Justin Kieffer, who joined the program in 2012, has been a part of all day-to-day lacrosse operations, with duties that include opponent scouting reports, recruiting, travel logistics, team meals, fundraising, social media, practice construction, and film exchange and breakdown. On the field, Kieffer primarily works with the offensive personnel players, goalies, and face-off players.
The Dutchmen appeared in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Championship Tournament in 2021 after playing a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID pandemic. Kieffer assisted with coaching three 2021 All-MAC Honorable Mention honorees, including defender Luke Tamberino, goalie Nick Serrano, and midfielder Alex Kiviniemi.
In 2019, Kieffer coached a strong group of MAC All-Conference selections: Kevin Beaver (First Team Midfield), Cam Epple (Second Team Goalie), Matt Torrence (Second Team Midfield), Tamberino (Second Team Defense), and Nick Mowry (Honorable Mention Long-Stick Midfielder). He also worked with Beaver, who became the third player in the modern era with 100 career goals at LVC. Beaver capped off his career by earning the MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for men’s lacrosse. Beaver and Epple both earned a spot on the MAC Academic All-Conference team.
During the 2018 campaign, Kieffer helped to lead the Dutchmen to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Five players in Coleman Wagner (First Team), Beaver (Second Team), Blake Weaver (Second Team), Epple (Second Team), and Mowry (Second Team) picked up All-Conference recognition. Wagner and Beaver were recognized with Academic All-MAC accolades for their success in the classroom, while Wagner also became just the second player in program history to earn Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) All-Region honors (Honorable Mention).
In the spring of 2017, LVC returned to the MAC Commonwealth Tournament after Austin Minnich (First Team), Klayton Garman (Second Team), Wagner (Second Team), Epple (Second Team), and Barrett Campbell (Honorable Mention) turned in All-Conference seasons. Minnich was especially strong in earning IMLCA All-Region recognition for the second year in a row, to go along with a spot in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) North/South All-Star Game. The senior also became LVC's first player to be named a USILA/Nike Scholar All-American. Garman was named the USILA National Player of the Week after setting a program record by scoring nine goals in a game. Garman and Minnich were also chosen as Academic All-MAC honorees.
In 2016, he helped the Dutchmen to another appearance in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament before earning a berth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tourney. Five players in Koty Keefer (First Team), Minnich (First Team), Wagner (Second Team), Epple (Second Team), and Mowry (Honorable Mention) picked up All-Conference recognition, while Minnich was named IMLCA Second-Team All-Region for the first time in his career. Keefer and Minnich also excelled in the classroom and were pegged Academic All-MAC.
In 2015, he helped coach the MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference midfielder in Keefer, and the MAC Commonwealth Honorable Mention attackman in Garman. He oversaw one MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week, two ECAC Players of the Week, and a pair of USILA Players of the Week. The Dutchmen reached the quarterfinals of the MAC Commonwealth and ECAC championship tournaments.
In 2014, Kieffer helped coach the program's first-ever USILA All-American and ECAC All-Star in long pole midfielder Ryan Lanigan. During the season, he was a part of a staff that produced three MAC Commonwealth First-Team selections (Malik Pedroso, Ryan Lanigan, and Andrew Kruter) and an All-Conference Honorable Mention (Scott Travers). Malik Pedroso was twice named the MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week during the spring. The Dutchmen ended their season in the ECAC Quarterfinals.
The 2013 season was the most successful campaign of LVC's modern era. The team finished with a program-record 12 wins and reached the MAC Commonwealth and ECAC semifinal rounds. Kieffer helped guide five All-MAC Commonwealth selections during this season in first-teamers Ryan Lanigan and Malik Pedroso, second-teamers Andrew Kruter and Mike Moll, and Honorable Mention selection Ian Schmid. Three Dutchmen were named MAC Commonwealth Players of the Week that spring.
The 2012 season was Kieffer's first with the Dutchmen. LVC finished 9-6 and reached the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals for the first time in the program's modern era. Kieffer helped coach three First Team All-MAC Commonwealth selections in Pedroso, Kruter, and Scott Sutton. That spring, the Dutchmen garnered three MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week awards between Pedroso and Moll.
Prior to joining the coaching staff, Kieffer played four years at Alfred University as a two-way midfielder under Head Coach Jason Lockner. During his career, Kieffer scored 45 goals and added seven assists, earning the team's Offensive MVP award as a first-year. He was also a member of the club ice hockey team and earned his degree in Sociology.
At Middletown High School (Md.), Kieffer was a standout midfielder, where he was a three-time Frederick News Post All-Area selection, earning First Team honors as a senior. He was a three-time First Team All-MVAL Piedmont Conference selection and a Second Team All-Washington Post selection. As a senior, Kieffer was chosen as a team captain and named Offensive MVP. Kieffer was also a standout for the ice hockey team, as he was a two-time MSHL All-Star selection, two-time captain, and a member of two Frederick In-House league championship teams. Kieffer also played football.
Now a local resident, Kieffer helps coach the local lacrosse club program, the Lebanon Valley Lacrosse Club Lightning, as the High School Elite Head Coach. Throughout the year, he helps out at a variety of showcases and camps.
Kieffer also serves as the Head Athletic Equipment Manager for all of Lebanon Valley's athletic teams. He resides in Hummelstown with his wife, Lyndsay, son, Max, and daughter, Kelsey.
