Hey, despite the bad ending the team did well. In order to continue the Bulls staff has done a good job of receiving verbals. Here is what I have heard: Juan Chavez left footed defender/defensive midfielder orginally from Mexico but who is now residing in Fl. played at the regional level. Bobby Durham left footed defender from Tampa who played with Juan on the regional team. Blake Wagner left footed defender/midfielder from Tampa who plays on the USA under 17 National Team in Residency in Bradenton. Andre Townsend transfer from Richmond who is a left footed defender and was a member of the Jamaican U-20 National Team. Brett Wagner transfer from Jacksonville. brother of Blake Wagner. Supposedly a tough and gritty mid/def Some who are close to making decisions are Ofori Sarkordie captain of the USA Under 17 National Team. He is a defender Jordan Seabrook forward from Indy who was the player of the year. Two guys from Trinidad who have represented the country at the Under 20 level. I got this from some locals. Thought I would post as we see the soccer program making a mark. What happened to Rui Fernandes? I don't see him on the coaching staff anymore????? He played for Kiefer at UCONN? I hear that Coach Negalha, the assistant is hitting the recruiting trails very hard. Entering his second season as USF men’s soccer assistant coach, Jeff Negalha was hired on  February 1, 2003.     Negalha helped guide the Univeristy of South Carolina Spartanburg Rifles to an NCAA Div. II Elite Eight appearance and a No. 5 national ranking in the final poll of 2002.     “I wanted to make sure to find the right person to become my primary assistant, and I’m very happy that Jeff agreed to come on board, “ said Kiefer.      “Jeff brings a lot to the table.  Besides his obvious recruiting abilities, I was attracted to his experience with winning programs.  His good understanding of the personal sacrifices that this position will require will serve us well in turning the USF soccer program into Conference USA’s best.†     Negalha, 27, who has been described by USCS head coach Greg Hooks as being “more like a co-head coach than an assistant,†brings four years of coaching experience to USF, having assisted Hooks from 1999-2002.       “I am extremely excited about this opportunity,†said Negalha.      “Coach Kiefer is a proven winner, and the USF program has all the necessary ingredients to become a national power.  USF’s highly regarded academic programs, its membership in Conference USA and the Tampa Bay area are all factors that have made this opportunity very attractive to me.†    While at USCS, Negalha was responsible for many of the Rifles staff’s day-to-day duties, including recruiting, goalkeeper training, academic mentoring and acting as the assistant camp director of the Greg Hooks Soccer Camp.  Having quickly established his strength as a recruiter, Negalha successfully recruited 2002 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year Marlon Grant and Freshman of the Year Jorge Atehortua, who were also named first and third team All-South Region, respectively. He also recruited two-time All-American Ricky Charles. Charles, the captain of Grenada National Team, wasa the 2003 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year.  In just four short years, Negalha has coached one conference freshman of the year, 10 all-conference players, two conference players of the year, six all-region players and two all-Americans to a 56-15-5 record (.770).       “As a coach, Negalha is one of the hardest-working people with whom I have ever been associated,†said Hooks.       “Much of our program’s success is due to him.  He is passionate about soccer, is driven to succeed and is willing to work hard to accomplish his goals.  South Florida is very fortunate to have Jeff Negalha on its staff.†    Prior to his success as a coach, Negalha was a key member of Hooks’ squads that reached the NCAA quarterfinal round and the NCAA national championship game in 1997 and ’98, respectively.  USCS’s starting goalkeeper in both his junior and senior seasons, Negalha started a combined 47 games and recorded 19.5 shutouts while allowing just 33 goals through nearly 3,900 minutes.  During his stint in goal, the Rifles won two PBAC regular season championships and two conference tournament titles.  Before coming to USCS, Negalha helped NJCAA national power Massasoit Community (MA) College to national semifinal and quarterfinal appearances in 1994 and ’95. A native of Acushnet, Mass., Negalha holds a Goalkeeper Coaches License from the National Soccer Coaches Association.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in December 2000 and is fluent in Portuguese.
