The men's soccer team was the first team in USF history to play an intercollegiate game, defeating Florida Southern 4–3 on September 25, 1965.
Men's soccer is historically one of USF's most successful sports teams, winning a combined 27 regular season and tournament conference championships (the most of any program at the school) and reaching the NCAA Tournament 23 times. The furthest the Bulls have advanced in the tournament is to the Elite Eight, which they have reached three times.
History
Dan Holcomb era (1965–1986)
USF men's soccer began NCAA play in 1965 under Coach Dan Holcomb. Holcomb guided the team for 22 years, compiling a record of 216–86–23, and earning 7 NCAA tournament berths and 15 combined regular season and tournament conference titles.[2]
Jay Miller era (1987–1993)
In 1987, Jay Miller took over as coach of the Bulls. In seven years, he compiled a record of 69–43–15. The Bulls entered the Sun Belt Conference in 1990, and, with a record 5–1–1 in conference play, they were named co-champions.
In 1992 and 1993 the Bulls played in the Metro Conference, compiling a conference record of 3–5–1.
Under Coach Miller, the Bulls failed to reach the NCAA Tournament.[2]
T. Logan Fleck era (1994–1996)
In three seasons, Fleck compiled a record of 34–17–0. In 1994, while still in the Metro Conference, The Bulls were 9–7–0 overall, and 3–2 in conference. They moved to Conference USA in 1995, and went 8–6–0 overall, and 5–3–0 in conference play. In 1996, Fleck's final season, the Bulls won the Conference USA title, and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.[2] Fleck, who was also the inaugural coach of the USF women's soccer team in 1995 and 1996, resigned after the 1996 season to coach the women's team full time.
David Christiansen era (1997)
David Christainsen, a 28-year old assistant under Coach Fleck, was hired as the interim coach of the Bulls for the 1997 season. Christiansen went 14–8–2 overall, and 5–1–2 in conference, as the team was named Conference USA co-champions.[2] Christiansen took the team deep into NCAA Tournament, their best result up to that point, as they made it all the way to the Elite Eight. Christansen resigned after the season because of an incident on the team's flight back to Tampa following their loss to Indiana in the NCAA Tournament.[3]
John Hackworth era (1998–2001)
In 1998, under Coach Hackworth, the Bulls won the conference championship for a third straight year, this time winning both the regular season and tournament Conference USA titles. The team also appeared in the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row. Hackworth compiled a record of 47–32–2 overall, and 20–13–1 in conference in four seasons.[2]
George Kiefer era (2002–2016)
In 2002, George Kiefer took over as coach. In 2004, the Bulls jumped from Conference USA to the Big East, and in 2013 the Big East transitioned to the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls won the Big East regular season title in 2005 and 2011, the Big East tournament in 2008, the inaugural AAC Tournament in 2013, and the AAC regular season title in 2016. Under Coach Keifer, the Bulls found themselves in 10 NCAA Tournaments, including seven straight (2007–2013). They reached the Elite Eight in 2008 and 2011. In 2011, the Bulls moved from the USF Soccer and Track Stadium to the new Corbett Stadium.
Keifer had a record of 162–84–47 with the Bulls. On November 22, 2016, Kiefer was hired by the NC State Wolfpack men's soccer program.[4]
Bob Butehorn era (2017–present)
On December 18, 2016, Bob Butehorn was hired as the head coach for the program.[5] Butehorn previously coached the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's soccer program. The Bulls made the NCAA tournament in 2019. After a few disappointing seasons, the Bulls made the conference tournament championship game in 2022 and made the NCAA tournament for the second time under Butehorn's guide, and won a tournament game for the first time since 2012 after a 4–2 victory against Hofstra at Corbett Stadium, and lost in the second round to No. 1 overall seed Kentucky.[6]
USF's main rival is American Athletic Conference foe Central Florida, with whom they compete in the War on I-4. The sides first met in 1974 and the Bulls lead the all-time series at 27–8–4.
The Bulls annually face the crosstown University of Tampa Spartans, an NCAA Division II school, in the preseason Rowdies Cup, which celebrates the city's rich soccer history. The Bulls have a deep connection with the Rowdies, as Corbett Stadium is named after USF alumni and former Rowdies owners (of the original club, not the current one) Dick and Cornelia Corbett. In addition to holding the match trophy until the next match, the winners also get to hoist the actual 1975Soccer Bowl trophy, which was won by the original Tampa Bay Rowdies. Formerly called the Mayor's Cup until 2005, as of the 2022 edition, USF holds 25–11–3 edge in the all-time series which dates back to 1972.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Under the current American Athletic Conference TV deal, all home and in-conference away men's soccer games are shown on one of the various ESPN networks or streamed live on ESPN+.[15] Live radio broadcasts of games are also available worldwide for free on the Bulls Unlimited digital radio station on TuneIn.[16]
