Mark Jonas
Encyclopedia
Mark Jonas is an American soccer midfielder
who had a twelve year professional career in the U.S. indoor and lower division outdoor leagues. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in 1991.
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. His senior year, Bowie won the Maryland 4A championship and Jonas was named the All Met Player of the Year having scored 22 goals in addition to 9 assists. He then attended North Carolina State University
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1992 to 1995.
(then in the third of the four English divisions), which he declined, hoping to start his professional career in a higher division.
At some point during the 1996-1997 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season, Jonas played eight games for the Cleveland Crunch
. In 1999, he played for the Richmond Kickers
in the USL A-League. During the 1999-2000 NPSL season, he played on game for the Philadelphia KiXX
. In the summer of 2000, he played six games with the Carolina Dynamo
of the Premier Development League. At some point he moved to San Diego, California
where he spent the end of the 2002-2003 season with the San Diego Arsenal of the San Diego County Soccer League. In 2004, he signed with the Virginia Beach Mariners
and played with them until they folded following the 2006 USL First Division
season. He then moved to the expansion Carolina RailHawks for 2007. He retired at the end of the season, having played five league games.
. The U.S. went 3-0 in group play, only to fall to Qatar in the second round.
On September 14, 1991, Jonas became one of three teenage players to earn a cap in the same game when he came on for Sadri Gjonbalaj
in a 1-0 win over Jamaica
. At the time he was sixteen years, eleven months old. The other two teenagers in that game were Mike Slivinski
, who was a month younger than Jonas, and Nelson Vargas
.
players.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who had a twelve year professional career in the U.S. indoor and lower division outdoor leagues. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1991.
High school and college
Jonas attended Bowie High SchoolBowie High School (Maryland)
Bowie High School is a public high school in Bowie, Maryland. It is part of Prince George's County Public Schools.-Academics:Bowie High School has the second highest student SAT average in Prince George's County, and is rated second on The Washington Post's Advanced Placement Challenge Index....
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. His senior year, Bowie won the Maryland 4A championship and Jonas was named the All Met Player of the Year having scored 22 goals in addition to 9 assists. He then attended North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1992 to 1995.
Professional
In 1996, Jonas traveled to London in hopes of joining an English club, helped by the fact that, as the holder of a British passport, work permit issues were not an obstacle. He was offered a trial with Wigan Athletic F.C.Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
(then in the third of the four English divisions), which he declined, hoping to start his professional career in a higher division.
At some point during the 1996-1997 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season, Jonas played eight games for the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
. In 1999, he played for the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in the USL A-League. During the 1999-2000 NPSL season, he played on game for the Philadelphia KiXX
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
. In the summer of 2000, he played six games with the Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
of the Premier Development League. At some point he moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
where he spent the end of the 2002-2003 season with the San Diego Arsenal of the San Diego County Soccer League. In 2004, he signed with the Virginia Beach Mariners
Virginia Beach Mariners
The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer...
and played with them until they folded following the 2006 USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
season. He then moved to the expansion Carolina RailHawks for 2007. He retired at the end of the season, having played five league games.
National team
Jonas entered the national team program when he was selected for the U.S. U-17 national team which competed at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in the cities of Florence, Montecatini, Viareggio, Massa, Carrara, and Livorno in Italy between 16 August and 31 August 1991...
. The U.S. went 3-0 in group play, only to fall to Qatar in the second round.
On September 14, 1991, Jonas became one of three teenage players to earn a cap in the same game when he came on for Sadri Gjonbalaj
Sadri Gjonbalaj
Sadri Gjonbalaj is a retired American soccer forward who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He also earned five caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team...
in a 1-0 win over Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
. At the time he was sixteen years, eleven months old. The other two teenagers in that game were Mike Slivinski
Mike Slivinski
-Youth and college:Slivinski, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, grew up immersed in that city’s soccer culture. Beginning playing when he was five, Slivinski became a member of the Scott Gallagher soccer club...
, who was a month younger than Jonas, and Nelson Vargas
Nelson Vargas
For the Colombian road cyclist with the same name see Nélson VargasNelson Vargas is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent five seasons in Major League Soccer. He was also a member of the U.S...
.
Coaching
In addition to his extensive playing resume, Jonas has also coaches youth soccer. The latest with the Next Level Academy which contains a vast majority of the CASLCapital Area Soccer LeagueCapital Area Soccer League
The Capital Area Soccer League is an American soccer league located in North Carolina's capital, Raleigh. The league is home to over 800 men's, women's, and youth clubs from the Triangle area...
players.