NFL Draft Prospect, Marist Alum Pat Coogan Shares Insights On Leadership With Students

CHICAGO—NFL draft prospect and 2021 Marist graduate Pat Coogan spoke with students last month as part of the school’s Leadership, Literature and Film speaker series. Coogan addressed seniors enrolled in the year-long course, sharing insights on leadership, resilience, and the mindset required to succeed at the highest levels of college athletics and beyond.

The course, co-taught by Natalie Holder-Vaia and Matt Sinacore, explores leadership across a wide range of disciplines. Throughout the academic year, they bring impactful guest speakers to campus, providing students with meaningful, real-world perspectives.

During his visit, Coogan spoke with students during eighth period in the theater and later opened his talk to additional students and student-athletes. Despite a demanding schedule as he prepares for the NFL Draft, he made time to return to Marist and connect with the next generation.

A standout student-athlete, Coogan played a pivotal role at the University of Notre Dame, contributing to a national runner-up season, before transferring to Indiana University. As a Hoosier, he helped lead the Indiana program to a national championship and earned Rose Bowl MVP honors. Equally impressive has been his commitment to academics throughout his collegiate career.

Coogan’s message centered on resilience, particularly in the face of adversity. He spoke candidly about balancing the demands of high-level academics and athletics, as well as staying grounded in his values.

“It certainly took me a while, and time management is a huge piece of that,” Coogan said on the balancing of the physical demands of football and the mental demands of high-level academics. “I'm sure you talk to your college counselors here, and the time management piece will be everything. And being able to compartmentalize things. When I was at school, I was 100% focused on school, even when it was impossible and I just had a horrible practice or whatever it may be. I know I need to focus on school.”

“The most important piece is really staying true to who you are as a person, what you believe in, what you stand for.”

When asked what qualities from his time at Marist have stayed with him throughout his journey, Coogan did not hesitate.

“Everything, really. My foundation of who I am as a person and who I am as a player is Marist High School. I have always been a part of Marist High School. My dad went here, my three siblings went here, my uncles went here. It's really a part of who I am, and it's the foundation of what I am about. And I think everything that I've learned, and these building blocks of who you see here today, it all started at Marist.”

Coogan also shared that NFL coaches have reached out to Coach Ron Dawczak, his former Marist coach and now a college counselor at Marist, asking about his character and performance as a high school player, underscoring the lasting importance of leadership and character.

His visit reinforced a central message for students: leadership is defined not by titles, but by consistency, character, and resilience in the face of challenges.