University of North Georgia Athletics

Jean-Pierre Merlet enters his sixth season as a member of the University of North Georgia women’s soccer coaching staff. After spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a graduate assistant, Merlet was promoted to Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach.

With Merlet on the coaching staff, the Nighthawks have totaled 65 wins, recording double-digit victories every year. UNG holds a 35-7-5 record in Peach Belt Conference (PBC) play since Merlet joined the coaching ranks.
  
During the 2025 season, Merlet helped lead the Nighthawks to one of their most successful seasons in program history. UNG finished 18-3-1, setting a program record for wins while posting a perfect 10-0 mark in PBC play for the first time ever. The Nighthawks captured their second outright PBC Regular Season Championship in three seasons before finishing as the conference tournament Runner-Up. The Nighthawks also earned eight All-Conference selections, five United Soccer Coaches Southeast All-Region honors, and a D2CCA All-American selection in Alex Clark, continuing the program's tradition of success both as a team and individually.
 
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 guided the Nighthawks to a historic season. UNG went 14-4-4 and won the PBC 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 assumed the role of Recruiting Coordinator for the 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 netted two assists over 29 contests for the Hurricanes. 
 
Merlet graduated in 2020 from GSW with a degree in Exercise Science & Wellness and a minor in Psychology, he graduated with a master’s degree in Kinesiology from UNG in 2023. 
 
Updated: August 2026