JONATHAN GARBAR
Head Coach
Jonathan Garbar was named the head coach of the FIU women's soccer program in January of 2021.
Garbar and the Panthers won three matches in the 2021 spring season, which were the most for the program since 2016. FIU also picked up its first-ever win over Marshall in the spring, as the Panthers silenced the Thundering Herd 3-1 thanks to Sydney Amparo’s first-career hat trick. The 3-1 win also marked FIU’s first C-USA victory since Oct. 23, 2016.
The Panthers also excelled in the classroom under Garbar’s watch, as FIU had 20 Panthers earn above a 3.5 and six achieve a perfect 4.0 for the academic year. Sydney Amparo was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team after her stellar year in the classroom and earning a 4.0 GPA in Rehabilitation and Recreational Therapy.
Prior to FIU, Garbar spent four years (three seasons due to COVID-19 canceling the 2020 slate) at Franklin Pierce University, after taking over as the head coach in 2017. Garbar earned a 34-15-6 mark with the Ravens during his tenure, including a 16-2-2 mark in 2018 that culminated with a conference title, the programs first since 2006, and trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Ravens finished 2018 ranked 20th overall in the country in the final United Soccer Coaches poll, while climbing as high as seventh during the season. Garbar was named the Conference Coach of the Year after the successful season in 2018.
While at Franklin Pierce, Garbar saw seven athletes receive all-conference nods, five all-region selections, three all-Americans, one conference player of the year and one defensive player of the year. Following their careers with the Ravens, four of Garbar’s players went onto sign first division professional contracts in Europe and South America.
Prior to his time at Franklin Pierce, Garbar served as an assistant coach with the Puerto Rican national team. His duties included overseeing Northeast identification and recruitment.
Garbar spent five seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Monroe College from 2012-2016. He took over in the program's first year after elevating to the Division-I level of the National Junior College Athletic Association and promptly rattled off a 72-7-4 record. Garbar's tenure at Monroe was highlighted by a national title in 2014, as well as a national semifinal appearance in 2015, and three-straight district and regional titles from 2013-15. The 2014 national title earned him National Coach of the Year honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
As the head coach at Monroe, Garbar saw 31 players promoted from the NJCAA ranks to the NCAA, which was more than any other junior college in the country. Sixteen of his players went on to play NCAA division one soccer, while five of his former student athletes went on to play at schools in Power-5 conferences. Garbar saw players succeed not only in the states but on an international level by working with athletes on the national teams for England, Spain, Brazil and Croatia.
During his time at Monroe, the head coach saw his team post a 3.4 GPA during his five seasons. Garbar also wore numerous hats in addition to his coaching duties. He served as the institution's Director for South American Recruitment from 2013-2015, and prior to that Garbar worked from 2010-2012 creating a program specifically targeted towards bringing international students to Monroe College.
A native of Maplewood, New Jersey, Garbar graduated from the University of Delaware in 2002 with a degree in liberal arts, before earning his master's degree in teaching from Pace University in 2007. He is also fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.