Jamie Smrdel Kamensky '09 enters her second season as an assistant coach with John Carroll Softball in the 2023-24 academic year.
In her first season, the Blue Streaks tallied a 17-17 record, the first time the program finished at .500 in a full season since 2016.Â
As a softball player at John Carroll, Smrdel enjoyed an outstanding career that places her amongst the best players in program history. She was the first softball player in school history to be named a First Team All-American. As a catcher, she helped the Blue Streaks accumulate a program-record 26 wins in 2009 en route to a second-place finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
As a senior, Smrdel tallied All-OAC First Team recognition as a power hitter, also earning the NFCA Diamond Catcher of the Year award. In addition, she secured 2008 All-OAC Honorable Mention, 2007 All-OAC Second Team, and 2006 All-OAC Second Team status. At the time of her induction, Smrdel ranks second in program history in batting average (.465), first in slugging % (.781), first in On Base % (.571), first in doubles (49) first in home runs (27), first in RBI (150), first in total bases (331), first in Walks (105), first in Intentional Walks (25), and third in hits (197).
In 2021, Smrdel was inducted in the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Since 2021, she's served as the head softball coach at Kirtland High School. The Hornets have enjoyed plenty of success under her leadership, making the district tournament every year. In 2021, she was named the Coach of the Year for the Chagrin Valley Conference. Previously from 2011-16, she served as an assistant coach at Eastlake North.
Kamensky's day job is in education, as she's a special education teacher at Kirtland. She's married to her husband, Matt, and the couple has two children: Alex and Teddy.Â
