George Kiefer (soccer)

George Kiefer
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamSouth Florida
ConferenceAAC
Record162–86–51 (.627)
Biographical details
Born (1971-10-11) October 11, 1971
Bay Shore, New York
Alma materSouthern Connecticut
Playing career
1990–1993Southern Connecticut
1994–1995Connecticut Wolves
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1995–1996Southern Connecticut (assistant)
1997–2001Connecticut (assistant)
2002–2016South Florida
2017–2023NC State
2024–2025Grand Canyon
2026–presentSouth Florida
Head coaching record
Overall230–151–82 (.585)
Tournaments9–12–5 (.442)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
  • 2005 NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year
  • 2015 NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year

George Kiefer (born October 11, 1971) is a former college and professional soccer player and current college soccer coach, now leading the South Florida Bulls men's soccer team in his second tenure after being named head coach in 2025. Previously, Kiefer was the head coach at Grand Canyon. Before his rehiring, Kiefer spent 15 seasons at head coach head coach for South Florida. He was also the head coach for NC State for seven seasons. As a head coach, Kiefer has led his teams to 13 NCAA tournaments.

Playing career

Kiefer played four years of college soccer under coach Ray Reid at Southern Connecticut from 1990 to 1993.[1]

He appeared in 48 career games, scoring eight goals and assisting on 12 more for 28 points.[2]

While a member of the Owls program, Kiefer's teams went 74–8–8 (.867) and claimed two NCAA Division II national championships.[3]

Kiefer played professionally for the Connecticut Wolves in 1994 and 1995.[4]

Coaching career

Kiefer began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater Southern Connecticut for two seasons before following Ray Reid to UConn. In seven seasons assisting Reid, Kiefer helped lead teams to a 123–26–8 (.809) record. UConn made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1998 to 2001.

Kiefer earned his first head coaching opportunity at South Florida, beginning a 15-year run leading the Bulls in 2002.[5] Kiefer was the 2005 NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year. He posted a 162–84–47 record as head coach and won five conference championships. His Bulls reached the Elite Eight twice.

Prior to the 2017 season, Kiefer was selected to replace Kelly Findley as the NC State Wolfpack head coach.[6] He led the Wolfpack to NCAA tournament appearances in his first three seasons.

NC State and Kiefer mutually agreed to part ways following the 2023 season.[7]

Kiefer was announced as the head coach at Grand Canyon on Dec. 20, 2023.[8]

Kiefer quickly had Grand Canyon back in the NCAA Tournament in his second season leading the program, winning the 2025 WAC men's soccer tournament.[9] Later that season, Kiefer helped the Lopes advance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Division I program history (winning at UCLA in penalty kicks) and win their first NCAA Tournament match (at San Diego).[10]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
South Florida Bulls (Conference USA/Big East/American Athletic Conference) (2002–2016)
2002 South Florida 11–7 6–4
2003 South Florida 7–8–3 6–4
2004 South Florida 10–5–2 5–3–1
2005 South Florida 13–6–2 9–2–0 NCAA second round
2006 South Florida 9–6–4 4–3–4
2007 South Florida 14–6–2 6–4–1 NCAA regional semifinals
2008 South Florida 15–5–3 7–3–1 NCAA Regional finals
2009 South Florida 14–4–3 6–3–2 NCAA second round
2010 South Florida 9–6–4 4–3–2 NCAA first round
2011 South Florida 13–4–4 7–1–2 NCAA Regional finals
2012 South Florida 8–6–5 2–3–3 NCAA second round
2013 South Florida 8–4–9 2–2–4 NCAA first round
2014 South Florida 10–7–3 4–3–1
2015 South Florida 11–6–3 5–1–2 2nd NCAA second round
2016 South Florida 10–6–4 6–1–0 1st NCAA first round
South Florida: 162–86–51 79–40–23
NC State Wolfpack (ACC) (2017–2023)
2017 NC State 8–6–4 3–3–2 8th NCAA first round
2018 NC State 10–7–3 2–4–2 8th NCAA second round
2019 NC State 9–7–3 3–4–1 5th NCAA first round
2020 NC State 3–8–4 1–7–4 4th (Atlantic)
2021 NC State 7–8–2 1–5–2 6th (Atlantic)
2022 NC State 6–7–5 1–5–2 6th (Atlantic)
2023 NC State 6–9–3 1–5–3 6th (Atlantic)
NC State: 49–52–24 12–33–16
Grand Canyon (WAC) (2024–2025)
2024 Grand Canyon 5–10–3 2–6–1 9th
2025 Grand Canyon 14–3–5 3–1–3 t-2nd NCAA third round
Grand Canyon: 19–13–8 5–7–4
Total: 230–151–82 (.585)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ Communications, SCSU Athletic. "All-Time Roster". Southern Connecticut State University Athletics. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Archived Men's Soccer Stats" (PDF). SCSUOwls.com. December 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "All-Time Year-By-Year Results". Southern Connecticut State University Athletics. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "George Kiefer Named NC State Men's Soccer Head Coach". theacc.com. November 22, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "George Kiefer Named Head Men?s Soccer Coach at South Florida". conferenceusa.com. June 21, 2002. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "George Kiefer Named NC State Men's Soccer Head Coach". gopack.com. North Carolina State Wolfpack Athletics. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Muma, Steven (November 3, 2023). "George Kiefer out as NC State men's soccer coach". Backing The Pack. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kiefer brings titles, tourney success to lead GCU". Grand Canyon University Athletics. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "No. 3 GCU Defeats No. 4 SJSU 2-1 In Final WAC Men's Soccer Tournament Match". wacsports.com. November 23, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  10. ^ "GCU tops No. 9 USD, heads to Sweet 16 on late Diouf goal". wacsports.com. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
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