UConn Avery Point Athletic Hall of Famer Pete Kiefer returned to the Pointers' dugout in the fall, 2021 and is in 26th year on the coaching staff this season.
A 1982 graduate of Xavier High School in Middletown, the All -Conference outfielder set school records with hits; RBl's and triples his senior year. He also helped Middletown Legion win its 1982 State Championship by setting an all-time record .477 batting average and batting .500 during the regular season.
As a college freshman, Kiefer received a scholarship to Eckerd College in Florida, but returned home to play for Coach Roger Bidwell in his sophomore year. He helped the Pointers win the C.S.C.C. title and was named All-Conference and MVP as a pitcher- outfielder.
Kiefer continued on to Storrs, where he was selected as a member of the 1985 and '86 Huskies, but injuries during his junior and senior years ended his UConn playing career. In 1989, he was offered a contract to play for the Rotterdam Orioles of the Holland Professional League in Europe. Kiefer continued to move around Europe playing for teams in France, Holland and Belgium, where he won a batting title in 1995 and then retired in 1996 after winning a Gold Glove for playing errorless ball at seven different positions for the Pitaland Pioneers of Belgium.
In 1997, Coach Kiefer began working for Major League Baseball as Latin American Envoy Coordinator. Serving as an Ambassador for Baseball throughout Central and South America. he has worked with national teams, taught at major universities and designed coaches training courses implemented in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.
Kiefer has a Masters Degree in Special Education with postgraduate work in Bilingual Studies. Pete and his wife, Giovanna, are parents to three children: Petey, Tori, and Roberto. They live in Waterford.
