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We have a true passion for soccer.


NFSA CAMP 2020 - Mike Pickett.jpg

Mike Pickett, Founder and President

Mike Pickett has built an incredible career coaching youth soccer, both club and high school, and preparing soccer players in the greater Northeast Florida Area to play at the next level. He is currently in his 26th year as head coach at St. Johns CDS, and over his tenure the team has won 14 state championships. Mike is a member of the Region III Staff for ODP. He played Division I soccer at Northeast Louisiana University from 1983-1986, before finishing his career at NAIA national power South Carolina-Spartanburg in 1988. Mike’s passion is for preparing serious soccer players to be the best athlete and person that they can be.

Career

  • Mike played at St. Johns Country Day School, graduating in 1983. His St. Johns team won back to back State Championships in 1981 and 1982.

  • Played college at Northeast Louisiana University before transferring to University of South Carolina-Spartanburg.

  • Drafted in 1986 MISL draft to the Cleveland Force

Licenses

  • USSF D

  • NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma

  • NSCAA National Diploma

  • NSCAA Goalkeeping 1 Diploma

  • Level 1 Fitness and Psychology Badge from The FA

Coaching

  • As a high school coach, he has led St. Johns Country Day School to fourteen State Championships in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, as well as, State Runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2023. They own an FHSAA state record with their eleventh consecutive championships.

  • Mike was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) Hall of Fame in December of 2022.

  • St. Johns Country Day School has appeared in 20 Final Fours, winning 20 Region Championships along the way.  They have also won 21 consecutive District Championships from 2004 to 2024 and 23 overall in school history.

  • Mike has a career record of 537-65-37 at St. Johns CDS.  In his tenure, 54 girls have gone on to play at the college level with 15 State players of the year and two "Miss Soccer" (Carson Pickett and Abbey Newton) overall State Players of the Year.  He also has coached four girls who have been named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Florida (Carson Pickett, Chelsea Burns, Abbey Newton and Kamy Loustau).

  • He was named Florida Dairy Farmers State Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 for his classification and overall Florida State Coach of the Year three times in 2013, 2017, 2018.  He was also named Coach of the year by the NSCAA in 2009, 20112, 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020 along with South Sectional Coach of the Year in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016,2018 and 2019.

  • Mike was recently named in the MAXPREPS Top 100 High School Sports Coaches in the Nation.

  • Ten of his teams have finished with top 10 National rankings:  2009 ( #10 ), 2012 (#10), 2015 (#9), 2016 (#6), 2017 finished ranked #1 and securing the school's first National Championship.  His 2018 team went 26-0 and owned a 70 game winning streak and 83 games unbeaten in securing back-to-back National Championships. The streak ended with a 78 game winning streak and 87 games unbeaten. The record setting 2019 team finished #9 nationally. The 2020 team finished ranked #5 nationally and this year’s team (2021) just secured the program’s third National number 1 ranking. The latest team to finish top ten in the nation was this year’s squad, coming in at #4.

  • In club, he helped coach the Ponte Vedra Storm U16's to a State Championship, a Southern Region III Championship and a National Runner-up in 2009.  That team had six U17 National Team Pool members for the United States.

  • His 2012 U18 Creeks Soccer Club team finished ranked #12 Nationally, #2 in Region III, and #1 in the state of Florida with all 18 players committed to play in college.

  • His U19 Florida Elite team won back to back State Championships, back-to-back Southern Region III Championships and back-to-back final 8 finishes at the National Championships. They appeared in the National Championship Final Four five times.

  • Mike has since retired from club to concentrate on his training center, geared towards improving weaknesses and sharpening strengths in individual players through a specific plan. The program has helped over 40 girls commit to college programs in 30 months of existence.


Sarah Voglewede, Goalkeeping Director

Sarah Voglewede is a graduate of SJCDS and NFSA who went on to play at the next level at the University of Notre Dame. Sarah has played and coached under many of the top coaches in the US and is excited to bring this experience back to the goalkeeping program here at North Florida Soccer Academy.

Coaching

  • SoccerPlus Camps Staff Coach under Tony DiCicco

  • Goalkeeping Director and Staff Coach, Michiana Echo

  • Goalkeeping Director and Staff Coach, Gaston United Soccer Club/Carolina Rapids Soccer Club

  • Director of Coaching and Staff Coach, Charlotte Independence Soccer Club

  • USSF D License

Career

  • Goalkeeper during the longest FHSAA State Final in history (14 rounds of penalties)

  • 2009 FHSAA 2A State Champion (SJCDS)

  • Club Team--Ponte Vedra Storm, sent 16 players to play NCAA DI Soccer at various schools

  • U18 US Youth National Team

  • Goalkeeper for University of Notre Dame (2011-2015)

Brad Schmidt

Brad is a former professional soccer player who has an established 20+ year coaching career in the North Florida Area. He has worked with both boys and girls teams and led his school and club teams to much success. He has helped many players develop and advance to the highest levels of soccer both on the club and collegiate sides. Brad holds a B.A. in Psychology from Flagler College (2002).

Coaching

  • Current Coach of Jacksonville Football Club ECNL Girls 2007’s

  • Since 2011 Brad has coached the St. Johns Country Day School Boys Soccer Program, leading the boys to numerous district championships, regional finals and a state final.

  • Since 2000 Brad has been the assistant coach for the Girls Soccer program at SJCDS, helping lead the team to twelve state championships.

  • Brad has also coached at Florida Elite Soccer Academy, Creeks Soccer Club and Jacksonville Cyclone Soccer Club. In 2018, while at Florida Elite, Brad’s team reached the ENCL Nationals.

  • Throughout his 20+ year coaching career, Brad has assisted many of his players with the college recruitment and placement process. He currently has former club players at Florida State University (2), Texas Christian University, Princeton University, Troy University, University of North Florida and many other top soccer college programs.

  • Holds an NSCAA National License

Career

  • After college, Brad played professionally for the Jacksonville Fury (2 years Captain) in the A-league for six years, and one year with Hampton Roads (VA).

  • Brad was a top 25 recruit out of High School, playing for three years at North Carolina State University (1994-1996), where as a red-shirt freshman he was the second leading scorer on the #2 ranked team in the nation.

  • Brad played high school locally at St. Johns Country Day School and Orange Park High School where he was selected to the Florida All-State Team for two years.


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Carson Pickett

Carson is a professional soccer player currently playing for the Racing Louisviile FC. Carson is a graduate of SJCDS and Florida State University, and in both places she left her mark as a tremendous outside back and leader on the field and where she won State and National Championships, respectively. Carson is a veteran of the world’s best professional women’s league (the NWSL), making the BEST 11 three times and also has experience at the National Team level as well as the Australian W-League.

Accolades

  • St. Johns Country Day School - Named 2012 Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the and Times-Union First Coast Player of the Year.

  • Carson was named "Miss Soccer" by the Dairy Farmers of America in 2012 as the overall Florida State Player of the Year.

  • She was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Florida in 2012, leading her team to a State Championship.

Career

  • Current player for Racing Louisville (NWSL) and 9 year veteran appearing in 138 career games for a total of 12,800 minutes with Seattle, Orlando, North Carolina and racing Louisville.

  • Former player for the Brisbane Roar in the Australian W-League. Helped anchor the best defensive line in the league in securing the Premiership in 2018. Has appeared in all 39 games with Brisbane for a total of 3,5210 minutes and named Best 11 three straight seasons.

  • Drafted #4 in the 1st round by the Seattle Reign in 2016- National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)

  • Represented the United States National Team on the U17's, U23's and the full side in 2022.

  • Won a NCAA Division I National Championship at FSU - anchoring a defense that conceded no goals throughout the tournament

  • St. Johns Country Day School - 3 State Championships