In a span of one year, Pat Coogan has gone from heartbreak to happiness while playing college football.
At the end of the 2024 season, the 2021 Marist graduate was the starting center for Notre Dame as the Irish lost to Ohio State 34-23 in the College Football Playoff championship game.
Twelve months and one transfer opportunity later, the Palos Heights resident was the first-string center for Indiana as it defeated Miami 27-21 in the 2025 CFP title game on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“There’s a lot of happiness, pride and gratefulness,” Coogan said during an on-field postgame media session. “I’m so grateful for this team and for this university in bringing me here, believing in me and giving me an opportunity to play this game that I love and the game that I was blessed with the talent and the ability to play.
“It’s a dream come true.”
Not only for Coogan, but for everyone associated with Indiana football. As recently as the 2021-23 seasons, IU was 9-27 overall and 3-24 in the Big Ten.
Last season in head coach Curt Cignetti’s debut in Bloomington, the Hoosiers were 11-2 overall (8-1 in the Big Ten) and lost to Coogan and Notre Dame 27-17 in the opening round of the CFP playoffs in South Bend.
This season, IU became just the second top-level college football program to finish with a 16-0 record, joining Yale — which accomplished the feat in 1894.
“It starts with belief,” Coogan said during a press conference on Jan. 20. “There have to be like-minded individuals who come together for a common purpose and sometimes, that belief has to be a little bit irrational, especially at a place that hasn’t had the success like Indiana.
“I haven’t been here for long, but I’ve seen it and I’ve seen the way that this place has been characterized. And when Coach ‘Cig’ got here, he believed and he got people to believe. And sometimes, people laughed at him and people thought he was crazy, but that was a little irrational belief, right?
“You have to get people to buy in and you have to get people to think alike and believe in the mission and believe in what we’re trying to do here,” Coogan added. “It takes a village and it takes all of us. It takes a whole coaching staff and it takes all the players and everybody to buy in and believe in a common goal and a common purpose. It takes a village and it really took all of us.”
Coogan, who was chosen the Offensive MVP in IU’s 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, received some words of praise from Cignetti.
“Pat was with us for one year and was such an add and a tremendous leader for our football team,” Cignetti said.
● Along with Coogan, there were three other local players on IU’s CFP roster. Defensive back Garrett Reese (Nazareth) appeared in 10 games this season, while offensive lineman and Orland Park resident Matt Marek (Sandburg) played in three games. Wide receiver Tyler Morris (Nazareth) did not make an appearance.