TAMPA, Fla., Feb 16, 2026 – TAMPA, Fla. – University of South Florida Men's Soccer Head Coach George Kiefer has announced the addition of Assistant Coach AJ Madero and Associate Head Coach Daniel De Oliveira to his coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season.
 
Both assistants join the Bulls after helping Kiefer guide Grand Canyon to a Western Athletic Conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2025. The duo reunites with Kiefer following a historic season in Phoenix in which the Lopes finished 14-4-5, and advanced past UCLA and San Diego in the NCAA Tournament. The GCU staff was named the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Far West Region Staff of the Year.
 
To finish out the reunion, former player and Director of Operations under Kiefer, Armanté Marshall, will remain on staff in the same position he held for the previous staff, Associate Head Coach. Marshall previously played for Kiefer (2007-09) during Kiefer's first tenure at USF and then served under Kiefer as Director of Operations for four years (2011-14), helping to guide the Bulls to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
"We're excited to welcome AJ and Daniel to Tampa," Kiefer said. "Both were instrumental in what we built at Grand Canyon, and they bring tremendous experience, energy, and professionalism. At the same time, Armanté remaining with us is critical. He understands what this program represents, and he's lived it as both a player and a coach."
 
Daniel De Oliveira
De Oliveira brings more than 20 years of professional playing and coaching experience to the Bulls.
 
A former offensive midfielder, he played professionally in Venezuela, the United States, Spain, Brazil and Central America, and competed at Long Island University, where he was the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year and earned four consecutive All-State and All-Conference First Team honors. He represented Venezuela at both youth and senior national team levels.
 
As a coach, De Oliveira holds a CONMEBOL Pro License and a USSF "A" License and is a FIFA Future III certified coaching instructor. He has served as head coach of Venezuelan Youth National Teams and as a sporting director and head coach at the professional level, helping develop players including MLS Golden Boot winner Josef Martínez and several former USF standouts.
 
He has trained with elite global clubs and federations, earning certifications in match analysis and training planning.
 
In 2025, De Oliveira played a key role in GCU's WAC Championship and NCAA Third Round run, helping guide one of the most successful seasons in program history.
 
"Daniel's global experience and soccer knowledge are exceptional," Kiefer said. "He has worked at the highest levels of the game and has developed top talent around the world. Our players will benefit tremendously from his perspective and expertise, and I am pleased to have him join us in Tampa as an Associate Head Coach."
 
AJ Madero
Madero arrives in Tampa after two seasons as an assistant coach under Kiefer at Grand Canyon, where he worked extensively with goalkeepers and player development.
 
In 2025, he helped lead GCU to a WAC Championship and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra earned All-WAC Tournament honors and posted 70 saves with an .833 save percentage and 11 wins. In 2024, Madero coached Leon Schmidt, who finished his career as the Lopes' Division I-era leader in total saves, ranking among the nation's top 30 in saves per game.
 
The 2025 Lopes were powered by WAC Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year Junior Diouf (17 goals, six assists), while midfielder Martin Luala became a first-round MLS SuperDraft selection.
 
Madero previously worked with Kiefer at NC State and brings additional experience from UT Rio Grande Valley, where he helped the Vaqueros earn their first-ever United Soccer Coaches national ranking and a No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament. He has also served with the U.S. Virgin Islands National Team, RGV Toros (USL Championship), and as Technical Director for the RGV Toros MLS/USL Academy.
 
Over his career, Madero has been part of three NCAA Tournament appearances, 13 conference postseason appearances, and five conference championship matches. He has coached 27 players who signed professional contracts and four conference players of the year.
 
A Tampa native, Madero returns home after nearly two decades away.
 
"AJ is one of the brightest young coaches in the game," Kiefer said. "His work with goalkeepers, performance analysis, and player development is elite. Bringing him home to Tampa makes this even more special."
 
Armanté Marshall
Armanté Marshall enters his fifth season on staff in 2025 and his second as the program's Associate Head Coach after being elevated in June. A collegiate coaching veteran of 15 years, Marshall returned to USF ahead of the 2022 campaign and has played a key role in the Bulls' resurgence.
 
Marshall oversees recruiting, compliance, academics, alumni relations, and opponent scouting. Under his leadership as recruiting coordinator, the Bulls' 2025 signing class was ranked No. 15 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer — the program's highest-ranked class since 2015.
 
Since his return to Tampa, Marshall has helped guide USF to multiple American Conference postseason appearances, including a run to the 2022 Conference Championship Final and an NCAA Tournament appearance — the program's first since 2019. The Bulls earned their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2011 that season. In 2024, USF secured the No. 2 overall seed in the Conference Tournament, its highest regular-season conference finish since 2016.
 
Six players have signed professional contracts since Marshall's return to campus, including MLS first-round selections and multiple All-Conference honorees. Following the 2022 season, he was named to the College Soccer News Top Assistant Coaches list.
 
A former USF standout (2007-09), Marshall started 31 matches and helped lead the Bulls to the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight during one of the most successful stretches in program history. He also previously served on the Bulls' staff from 2011-14, contributing to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and two conference titles.
 
A Tallahassee native, Marshall earned his bachelor's degree from USF and later completed a master's degree in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from Temple.

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ABOUT USF MEN'S SOCCER
USF Men's Soccer competed in the school's first-ever intercollegiate athletic contest on Sept. 25, 1965, beating Florida Southern 4-3. Since then, the oldest program on campus has built a winning tradition, claiming 14 conference championships and making 22 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the Elite Eight.
 
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 31 MLS draft picks. Notable alumni include two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, USA 1994 World Cup star Roy Wegerle, and 2013 MLS Cup winner Dom Dwyer. Men's Soccer has three Alumni and a coach in the USF Athletics Hall of Fame: Fergus Hopper, Jeff Attinella, Jeff Cunningham & Dan Holcomb.
 
On Dec. 10, 2025, Head Coach George Kiefer was hired for his second tenure. During his first tenure at South Florida (2002 to 2016), Kiefer guided the Bulls through one of the most successful stretches in program history. He posted a 162-86-51 (.627) record while leading the program to four conference championships and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Under his direction, South Florida advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2008 and 2011. His six NCAA Tournament victories remain the most in program history, and his win total ranks second all-time among USF head coaches.
 
 
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