Minnesota Loses Two Important Contributors to Soccer
Written by Dean Campbell
Last Saturday, July 10, was a difficult day for Minnesota soccer with the passing of Kees Schot, 76, of Minneapolis, and Jim Jordan, 57, of Eagan.
Schot was a player, referee and administrator in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League, serving as MASL commissioner, treasurer and registrar. Originally from the Netherlands, he joined the Minneapolis Kickers Soccer Club in the late 1950′s.
“We were called the Kickers, but we were always known as the German team,” said Paul Wittig of Richfield, who joined the Kickers in 1960. “We used to have dances to raise funds for uniforms and things. There were no places around here to get soccer balls and uniforms, so we had to get everything from Germany.
“Kees was very active in the club. He was wild about soccer all those years.”
Schot also was active in the Netherlands-American Association of Minnesota (NAAM), and was an avid harmonica player and dancer in the Dutch traditional style, said former Kickers teammate Lothar Gehrke.
Jordan was a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Grade 6 referee emeritus. Only 14 officials in Minnesota currently hold a higher grade, said Paula Hildman, Minnesota State Referee Administrator (SRA).
Cam Stoltz, head men’s and women’s coach at DCTC said Jordan’s early involvement in the game was coaching soccer in the Eagan area. “He spent the last decade or so reffing,” said Stoltz. “Jim was a great man who did soccer well.”
“Jim did a ton of officiating,” said Hildman. “He helped administer at clinics, and he did do some instructing. He worked his butt off.”
“He was definitely a leader, and one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. He had a great attitude, and always had a smile on his face.”
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