As one of Southern Exposure’s veteran players, Jack Mitchell is one of the top players to come out of Florida and play overseas. Still soaking up the sun as much as possible, Jack answered some questions about his life abroad, his roots in volleyball, and his career and hobbies.
Q: When/where did you start playing volleyball?
Jack: I started playing when I was 11 because my sister was always playing. I was also competitive in freediving and spearfishing.
Q: What high school did you play at?
Jack: Seminole Ridge High School. I made countless friends and even met my wife through volleyball there.
Q: What was your college experience like?
Jack: I wouldn’t change my college experience for anything! It was a smaller school, so the sense of community between the men’s and women’s teams made us all close friends, making it so there was never a dull moment. I double-majored in advertising and Public relations.
Q: Have you played elsewhere overseas?
Jack: I played in the 1st league in Prague, Czech Republic. There weren’t a ton of English speakers on the team, so that was a huge adjustment. Even my coach didn’t speak any English, so I always had to use google translate. The culture was excellent, very different than in the US. The experiences I got changed my life forever, in the best ways possible!
Q: Any tournaments and leagues you play in at home?
Jack: I’ve played for the Florida Wave back in the day, and still play at adult nationals and grass tournaments when I can.
Q: What do you currently do for work, and what have you been up to during quarantine?
Jack: I’m a PE teacher, volleyball coach, and make spearfishing and freediving YouTube videos. Other than that, I’ve been working out, playing volleyball, and diving in the ocean.