Coach 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. ORACLE PHOTO / Audrey Koczanski

South Florida men’s soccer coach George Kiefer is taking a hands-on role in local recruiting through his work with Florida Premier FC, a Tampa Bay youth soccer club.

The local recruiting effort comes as Kiefer begins his second stint leading the Bulls. Kiefer returned as head coach on Dec. 10, 2025, following two seasons at Grand Canyon.

Ahead of the 2026 season, Kiefer said assisting at the club’s training sessions gave him opportunities to learn about potential recruits beyond their play.

“I get to build relationships,” Kiefer said. “I get to know what they’re like. I get to know what their families are like.”

USF Athletics announced a partnership with the club on Feb. 16. The arrangement includes Kiefer serving as a technical director for Florida Premier’s Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team.

The ECNL provides youth club competition at regional and national levels. Florida Premier’s programs include boys and girls teams in the under-13 through under-19 age groups.

In the partnership announcement, Kiefer said attracting the area’s best players to stay home was his top priority and regular involvement with the club allows him to learn.

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Kiefer described local and international recruiting as parts of his approach to building the team. His work at Florida Premier supports the local side of that effort.

That route from Florida Premier to USF is one sophomore midfielder Luka Zujovic took when he joined the Bulls in 2025, before Kiefer returned as head coach that December.

The Tampa native attended Tampa Preparatory School, a private school in downtown Tampa. He also played for Florida Premier before joining former coach Bob Butehorn’s 2025 recruiting class.

Although listed as a midfielder, Zujovic played at left back, a defensive position on the left side of the field.  

He said getting on the field mattered more to him than the position.

“I didn’t imagine I’d be playing left back,” Zujovic said. “I felt happy to play every game, doesn’t matter to me where I was playing at.”

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Zujovic’s path from Florida Premier to USF illustrates the Bulls’ connection to the surrounding community, a connection Kiefer wants strengthened. 

“I don’t want to be a program that just says come to our games, you know?” Kiefer said. “I want it to be a relationship like it was when I was here [before].”

In an effort to recreate an experience from his first tenure where crowds filled with supporters made Corbett Stadium uncomfortable for visiting teams.

“They feel really, really uncomfortable because the fans are on top of them engaged in the match,” Kiefer said.

As Kiefer looks to build community relationships, Zujovic suggested ways current players could contribute.

Whether it’s attending youth games and getting to know players and parents as getting players close to that goal. 

“I think people start to gravitate more towards coming to our games, which will bring a bigger crowd,” Zujovic said.

Kiefer outreach plans also include fellow USF students. He identified campus recreation  and student clubs as opportunities for his team to build relationships across campus

His goal is for those connections to carry over to matches, bringing students and the Tampa Bay community out to support a team they know. 

“And then it becomes just a big family, where when we play a game, it’s a lot of fun out there,” Kiefer said.