University of North Georgia

University of North Georgia Athletics
82 College Circle Dahlonega, GA 30597

Division 2 Georgia Southeast

Public Large Competitive team

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Coaches

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Kayley Ralton

After an extensive national search, University of North Georgia Director of Athletics Mary Rob Plunkett announced the promotion of Kayley Ralton to head women’s soccer coach on April 19, 2021.

In her first season at the helm, Ralton led the program to a 10-6-1 record, after a run to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference tournament the Nighthawks earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Ralton served as the Interim Head Women’s Soccer Coach for the Spring 2021 season, going 7-3 and making the Peach Belt Tournament as the No. 2 seed after reaching as high as a No. 10 national ranking during the season.

Her second season brought more success as Ralton guided the team to their third straight apperence at the NCAA DII Tournament, becoming the first coach in program history to earn a bid to the National Tournament in their first two seasons.

Ralton served for more than three years as the assistant coach at UNG prior to taking on the interim role for the 2021 season. In that time, she helped lead the women’s soccer program to a PBC regular season title, a NCAA Second Round appearance and a 38-12-5 record. UNG never finished worse than fourth in the conference standings during her tenure as assistant coach.

A former four-year standout at Armstrong State from 2006-09, Ralton earned her bachelor's degree in history from ASU in 2010 while serving as a student assistant for the Pirates that season. She served as a graduate assistant in 2011 & 2012 while earning her master's in sports medicine in 2013. She then served as a full-time assistant from 2013-16.

In her time on the Armstrong State staff, she helped mentor the Pirates to three consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular season titles (2010, 2011 and 2012) and two PBC tournament championships (2011 & 2012).

The Pirates were crowned Southeast region champions in 2011 and 2012 and reached the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2011.

Individually, she helped develop 12 All-Americans and 30 All-Conference selection including two PBC Players of the Year: Kristina Pascutti in 2011 and Morgan Mitchell in 2012.

Ralton was a member of the Scotland U19 and U17 national teams and captained the U17 in tournament victories against Wales, USA, Holland and Republic of Ireland. As a member of the Scotland U19 team, she represented Scotland in the first stage and second stage European Championships.

Ralton currently holds an USSF National B License as well as her NSCAA Goalkeeping Diploma and USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coaching Certification.

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Jean-Pierre Merlet

JP Merlet is in his third season at North Georgia being promoted to Assistant Coach for the women's soccer program after spending two years as a graduate assistant coach for the women's soccer program.

Prior to coming to Dahlonega, Merlet played collegiately at Georgia Southwestern as a defender. He netted two assists over 29 caps for the Hurricanes.

Merlet graduated from GSW with a degree in exercise science and wellness and a minor in psychology.