DALLAS, Texas - Women's Soccer head coach Jonathan Garbar has been awarded Conference USA's Coach of the Year for the team's performance this season, conference officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

Head coach Jonathan Garbar, now in his fifth year at the helm, won 11 games in the regular season and went 6-1-2 in conference play, securing the 2024 CUSA Regular Season Championship. 

Formerly at D-2 Franklin Pierce, Garbar has steadily improved the Panthers ever since his first year in the 2020-21 season. In his first three seasons, FIU won just eight games. The 2023 season is when the work truly started to pay off, and FIU matched their win total from those first three seasons with eight in the 2023 campaign. 

This season, the Panthers saw themselves knock off 11 wins, most for an FIU team since the 2012 season. 

As a team, FIU scored an impressive 2.22 goals per game, as well as 20 total goals during Conference USA play, both being the most during conference play during the 2024 regular season campaign. 

The Panthers scored 37 goals the entire season, placing 10th all-time in FIU history for most goals scored in a season, while allowing just 14 scores, second fewest allowed in a season in program history.

It is the first CUSA Coach of the Year award for Garbar, who was just awarded a contract extension through the 2027 season.

FIU will look to build on their successful campaign in the 2024 CUSA Women's Soccer Tournament, hosted by FIU.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will have a bye into the semi-finals of the CUSA Women's Soccer Tournament, awaiting the results of No. 5 MTSU and No. 4 Sam Houston. The game will be played on Friday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m., broadcasted on ESPN+ with live stats available.

TICKETS

Tickets for the event can be found at FIUTickets.com, with single game tickets as well as all-tournament passes available for purchase.

Conference USA Tournament Schedule:

Game 1: November 6 - 4:00 p.m.

Game 2: November 6 - 7:00 p.m.

Game 3: November 8 - 4:00 p.m.

Game 4: November 8 - 7:00 p.m.

Game 5 (Championship): November 10 - 2:00 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWSoccer), Twitter (@FIUWSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest Women's Soccer news.

General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.