2026 Southeast Wisconsin Heart & Stroke Walk through Team Tozer, according to the American Heart Association. FOX6 Sports interviewed Tozer directly and reviewed information from the association for its report, noting that he now has a personal purpose for the broader community beyond his coaching legacy.
People can join Tozer's team or donate to support the cause.
The Importance of Bystander Action
Tozer's outcome is rare by the numbers: the American Heart Association says 9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital do not survive. The association says CPR can save lives.
Tozer's story resonates beyond soccer circles: Marquis's willingness to act quickly appears to have been a factor in his survival. It's the same message he's expected to carry to Milwaukee's soccer community and beyond as he supports the walk.
