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Darton finds its man

• Michael Kiefer, the former Neosho County College Athletic Director, is hired by Darton College as its new AD to replace Todd Davis.

Scott Chancey

DARTON — On Thursday, Darton College hired Mike Kiefer to become the two-year school’s new athletic director, replacing Todd Davis. Davis resigned earlier this year and now holds the same position at the University of West Florida.

Kiefer, 31, who served as both athletic director and men’s soccer coach at Neosho (Kan.) County College, will begin his job at Darton effective July 16, relieving Jane Kelly of her interim athletic director duties. She normally serves as the school’s Health & Physical Education Division chairperson.

Kiefer sees the transition process as an exciting one.

“I’m looking forward to moving to the position,” Kiefer said from his cell phone Thursday. “It’s a position where I can hopefully expand on the energy and work ethic, and make the athletic department better than it already is.”

The golf team recently won its third consecutive NJCAA Division II title, the women’s basketball and soccer teams played for region titles and the women’s soccer team also played for the Division I national title in 2005.

“I’m looking forward to having someone in place to be the full-time athletic director,” said Ken Veilands, who is the women’s head soccer coach and a men’s assistant. “With his background in soccer, it might be easier for him to relate to our needs.”

In 2006, the program was recognized as the best overall in Region XVII.

“That’s one of the things that really excited me,” Kiefer said. “They really have solid athletic programs. There is a great staff and there are fantastic student-athletes. I just hope I can be the resource to help send the programs to even greater heights.”

Darton president Peter Sireno also was pleased with the school’s choice and Kiefer’s decision to move to South Georgia from Kansas.

“We are pleased to welcome Michael Kiefer to Darton College and look forward to his insight and leadership,” Sireno said in a statement released by the school.

“Although athletics at Darton College focuses on academics first and winning second, we have learned we can achieve both. Michael Kiefer understands this focus and will be instrumental in moving Darton athletics to another level.”

Kiefer had been at Neosho County — which has 14 intercollegiate sports — since 2002, and before that he was recreation manager for Rolla, Mo., and assistant intramurals director at State Fair College.

Although Kiefer said he enjoyed coaching and being an athletics director at the same time, he feels now is the time to narrow his priorities.

“It really played a big factor, to be honest,” Kiefer said of the opportunity to just work in the administrative area of college athletics.

“Really, at this point, I just want to channel my energy into administrative athletics.”

Since Kiefer already has been an athletic director for a few years, he has his vision on how an athletics department should be run.

“My philosophy is to help provide the resources for us to be successful in everything,” Kiefer said. “Fund raising and gathering more community support also will play a big role.”

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