Drew University Athletics

Tony “Golden Toe” Kaiafas came to New Jersey from Cyprus to visit his uncle, who attended Drew and encouraged Kaiafas to do the same. At that time, he needed $300 to register for classes, so Kaiafas worked day and night to earn enough money to pay for the fees, and enrolled at Drew in 1956.

Growing up in Cyprus, Kaiafas recalls that there were no sports allowed during the school year (September through June), so he looked forward to playing soccer in the fall semester. “I was flying when I came to Drew and they played soccer,” Kaiafas happily exclaimed.

Kaiafas believes that sports taught him a great deal during his undergraduate years and that it helped shape his character. Having to work late at night and then rising early in the morning for classes and soccer practice instilled a growing appreciation for self-discipline and team-oriented cooperation. To this day, Kaiafas conveys a humble sincerity as he recalls that he was never a “smart aleck or wise guy” and always showed a deep seated respect for his professors, even standing when they entered the classroom. As he remembers his Drew professors, Kaiafas still mentions Prof. Don Jones and considers Joy Phillips, associate professor of zoology, “the best.”  She was an expert in zoology and biology and had a strong influence on Kaiafas’ future medical career, providing guidance both in and out of the classroom. “During the four years of my being at Drew University, they [Prof. Phillips and her husband] used to give us a sort of a picnic together with them,” a simple and personal gesture that made a lasting impression.

During his time at Drew, Kaiafas earned many accolades for his on-field accomplishments. While there are unfortunately no official soccer statistics from 1954-1969, there were certainly many unofficial records broken at that time, which were documented by the student newspaper. According to The Acorn, Kaiafas had a record-breaking season in 1957, with five goals in one game and 16 for the season. Following his final season, The Acorn lauded his accomplishments, reporting that, “In his four years he has scored enough goals to possibly put him in the top ten scorers in the country and certainly in the top twenty.”