George Kiefer (soccer)

George Kiefer
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamGrand Canyon
ConferenceWAC
Record0–0–0 (–)
Biographical details
Born (1971-10-11) October 11, 1971 (age 53)
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–Grand Canyon
Head coaching record
Overall211–138–74 (.586)
Tournaments7–11–5 (.413)
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 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's soccer team after being named head coach in 2023. Previously, Kiefer was the head coach at South Florida for 15 seasons and 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 legendary 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]

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–present)
2024 Grand Canyon 0-0-0 0-0-0
Grand Canyon: 0-0-0 0-0-0
Total: 211–138–74 (.586)

      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 2023-12-27.
  2. ^ "Archived Men's Soccer Stats" (PDF). SCSUOwls.com. 27 Dec 2023.
  3. ^ "All-Time Year-By-Year Results". Southern Connecticut State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  4. ^ "George Kiefer Named NC State Men's Soccer Head Coach". theacc.com. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  5. ^ "George Kiefer Named Head Men?s Soccer Coach at South Florida". conferenceusa.com. 2002-06-21. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  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 (2023-11-03). "George Kiefer out as NC State men's soccer coach". Backing The Pack. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  8. ^ "Kiefer brings titles, tourney success to lead GCU". Grand Canyon University Athletics. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-27.


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