First staff appointment under new head coach Nick Zimmerman; Jonathan Garbar will guide team play, player and program development, and international recruitment strategies.
Jonathan Garbar Named Gators Soccer Associate Head Coach
Saturday, December 6, 2025 | Soccer
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By: Mary Howard
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida soccer head coach Nick Zimmerman announced today that Jonathan Garbar has been named the program's associate head coach, joining the Gators after a highly successful 2025 season at Mississippi State. Garbar will oversee Florida's team play, player and program development, and international recruitment strategies.
Garbar arrives in Gainesville with a track record of rapid program transformation and sustained competitive success across Division I, Division II and junior college soccer. He held the same associate head coach title at Mississippi State, where in 2025 the Bulldogs advanced to the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. MSU was one of only four programs nationally to record three wins over top-10 opponents during the 2025 season.
They Said:
"I am honored to continue my journey alongside Coach Nick Zimmerman, and contribute to the mission of driving Gator Soccer back to national prominence. How we play and compete will be a direct reflection of who we are and what we stand for. Proud to wear the Orange and Blue."
Florida Associate Head Coach Jonathan Garbar
"I am beyond excited and grateful to have Coach Garbar alongside me as we begin this journey! His passion, intentionality and tireless work ethic are the standard as we begin to build this elite staff! We are aligned in our vision for the program and can't wait to get to Gainesville! Let's go Gator Nation!"
Florida Head Coach Nick Zimmerman Jonathan Garbar fires up the Bulldogs at the 2024 Southeastern Conference Tournament. Photo by Lexi Turner. Garbar's Coaching Experiences:
Garbar joined Mississippi State in January 2025 following a breakthrough five-year run as head coach at Florida International University. His tenure at FIU culminated in an award-winning 2024 season in which he was named Conference USA Coach of the Year after guiding the Panthers to the regular-season and tournament championships, as well as the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years. He inherited a team that finished 2-15 the season prior to his arrival and led the Panthers to a 13-5-2 record in 2024—marking the largest RPI improvement in the nation from 2021 to 2024.
Under Garbar, FIU achieved numerous program milestones:
Three players moved into FIU's all-time top 10 in goals, shots, points and goals-against average (the first to break into those lists since 2014).
Across his final two seasons, FIU produced top-eight program marks in goals, assists and points, matched the program shutout record (10 in 2024), set the program record for goals-against average (.90), and recorded 13 wins—tied for the second-most in the program's 32-year history.
FIU swept the Conference USA Player and Coach of the Year awards.
Thirteen Panthers earned a combined 16 All-Conference USA honors.
Five FIU players from 2024 Conference USA championship team signed professional contracts.
Before FIU, Garbar spent four seasons at Franklin Pierce University, where he compiled a 34-15-6 record over three competitive seasons (2020 canceled due to COVID-19). His 2018 team went 16-2-2, securing the program's first conference title since 2006 and earning a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Franklin Pierce finished the season ranked No. 20 nationally, rising as high as No. 7, and Garbar was recognized as the Northeast-10 Coach of the Year. During his tenure, seven Ravens earned all-conference honors, five were named all-region, three achieved All-America distinction, and four went on to sign first-division professional contracts in Europe and South America.
Garbar began his collegiate head-coaching career at Monroe College, leading the program from 2012–2016. Taking over in Monroe's first NJCAA Division I season, he compiled a remarkable 68-8-4 record, highlighted by the 2014 NJCAA National Championship and a 2015 national semifinal appearance. The 2014 title earned him National Coach of the Year honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. During his tenure, Monroe promoted 31 players to NCAA programs, the most of any junior college in the country, with five advancing to Power Five institutions. His athletes also represented England, Spain, Brazil and Croatia at the international level.
Garbar brings extensive international recruiting experience, particularly in Central and South America, and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. He has served as an assistant coach with the Puerto Rican Women's National Team, overseeing northeast identification and recruitment, and previously directed South American recruitment efforts at Monroe College.
A native of Maplewood, N.J., Garbar graduated from the University of Delaware in 2002 and later earned a master's degree in teaching from Pace University.
Jonathan Garbar Head Coaching Record
Year
School
Division
W
L
T
%
Notes
2012
Monroe College
NJCAA
12
1
0
.923
District Championship match; No. 8 Final Rank
2013
Monroe College
NJCAA
14
2
0
.875
NJCAA D1 National 2nd Rnd; No. 8 Final Rank
2014
Monroe College
NJCAA
18
1
1
.925
NJCAA D1 Champions; National Coach of Year
2015
Monroe College
NJCAA
15
3
0
.833
NJCAA D1 Semifinal; NE District Coach of Year
2016
Monroe College
NJCAA
9
1
3
.808
NJCAA D1 Region Semi
2017
Franklin Pierce
D-II
12
5
2
.684
NCAA D2 First Round, Northeast-10 Conf Tournament runner-up
2018
Franklin Pierce
D-II
16
2
2
.850
NCAA D2 East Reg Second Round, Northeast-10 Conf Tournament champions
2019
Franklin Pierce
D-II
6
8
2
.438
2020-21
FIU
D-I
3
9
0
.250
6th in CUSA East
2021
FIU
D-I
2
12
2
.188
6th in CUSA East
2022
FIU
D-I
3
8
4
.333
9th in CUSA Regular Season
2023
FIU
D-I
8
6
4
.556
4th in CUSA Regular Season
2024
FIU
D-I
13
5
2
.700
NCAA First Rnd, CUSA Regular Season & Tournament champions
