Terry Kiefer - Charter Class

Terry Kiefer,  Class of 1963 and Lakeland Head Football Coach, 1979  – 2003 was born to William and Myrtle Kiefer of Rathdrum, Idaho.  Terry attended Lakeland High School from its inception in 1961 through 1963.  He attended Rathdrum High School his freshman and sophomore year.  He is the youngest of five children - brothers Billy, Howard, Bob, and sister Doris (now deceased).  His brothers Howard and Bob were also high school coaches – Howard at Lakeland, Bob at Riverside High School in Washington.

He was a 4-year, 4-sport athlete – lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track. He played on Lakeland’s first undefeated football team in 1962, and coached Lakeland’s second and last undefeated  football teams.  His son, Tim, who is the current head football coach at Lakeland played on the last undefeated team.  After Terry graduated from Lakeland, he played baseball at North Idaho College for 2 years (1964 and 1965) then went on to finish his degree in teaching at the University of Idaho.  He didn’t think he was good enough to try out for the Idaho football team because he was in the company of 13 others who went on to play professional football when they graduated from the University of Idaho.

Throughout his 45- year coaching career, 5 years at Kootenai High School in Harrison, Idaho (1968 through 1973) and 40 years at Lakeland (1973 to present), Terry has coached football, basketball, wrestling and track.  His achievements include 2 state championships in football, 2-time state runner up in football, numerous state playoffs, voted Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989, IML Coach of the Year numerous times, 2004 Idaho State Athletic Achievement Award recipient, and started the Lakeland Jr. Tackle program in 1983 and has been involved with it since then.

Terry gives credit to his brothers Billy, Howard and Bob for the inspiration and encouragement to excel in sports, and gives thanks to all of his incredible assistant coaches and players and administrator, Chuck Kinsey, for the support they’ve provided throughout the years.

Terry has two children, Jacquie Neff and Tim Kiefer, and 5 grandchildren, Madeline, Abigail, Harrison, Addison, and Lyla.  Jacquie and her husband, Steve, and Tim and his wife, Mandy, and the 5 grandchildren all reside in Rathdrum.  His plans for the future are to watch his grandkids grow up.