George Kiefer enters his first season back as head coach of the University of South Florida men’s soccer program in 2026. Kiefer was announced as head coach on Dec. 10, 2025, beginning his second tenure leading the Bulls.
During his first tenure at South Florida from 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.
Across his collegiate head coaching career, Kiefer has led programs at South Florida, North Carolina State, and Grand Canyon University to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, four Sweet 16 runs, two Elite Eight finishes, and five conference championships. He owns a 230-151-82 career record over 24 seasons and ranks among the top 40 in career wins among 211 active men’s soccer coaches.
Kiefer returns to South Florida following two seasons as head coach at Grand Canyon University. In 2025, he led the Lopes to a Western Athletic Conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, finishing the season with a 14-4-5 record. GCU captured the WAC Tournament title with a victory over San Jose State before advancing past UCLA and San Diego in the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his time at GCU, Kiefer served as head coach of the NC State men’s soccer program from 2017 to 2023 after being announced as the program’s head coach in November 2016. In his first season in 2017, he guided the Wolfpack to an 8-6-4 record that included two victories over top-five opponents and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009. That season marked the beginning of a three-year postseason run, as NC State returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and 2019, its longest such streak since the 1985-87 seasons.
Under Kiefer, NC State advanced past the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018 for the first time since 1994, and in 2019 finished fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference for its highest league placement since 2005. The program recorded four upset victories over top-five opponents. He recruited multiple top-15 recruiting classes and coached several MLS draftees, while his players earned one ACC Rookie of the Year honor and four All-ACC selections.
Kiefer’s success began during his playing career at Southern Connecticut State, where he helped lead the Owls to a 74-8-8 (.867) record across four seasons. Southern Connecticut State captured two NCAA Division II National Championships and won conference titles in all four seasons during his career.
Following a two-year professional playing career with the Connecticut Wolves, Kiefer returned to his alma mater in 1995 to begin his coaching career. He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Connecticut State and the University of Connecticut, helping guide teams to a combined 123-26-8 (.809) record. At UConn, the Huskies qualified for four NCAA Tournaments from 1998 to 2001 and captured the 2000 national championship.
