North Carolina State University Athletics
Kiefer Adds Negalha and Nicholls to Men’s Soccer Coaching Staff
12/19/2016 9:51:00 AM | Men's Soccer
December 19, 2016
RALEIGH – New NC State men's soccer head coach George Kiefer has officially started the process of building his coaching staff by announcing Jeff Negalha as his associate head coach and Kyle Nicholls as his assistant coach.
Negalha comes to Raleigh with extensive collegiate coaching experience and strong ties within the state of North Carolina. Nicholls recently completed a successful collegiate playing career and was an assistant coach for a Junior College national championship team and also has experience at the Division I level. Both Negalha and Nicholls have spent time with Kiefer in previous coaching roles.
"I'm very excited to add Jeff and Kyle to the coaching staff at NC State," NC State head coach George Kiefer said. "With the experience we have working together and the qualities they bring to the table, I feel very strongly that we're moving in a positive direction right from the start."
Jeff Negalha
A 2011 National Assistant Coach of the Year while at UNC-Chapel Hill, Negalha joins the Wolfpack from Boston College, where he spent the 2016 season helping the Eagles post a 9-9-3 record and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Prior to working with Boston College, Negalha was an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh and the head coach and head scout with MLS club Orlando City SC's Development Academy team. While in Orlando, his team was awarded the Style of Play and Most Improved Club awards.
"It's great to be back working with Jeff," Kiefer said. "He was my first hire at South Florida and helped me get that program moving in the right direction. And now, when you look at his pedigree, with the coaches he's worked with, the experience he has earned in the ACC, and his connections to the state of North Carolina, all of those things make him a perfect fit to be on the staff. I'm really glad to have him as my associate head coach."
Negalha spent nine seasons as the top assistant at UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition to his 2011 National Assistant Coach of the Year honor, he helped the Tar Heels to a national championship in 2011 after three consecutive College Cup appearances in 2008, 2009, and 2010. UNC-CH qualified for eight NCAA Tournaments in nine seasons with Negalha on staff, won four ACC regular season championships and one ACC Tournament, and appeared in three ACC Tournament championship games. Negalha played an important role in significant recruiting success in Chapel Hill, helping secure eight consecutive classes ranked within the national top 11, including the nation's No. 1 class in 2011.
During his time working in Chapel Hill, Negalha also served as a head coach in the Capital Area Soccer League (2011-14) and the Triangle United Soccer Association (2005-11). He was the top assistant under Kiefer at USF from 2003-05 and was the top assistant at USC Upstate from 1999-2003.
Kyle Nicholls
Nicholls spent time at USF as both a player and a staff member under Kiefer. He rejoined the program as the director of soccer operations in advance of the 2016 season after assisting Tyler Junior College to a national championship in 2014.
"With Kyle, I'm excited to bring someone from my USF staff who understands how we like to operate and will keep some continuity with how we approach things. I'm excited to get him on the field with the players because I think that's one of his biggest strengths. I'm really looking forward to getting him on board in this role with our program."
A midfielder from Kings Lynn, England, Nicholls was a player on the 2009 and 2010 NJCAA national championship teams at Tyler that compiled a two-year record of 41-0-1. During his two years playing at Tyler, he earned spots on the NJCAA Region XIV All-Conference Team and the NJCAA National Tournament Team. Nicholls then played his final two seasons (2011 and 2012) at USF, helping lead the team to a BIG EAST divisional title and an NCAA Championships Elite Eight appearance during the 2011 season and an NCAA Championships second round appearance in 2012.
#GoPack
RALEIGH – New NC State men's soccer head coach George Kiefer has officially started the process of building his coaching staff by announcing Jeff Negalha as his associate head coach and Kyle Nicholls as his assistant coach.
Negalha comes to Raleigh with extensive collegiate coaching experience and strong ties within the state of North Carolina. Nicholls recently completed a successful collegiate playing career and was an assistant coach for a Junior College national championship team and also has experience at the Division I level. Both Negalha and Nicholls have spent time with Kiefer in previous coaching roles.
"I'm very excited to add Jeff and Kyle to the coaching staff at NC State," NC State head coach George Kiefer said. "With the experience we have working together and the qualities they bring to the table, I feel very strongly that we're moving in a positive direction right from the start."
Jeff Negalha
A 2011 National Assistant Coach of the Year while at UNC-Chapel Hill, Negalha joins the Wolfpack from Boston College, where he spent the 2016 season helping the Eagles post a 9-9-3 record and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Prior to working with Boston College, Negalha was an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh and the head coach and head scout with MLS club Orlando City SC's Development Academy team. While in Orlando, his team was awarded the Style of Play and Most Improved Club awards.
"It's great to be back working with Jeff," Kiefer said. "He was my first hire at South Florida and helped me get that program moving in the right direction. And now, when you look at his pedigree, with the coaches he's worked with, the experience he has earned in the ACC, and his connections to the state of North Carolina, all of those things make him a perfect fit to be on the staff. I'm really glad to have him as my associate head coach."
Negalha spent nine seasons as the top assistant at UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition to his 2011 National Assistant Coach of the Year honor, he helped the Tar Heels to a national championship in 2011 after three consecutive College Cup appearances in 2008, 2009, and 2010. UNC-CH qualified for eight NCAA Tournaments in nine seasons with Negalha on staff, won four ACC regular season championships and one ACC Tournament, and appeared in three ACC Tournament championship games. Negalha played an important role in significant recruiting success in Chapel Hill, helping secure eight consecutive classes ranked within the national top 11, including the nation's No. 1 class in 2011.
During his time working in Chapel Hill, Negalha also served as a head coach in the Capital Area Soccer League (2011-14) and the Triangle United Soccer Association (2005-11). He was the top assistant under Kiefer at USF from 2003-05 and was the top assistant at USC Upstate from 1999-2003.
Kyle Nicholls
Nicholls spent time at USF as both a player and a staff member under Kiefer. He rejoined the program as the director of soccer operations in advance of the 2016 season after assisting Tyler Junior College to a national championship in 2014.
"With Kyle, I'm excited to bring someone from my USF staff who understands how we like to operate and will keep some continuity with how we approach things. I'm excited to get him on the field with the players because I think that's one of his biggest strengths. I'm really looking forward to getting him on board in this role with our program."
A midfielder from Kings Lynn, England, Nicholls was a player on the 2009 and 2010 NJCAA national championship teams at Tyler that compiled a two-year record of 41-0-1. During his two years playing at Tyler, he earned spots on the NJCAA Region XIV All-Conference Team and the NJCAA National Tournament Team. Nicholls then played his final two seasons (2011 and 2012) at USF, helping lead the team to a BIG EAST divisional title and an NCAA Championships Elite Eight appearance during the 2011 season and an NCAA Championships second round appearance in 2012.
#GoPack
NC State Men's Soccer 2025 Season Recap
Wednesday, January 07
Marc Hubbard Reflects on Historic Soccer Season
Tuesday, December 30
MSOC Players Press Conference (NCAA College Cup)
Wednesday, December 10
Coach Hubbard Press Conference (NCAA College Cup)
Wednesday, December 10