Jim Lieb
Varsity Head Coach
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Jim Lieb joined the Bolles staff in 1997 and became boys' varsity soccer head coach in 1999.  This past season the team went 5-9-4, finishing as the District Runners-Up and Regional Quarterfinalists.  In total, Lieb has compiled a 426-166-73 record during his first twenty-six years on the sidelines. During this time, Lieb has led the Bulldogs to 16 District Championships, 16 Regional Championships (Final Fours), two State Championships, and three State Runner-Up finishes. Lieb also holds two state records for boys’ high school coaches: most playoff wins (63), and most final four appearances (16). His 426 wins are second highest all-time for Northeast Florida Boys’ Soccer.

During his tenure, 125 Bolles soccer players have earned All-District honors, 19 have been named All-State, and seven have been named the district player-of-the-year.  The Florida Dairy Farmers, who sponsor the state sports awards, have named three Bolles’ players as their state Player-of-the-Year: Chase Decker achieved the honor in 2006 (3A), John Rush in 2009 (3A), and Jay Bolt in 2013 (2A).  In addition, the Florida Times-Union has recognized three Bolles athletes as their player-of the year:  Matt McGurrin achieved the honor in 2003, Hunter Howayeck in 2008, and Jay Bolt in 2013.  Also, Bolles has had two athletes named by the NSCAA as All-State, All-Region, and All-American for their respective seasons.  Jay Bolt achieved the honor in 2013 and Berny Villarreal in 2014.  In addition, one former Bolles Soccer player is currently playing in college: Sean Breuer (Bryant).  In total, 21 former Bolles players coached by Lieb have gone on to play college ball.  Also a club coach for many years, Lieb has also coached some other local players who’ve gone on to play in college: Riley Butler (Jacksonville), Greg Eckhardt (Clemson), and Garry Lewis (North Carolina, St. John’s). In addition, Garry Lewis and Greg Eckhart went on to play professionally both in the United States and Finland. Jay Bolt also played professionally with the Charleston Battery of the USL.

In addition, several members of Lieb’s coaching staff have gone on to be head coaches in their own right, for other boys’ programs, including Tim Broderick (Episcopal), Gerrit DeBoer (Englewood), Jay Bolt (Episcopal), and Nick Monsanto (Tocoi Creek).

Lieb played collegiate soccer at the University of Scranton from 1986-1989, and he currently holds USSF and NSCAA coaching licenses. He has been named the district coach-of-the-year six times. In 2005, Lieb was named the FACA District 6 coach-of-the-year, which covers much of the greater Jacksonville area. In addition, Lieb has been named as the state coach-of-the-year three times, in 2006 and 2009 (3A), and in 2013 (2A).  Also in 2009, Lieb was named by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) as its Private School Coach of the Year for the state of Florida.  Lieb has also served two stints on the Coach's Advisory committee for the FHSAA.

Lieb holds a B.S. in Biophysics and a Ph.D. in the Neurosciences.  Lieb teaches AP Physics I, Physics Honors, and Neuroscience Honors on the Upper School San Jose Campus, and has also received numerous teaching awards, including The Davis Family Award in 2001, the Edward E. Ford Merit Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009, 2011, and 2021, the Dewan Teaching Fellow Award in 2010, the Ottenstroer Award in 2011, and the Archie Jenkins Award in 2020. Also, in 2010 Lieb was named as the Teacher of the Year by the Alpha Chapter of the National Honor Society.
 

Lincoln Hunt joined the Bolles staff in the fall of 2022. He is an alum of the school and soccer program, having graduated in May 2022 after playing six years for Bolles. Hunt serves as a goalkeeper coach at Florida Elite SA, where he has also played two seasons for their USL League Two team. He is an assistant coach for the Trinity Baptist College men’s soccer team as well. Hunt holds a UEFA ‘C’ coaching license.

In his time playing at Bolles, Hunt spent two years in the middle school program and four years on varsity. He won an IMSC title in his 8th grade year as well as four district titles in his high school career. He helped lead the team to three consecutive region championships (Final Fours) and earned All-First Coast and All-News4Jax First Team honors his junior and senior years. Hunt captained the team as a senior. 

In his first year coaching at Bolles, Hunt helped the team reach a fourth consecutive region championship, carrying on from his playing years. His efforts with the team’s goalkeepers would help them earn seven shutouts during the season.
 

Nick Monsanto
Assistant Coach

Originally from Palm Coast, Florida, Nick Monsanto joined the Bolles staff in 2021. Monsanto was previously an assistant coach for the Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas programs in Flagler County.

He has also been working in club soccer for over 10 years including stints with both Florida Elite Soccer Academy and Jacksonville FC. Monsanto holds his USSF "C" License and is a P.E. teacher in St. Johns County.
 

Mike Pickett
Head Coach

Mike Pickett has been named Varsity Girls’ Soccer Head Coach at The Bolles School. The Hall of Fame coach brings a wealth of experience and success in the sport to Bolles.

Pickett served in the same role at St. John’s Country Day for the past 28 years, leading the program to unprecedented success. He led the Spartans to 15 state titles out of 17 state final appearances, tying for fifth nationally. With a career record of 571-72-41, Pickett ranks 22^nd national in all-time wins. He also led the St. Johns Country Day program to a tie for the most state titles in Florida history, as well as state records for most consecutive state titles with 11 and most consecutive state playoff wins with 59, a then-national record 87-game unbeaten streak and three number one national rankings (2017, 2018, 2021).

Along with team success, Pickett has a record of elite player development. He has guided 48 players on to the college level, 12 All-Americans, six US Youth National Team members, one US National Team member, four Gatorade state players of the year and two Florida Dairy Farmers overall state players of the year.

Among Pickett’s former players is his daughter Carson, currently playing professionally with Denver Summit FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and has played with various teams in her 11-year professional career. She held the Florida State University women’s soccer team to it’s first national title in 2014 and has been a member of the US National Team at the junior and senior levels.

Pickett has also garnered numerous coaching accolades during his career. He was selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2023 as well as St. Johns Country Day’s inaugural Hall of Fame class. Pickett was named the Florida Dairy Farmers 1A or 2A Coach of the Year 15 times and overall Coach of the Year three times as well as FACA Coach of the Year 23 times. In 2020, he was listed among MaxPreps’ “Top 100 High School Sports Coaches.”

Pickett is an experienced club coach and has trained numerous youth players to success. He coaching certifications include a USSF D license, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, NSCAA National Diploma, NSCAA Goalkeeping 1 Diploma and Level 1 Fitness and Psychology Badge from the Football Association.

As player, Pickett played on back-to-back state championship teams at St. Johns Country Day in 1981 and 1982. After graduating in 1983, he went on to play at Northeast Louisiana University and then finished his college career at University of South Carolina-Spartanburg. Pickett was drafted by the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1986.

“Coach Pickett’s record speaks for itself,” said Bolles Athletic Director Rock Pillsbury. “With all his success on the field, he also cares for the overall well-being of his players as he blends competitive excellence with leadership skills, integrity and compassion. Needless to say, we are thrilled to welcome Coach Pickett to the Bulldog Family!”