University of Mount Olive

Jason Carlson was named the head coach of the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team in March of 2020.

In his second season, Carlson led the Trojans to the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Carlson joined Mount Olive after spending the last three years at Florida Southern College where he led the Mocs to a 24-18-5 overall record. In his second year at FSC, he guided the Moccasins to one of their best seasons in team history. The Moccasins fell just one shy of the school record for wins by going 12-5 overall, their 6-4 Sunshine State Conference record was the best in the school's 62-year history, and they achieved the highest national ranking in team history too by reaching No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. 

Florida Southern's 2018 season included six games against top-25 teams, tying a school record. At the end of the 2018 season, the Moccasins had put together a 1.06 goals-against average that was the fourth lowest in their 62-year history. The 39 goals were the most scored by the Mocs since 2004. Three of Carlson's players made both the All-SSC and All-South Region teams, the most all-conference selections for the Mocs in 12 years, and their most all-region picks in 22 years. He also had one player earn CoSida Academic All-District and All-American.

Before landing at Florida Southern Carlson spent the previous four seasons as head coach at Upper Iowa University.

Carlson led Upper Iowa University to an overall record of 39-27-5 in his four seasons with the Peacocks, and in 2015, their first conference championship. That also sent Upper Iowa to the NCAA Tournament for the first time where they finished as the Central Region runner-up. With a mark of 13-4-1, the Peacocks set a school record for total wins, another record for conference wins after going 6-2 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and they reached as high as No. 12 in the NSCAA national poll. They ended the year ranked No. 19, and had a program-record nine players make the All-MIAA Team, including five First Team selections. Those accomplishments helped Carlson earn 2015 MIAA and Central Region Coach-of-the-Year honors.

Prior to Upper Iowa, Carlson spent one season as the head coach of Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa where he led the Crusaders to a 10-7-1 record that was the best in the team's 29-year history. 

In addition to his experience as a head coach, Carlson had stops as an assistant coach at Hope International University in California (2005-06), Trinity International University in Illinois (2006-08), and the University of Dubuque in Iowa (2008-11). He helped the Dubuque men's team post four 10-win seasons and had three more with the women's team.

Carlson also has extensive experience at the club level and with the Olympic Development Program. He was head coach of the Wisconsin ODP '99 team from 2012-14, and from 2008-11 was a head coach with the Dubuque Soccer Club (boys and girls). His 2009 boys' team was a State Cup finalist and won the Indoor State Cup. He had previously coached club soccer in California and Illinois as well, and served as a head coach at Apple Valley High School in California (boys) and Dubuque High School in Iowa (girls).

Carlson played collegiately at Victor Valley Community College in California for two years before transferring to Hope International for his final two seasons and was a team captain at both schools. He helped Victor Valley win its first conference championship in 31 years as an honorable mention All-Foothill Conference selection, and went on to earn all-region honors at Hope International where he led the team in scoring as a senior.

Carlson received his Bachelor's degree in general studies from Trinity International University with a concentration in human performance and wellness, history, and religious studies. He later earned his Master's degree in communication from the University of Dubuque. He also holds both a USSF Coaching License and NSCAA Goalkeeping Diploma.