George Kiefer Named Head Men?s Soccer Coach at South Florida

TAMPA ? The University of South Florida has named University of Connecticut assistant George Kiefer its new head men?s soccer coach. Kiefer, an assistant for UConn?s 2000 National Champion and 1998-2001 Big East Championship teams, fills the position vacated May 31, when former coach John Hackworth resigned to become the assistant for the U-17 National Team.

?George Kiefer displays everything we were looking for in a head coach,? said Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy, USF?s Senior Associate Athletic Director, who administrates the men?s soccer program. ?He?s an outstanding coach, an outstanding recruiter, and is well-respected in the national soccer community. We feel like we?ve scored a hat trick with this hire.?

Kiefer, 29, has been tabbed by UConn head coach Ray Reid as ?one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country,? and brings a wealth of coaching experience to South Florida, having assisted Reid for seven seasons, including five at UConn and two at Southern Connecticut State University.

?Many things attracted me to the USF position and they are the same components that make the program and the university attractive to recruits,? said Kiefer. ?USF?s membership in Conference USA, a league recognized nationally for its soccer success, is extremely valuable as we continue to build the program. Also, USF is recognized nationally as a premier research institution while the Tampa Bay area is an extremely attractive place to live.?

Following a graduate assistantship at SCSU in 1994, during which the Owls made an NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearance, Kiefer joined Southern?s coaching staff full-time in 1995. In just two seasons as an assistant, Kiefer helped lead the Owls to an NCAA National Championship in 1995, and an NCAA National Semifinal appearance in 1996. He also coached six First-Team All-Americans, two of whom were named NCAA Division II Player of the Year, and one that was named CoSIDA?s Division II Player of the Year. Two of those players went on to play in Major League Soccer (MLS).

In 1997, Kiefer followed Reid to UConn, where he quickly established himself as one of college soccer?s top recruiters.

?Kiefer?s eye for talent is a strength and is part of the reason that he is such a great recruiter,? said Reid. ?His organization, knowledge and enthusiasm are all important qualities that make him the coach that he is.?

Under a dry spell with only one Big East Championship since 1989, the Huskies needed only one season under Kiefer?s recruiting guidance to reverse their Big East fortune. After finishing seventh in conference play in 1997, UConn posted a first place regular-season finish in 1998, its first of four consecutive titles, and added a Big East Tournament Championship in 1999. The Huskies were 40-12-2 (.759) in regular-season conference games and 7-4 (.636) in the Big East tournament from 1997-2001.

Above and beyond the Big East, Kiefer helped guide UConn to two College Cup appearances, including an NCAA semifinal bid in 1999 and an NCAA title in 2000. The Huskies made it to the first and second rounds of the tournament in 1998 and 2001, respectively, and have now earned four straight tournament berths. UConn posted an 82-24-6 (.759) overall mark from 1997-2001, including an 8-3 (.727) record in NCAA tournament play.

While at UConn, Kiefer successfully recruited and coached nine All-Americans, including one Hermann Trophy winner and one Herman Trophy finalist, and seven Big East Player of the Year Award winners. Six of these players have gone on to be drafted by and/or currently play with MLS teams.

A player-turned-coach, Kiefer played professionally with the Connecticut Wolves (USISL) from 1994-1995, and played his college ball for SCSU from 1990-1993, helping lead the Owls to two NCAA National Championships and four straight New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championships. He is a USSF ?A? licensed coach, and has been a Region I Olympic Development Program Assessor and a Connecticut Olympic Development Program Head Coach. He earned his bachelor?s degree in corporate communications in 1994, and his master?s in physical education in 1997, both from SCSU.

Kiefer married his wife, Lauren, on May 4, 2002.