Bulls partner with one of the largest youth sports organizations in the nation

TAMPA, FEB. 16, 2026 – University of South Florida Athletics and Florida Premier FC have announced a partnership that will bring one of the largest youth sports organizations in Tampa Bay and Bulls Athletics together around the love of sport and creating future leaders.

"Having a positive impact and connection in our community is a core value for South Florida Athletics, and we are very excited to partner with Florida Premier FC in this tremendous opportunity to share coaching, experiences, and support for thousands of young athletes and their families in the Bay area," South Florida CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins said. "Florida Premier is one of the largest and most impactful youth organizations in the nation, and we look forwarded to working more closely with them and supporting their mission and the youth they serve."

Florida Premier Football Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of Tampa Bay the opportunity to participate in recreational and competitive level soccer. Florida Premier FC has over 10,000 members and more than 420 competitive teams with a goal of instilling in each player a love for the game of soccer, while developing brave, creative leaders and fostering the characteristics of fair play, sportsmanship, persistence, integrity, respect, and humility.

"We're incredibly excited to partner with USF Athletics," Florida Premier CEO Novi Maric said. "This collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment to serving our community and supporting one another's missions. By working together, we believe we can create a greater impact across the Tampa Bay region and continue to elevate sports and the people it brings together." 
 
The partnership will extend across USF Athletics, helping to promote Bulls athletics events to Florida Premier's 30,000 families and providing information on Florida Premier's many youth programs to the USF campus community. The South Florida campus will also host some Florida Premier events, including camps for the HappyFeet Soccer program that serves kids 18 months to eight years old.
 
As part of the partnership, South Florida's men's and women's soccer teams will build closer relationships with Florida Premier's programs. Bulls men's soccer head coach George Kiefer will serve as a technical director for Florida Premier's ECNL team and the Bulls will play matches this spring in Wesley Chapel and Starkey Ranch.

"Since my return to Tampa, I've been very impressed with what Novi (Maric) and Bosho (Maric) have accomplished with soccer in Tampa," Kiefer said. "When I sat down with them, I saw how much passion they have for developing players both on and off the field and how much they care about pushing the game of soccer forward. I wanted to be a part of that.  The number one priority for me is to win our backyard in terms of attracting the best players from the area to stay home and that in my mind starts with Florida Premier."

About Florida Premier FC

Florida Premier FC is one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the nation, serving families across the Tampa Bay region and beyond. With 400+ competitive teams, the club provides players full access to the nation's top youth soccer platforms, including ECNL, along with additional elite and developmental leagues. Deeply rooted in the local community, Florida Premier FC is committed to delivering high-level competition, meaningful opportunities, and year-round programming that supports players and families at every stage of their soccer journey.
For more information, visit www.floridapremierfc.com

About HappyFeet Soccer

HappyFeet Soccer® is a Tampa Bay–based youth soccer enrichment program partnering with 290+ local schools and community organizations to provide weekly, on-site soccer classes for preschool and elementary-aged children. Serving 25,000+ children annually, HappyFeet focuses on creating fun, age-appropriate experiences that build confidence, movement skills, and a lifelong love of physical activity while supporting families and schools throughout the Tampa Bay community.
For more information, visit www.tampabayhappyfeet.com

About USF Athletics

USF Athletics sponsors 21 varsity teams, with 20 competing at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference, including the recent additions of women's lacrosse and women's beach volleyball. The Bulls' athletic program, founded in 1965, celebrates its 60^thseason in 2025-26.
Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the Tampa General Hospital Athletics District on the east end of USF's Tampa campus. The Bulls have won 154 conference titles across 16 sports, with 82 men's championships and 72 women's championships. Men's tennis and men's soccer lead with 20 titles each, while women's programs have been headlined by women's tennis (14) and volleyball (13). Since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013, USF has secured 36 conference team titles.
Academically, USF student-athletes have achieved a program record of 22 consecutive semesters with a combined GPA of 3.0 or above as of fall 2025. Since 2015, more than 800 Bulls have earned their degrees.
 
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