A two-sport athlete for the Comets, Jonathan Smothers was a leader both on and off the field during his time on campus, playing a key role in the successes of both the men’s soccer and baseball programs.
After beginning his collegiate career at Lakewood Junior College and transferring to Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, the Concordia Academy graduate returned home to Concordia St. Paul.
While a broken neck derailed his football career in Seward, Smothers made a seamless transition to star on the soccer and baseball fields, being named the 1978-79 CSP Male Athlete of the Year.
Smothers helped the Comets to back-to-back Twin River Collegiate Conference titles in his two seasons with the soccer program, registering All-Conference recognition in both seasons.
On the baseball field, he led the team in hits, runs, stolen bases, and fielding percentages, earning All-Conference honors in 1977.
After graduation, he started working in the industrial insulation industry. Smothers completed most of his career at Tri-Star Insulation, where he recently retired after 43 years in the supply side of the industry.
Through the years, Smothers coached basketball at King of Kings in Roseville, Minnesota, while his wife, Gizelle, taught. He also coached soccer and basketball when his children attended. In addition, he was an assistant football coach at St. Bernards, and coached JV and assisted with varsity girls’ basketball at Concordia Academy.
Smothers and his wife have two children, Charles and Paige, and eight grandchildren.
Career Awards
- 1978-79 CSP Male Athlete of the Year
- Two-time All-Twin River Collegiate Conference in soccer (1978, 1979)
- All-Conference in baseball (1977)
- Team MVP in baseball (1977)
- Team MVP in soccer (1978)
Career & Season Stats
- Leading scorer in both 1978 and 1979 for the soccer team
- Led the baseball team in hits, runs, stolen bases and fielding percentage in 1977
- Put up seven goals and 10 assists in 1978
- Contributed nine goals and nine assists in 1979
- Hit .321 with 18 hits, 17 runs and 10 stolen bases in 1977
- Added three doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBIs while fielding .977 that season
