John Sothoron: A Stalwart in Lacrosse History, Dies

John Sothoron, a revered figure in American lacrosse, passed away from leukemia on June 28, surrounded by his family at their home in St. Mary’s County. He was 74. Sothoron was celebrated both as an All-American goalkeeper for the Tigers during the early 1970s and as a transformative coach in collegiate and high school lacrosse.

In his collegiate playing days at Towson, Sothoron was instrumental in achieving a formidable 36-9 record over his varsity career. This included a standout 13-1 season in 1971, with the team’s only loss against Maryland, who were the national runners-up that year. In 1972, under his guard, Towson clinched an impressive 12-6 record, marking victories over top university teams such as Syracuse, Duke, and North Carolina. His prowess led to selections for the All Mason-Dixon Conference, All-American team, and the prestigious 1972 North-South College All-Star game. Sothoron concluded his playing career with a remarkable 578 saves, a record he shares with his son, Reed.

Transitioning to coaching in 1975, Sothoron took the helm at St. Mary’s College, driving the Seahawks to win two Tri-State Conference titles within six years and earning the title of Coach of the Year in 1979. After briefly stepping away from coaching, he joined the University of Pennsylvania as an assistant coach in 1988 before founding the lacrosse program at St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Maryland. Over 27 years, he built the Knights into a formidable force, capturing numerous state titles and consistently competing at high levels in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

Sothoron’s impact extended beyond the field. He was a pivotal figure in founding the St. Mary’s County Youth Lacrosse League in 1995 and was widely recognized for promoting the growth of lacrosse in Southern Maryland. His legacy includes a coaching record of 410-144, with 140 of his players advancing to collegiate lacrosse, including his three sons who all became goalkeepers.

His contributions were acknowledged with numerous accolades, including being named National Interscholastic Lacrosse Association Man of the Year in 1997 and Coach of the Year in 2000. He was also a multiple-time recipient of the WCAC Coach of the Year and southern Maryland Coach of the Year awards, among others.

Sothoron was inducted into several halls of fame, including Towson’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989, St. Mary’s College Hall of Fame, St. Mary’s Ryken Hall of Fame, and the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame’s Potomac chapter.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of over 50 years; sons Reed, Jay, and Tyler; and grandchildren Keller and Scarlett. A celebration of his life is planned, with details forthcoming.

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