Jean-Pierre Merlet enters his fifth season at UNG in 2025. He was promoted to Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a graduate assistant.
In his three seasons as an assistant, the Nighthawks have totaled 37 wins, recording double-digit victories in both years. UNG holds a 37-13-10 record with a 19-4-5 conference mark since Merlet joined the coaching ranks.
Merlet was on the sidelines in 2024 when he helped guide the Nighthawks to their deepest run in the NCAA Tournament in program history as UNG made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
In 2023, Merlet helped the Nighthawks to one of the best seasons in program history. They went 14-4-4 and won the Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship for the second time in school history. UNG then made an appearance in the PBC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2016 which preceded its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the tournament, the Nighthawks made it to the Second Round for the first time since 2019.
As an assistant for UNG, Merlet helps in all facets of the program including assisting with match strategy, lineup coordination, opponent scouting and in-game management and in 2024 he will take on the role of Recruiting Coordinator for the program.
"JP is a very passionate, enthusiastic and dedicated coach," said head coach Kayley Ralton when Merlet was hired as an assistant in 2021. "I do not throw those words out loosely, as he has shown these exact attributes in abundance while here at UNG. His energy is infectious and radiates to anyone that knows him. We are extremely happy that he is going to continue working with our program."
Prior to arriving in Dahlonega, Merlet played collegiately at Georgia Southwestern as a defender. A native of Weston, Fla., Merlet attended Cypress Bay High School before joining the Hurricanes collegiately. In his four-year career at GSW, Merlet won 15 matches and netted two assists over 29 contests for the Hurricanes.
Merlet graduated in 2020 from GSW with a degree in exercise science and wellness and a minor in psychology, he graduated with a master’s degree in kinesiology from UNG in 2023.
Updated: June 2025
