17u National Head Coach - Jason Smith
Jason is a 1993 graduate of Marissa High School. After high school, Jason went on to play at Southeast Missouri State for one year before transferring to BAC (now known as SWIC). After graduating from BAC, Jason started his coaching career in the now defunct Southwest Baseball Association. In 2002, he was named the varsity coach at his alma mater, Marissa High. In his 9 year stint as the head coach at MHS, he compiled a record of 191-99. His teams won 6 regional titles in those 9 years, and reached the IHSA state tournament twice. His 2008 and 2009 teams both ended the year as state runner's up. He was awarded the Belleville News-Democrat Coach of the Year award 3 times, named Southern Illinois Coaches Association Coach of the Year twice, and named IHSBCA Area Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009. Jason started the Gateway Bruins in 2018.
Jason is a 1993 graduate of Marissa High School. After high school, Jason went on to play at Southeast Missouri State for one year before transferring to BAC (now known as SWIC). After graduating from BAC, Jason started his coaching career in the now defunct Southwest Baseball Association. In 2002, he was named the varsity coach at his alma mater, Marissa High. In his 9 year stint as the head coach at MHS, he compiled a record of 191-99. His teams won 6 regional titles in those 9 years, and reached the IHSA state tournament twice. His 2008 and 2009 teams both ended the year as state runner's up. He was awarded the Belleville News-Democrat Coach of the Year award 3 times, named Southern Illinois Coaches Association Coach of the Year twice, and named IHSBCA Area Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009. Jason started the Gateway Bruins in 2018.