Comstock’s love of soccer lands him in Tennessee
By Kyla Hurt
Photos/Special to The Source
Jacksonville native JoJo Comstock, 29, has worked to be where he is today. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Illinois College, then managed sales with Major League Soccer in Minnesota, Nashville and Columbus. He also coached at Illinois College and was the assistant men’s soccer coach at North Carolina Wesleyan and the goalkeeper coach for North Carolina FC Youth.
Comstock, the son of Dave and Ginette Comstock, has been living in Knoxville, Tennessee since June 2022.
He is currently the assistant director of goalkeeping at One Knox Youth Club, assistant goalkeeper coach and the operations/equipment manager for One Knoxville SC. He started at One Knox in January 2023 after making connections at North Carolina FC Youth Club who moved to Knoxville and “wanted to bring me in as well, to grow and develop as a coach,” says JoJo Comstock.
According to Comstock, “My role with the professional team consists of organizing training kit and game uniforms for the players. I also manage the locker rooms to make sure the players and coaches have everything they need. On the field, I help run and design goalkeeper sessions with the 1st team goalkeeper coach. For the youth side, myself and two other colleagues manage the progression of our goalkeepers and create weekly sessions for them.”
He does what he does because of a passion for the sport: “Soccer is the thing that means the most to me and if I’m doing something I’m passionate about, it’s not really work.”
Comstock gets satisfaction from working with players to help them grow — seeing the progression in the players on both the pro side and youth side. On the pro side, specifically, he says it is great to make connections with players and work with the staff. He adds, “Lastly, the banter. There’s never a dull moment with the group.”
Soccer is in his blood. Comstock states, “Growing up, both of my brothers (Chris and Drew) played soccer and we all ended up playing at the college level. We are connected even more to the sport now through the US Soccer games and always texting each other the line ups and minute by minute commentary.”
As for his future, JoJo Comstock says, “I would love to continue growing in my role … and if the opportunity presents itself, I would like to either become a 1st team goalkeeper coach at the professional level or become director of operations/GM of a professional soccer team.”
Above all, Comstock is thankful. He finishes, “[I] couldn’t be in the position that I’m in without the support of my parents, family, friends and all the connections that I’ve made on this journey. Big things are to come and I will always thank the ones that helped me along the way!”
