Seagrist scored six goals and dished out 16 assists in his four-year career at Marquette
MU Soccer Alumni Catch Up with Patrick Seagrist
3/30/2020 12:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The former MU defender was picked 10th overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls
A four-year starter and two-time First Team All-BIG EAST honoree, former Marquette defender Patrick Seagrist is three months into his professional soccer career as a member of the New York Red Bulls. He started in and played the full 90 minutes in each of the team's two regular season games before the MLS suspended operations due to COVID-19.
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On Jan. 12, 2020, Seagrist's life changed forever as he became the highest MLS SuperDraft pick in MU program history when he was selected with the 10th overall pick by the Red Bulls. After going through training camp and numerous trials, he was named to the team's MLS roster and signed his first pro contract.
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The Streamwood, Illinois native started in 63 of the 65 games he played in at Marquette throughout the past four years, scoring six goals and dishing out 16 assists.
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We caught up with him last week to see talk about his first few months as a professional soccer player have gone, both on and off the field.
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Q: You went from finishing your season in November to combine workouts to getting drafted in January. Talk about the timeline from the end of your season until the draft.
Pretty soon after the season ended, I was invited to the New York Red Bulls combine. I didn't know if I was going to go at first because I was waiting to hear back about the MLS combine. I decided to go and while I was there, I learned that I was invited to the actual MLS combine in North Carolina.
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After that, I came home for a few days before traveling out to another professional combine in Las Vegas. For the next few weeks I was working out on my own, staying fit and preparing for the [MLS Super] draft. The Red Bulls drafted me in early January and a couple weeks later I flew out to Florida to begin training camp with the team.
Q: You were drafted 10th overall by the New York Red Bulls, the highest draft pick in Marquette soccer history. Talk about what it felt like to hear your name called on draft day.
It was a surreal moment and something that every little kid dreams of when they start playing soccer. I was expecting to be drafted but wasn't expecting to go in the top-10, I was just thrilled to be in that position. Draft day and signing my first professional contract were two of the best feelings I've ever had in my life.
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Q:What did the Red Bulls head coach (Chris Armas) and the general manager say about why they chose to draft you?
They felt like I really suited their playing style, which is counter-pressing and high intensity. In college I was a high energy, high intensity player and I pressed as much as I could, just getting up and down the field. The GM and coach put an emphasis on that and I've seen that so far in my time with the team.
Q: What was the training camp process like with the Red Bulls? How long were you training with them before the season began?
It was a really long and difficult process. Instead of being one of the older veterans like you are at school, you come into a new team with guys that are 27 and 28 years old who are experienced professional soccer players. I felt like I had to prove to them how I fit in and why I should be there. After you get drafted, nothing is guaranteed so you're still fighting for a position on the roster.
Â
Our training camp was two weeks long in Florida with two-a-days every day and four exhibition matches. After that, it was a week of training at the team's complex in East Hanover, New Jersey, followed by another two weeks in Arizona. I just tried to work as hard as I could, humble myself, and learn as much as possible from the older guys.
Â
Q: What was it like signing your first professional contract?
It was just an incredible feeling and it made me motivated to work even harder to prove my value to the team. It's a dream come true to be playing at this level.
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Q: In terms of your living situation, where do you live now and when did you move?
I live in a house with two other teammates who are on the USL (United Soccer League) team close to the arena in Harrison, New Jersey. The team assigns housing for us as rookies to get us on our feet and make sure we're comfortable in a new city we're not familiar with.
Â
Q: When you the team was still together (before COVID-19 league shutdown) what did your daily schedule look like?
I'd typically wake up around 8 a.m. and get to the facility at 9 a.m., where I'd eat breakfast, get changed and go through video before practice. After that we'd stretch, warm up and go through training.
Â
When practice ends, we go through a team lift or workout for an hour or so. We would then go relax in the hot tub and get treatment if we needed it before heading home. Most days we're at the facility from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. if it's not a gameday.
Â
Q: You played in two games with the team before the season was postponed, what was it like to get out there and play at the professional level?
Getting out on the field for the first time was definitely a surreal moment. I started in those games and played the full 90 minutes, which is crazy to think about. I just remember being that little kid in the crowd dreaming about being out here one day playing in these big stadiums and I'm here now.
Â
It's life changing to be playing in front of thousands of people like this. I just think back to my preparation and my coaches who helped to prepare me for the professional ranks. The little details and the suggestions they've had for me both on and off the field have helped me become a better player and person.
Â
Q: What have been your favorite off the field activities since you've been living in New Jersey?
A couple buddies and I go to the driving range when we can. A lot of the time it's just our teammates hanging out and getting a bite to eat or having a bonfire at someone's house.
Â
Personally, I've been doing a lot of reading about managing finances and investing.
Â
Q: Since the season has been postponed, what have you been doing to stay fit and ready to get back to action once everything resumes?
Our trainers have been giving us workouts to do from home every day to stay fit. Sometimes it's going on runs and other times it's high intensity interval training to try and simulate a game-like atmosphere as much as we can.
Â
Besides the conditioning workouts, there's always an upper body or a core workout that we do as well. We try to do as much as we can despite the circumstances that we're given right now.
Â
Q: When play resumes, what goals do you have for yourself and the team this year?
As a team, our goal is to finish at the top of the standings in both the Eastern Conference and the MLS as a whole. To be able to do that, we all need to stick together and that's been shown a lot with our family-oriented culture and togetherness within the group. When everyone is bought in, it makes everyone's play that much better as a team.
Â
As an individual, I just try to soak everything in that the coaches and veteran players tell me. I try to apply those lessons to both trainings and games to make myself and the team better.
Â
Q: Since college soccer has had spring ball suspended, how do you think that will affect the development of student-athletes?
It's obviously difficult for everyone right now and this is a time where teams can build a bond and togetherness both on and off the field. From an individual perspective, however, I think it depends on how bad someone wants to succeed and wants to be great and they'll find ways to better themselves during this time.
Â
If you have a group that's bought in and committed to improving even when everyone isn't together, it'll really help ease the transition when the team is back on campus and working out together.
Â
Q: Which Marquette players can you see having a breakout season in 2020?
I think Wegs [Zak Wegner] has a chance to have a big junior year. He has the ability to control the middle, distribute and be a quality box-to-box six. He can also be a key part to the attack and helping the ball change direction.
Â
Christian Marquez can definitely be another player that can help up front and replace the scoring of Josh [Coan], Connor [Alba] and Luka [Prpa].
Â
Q: What's a piece of advice you have for future collegiate players who are entering the professional soccer world and are entering their rookie seasons?
My advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity you have, because you may never get it again. Just be appreciative of where you are because there are thousands of people around the world who would die to be in your shoes and get these opportunities.
Â
Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).
Â
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On Jan. 12, 2020, Seagrist's life changed forever as he became the highest MLS SuperDraft pick in MU program history when he was selected with the 10th overall pick by the Red Bulls. After going through training camp and numerous trials, he was named to the team's MLS roster and signed his first pro contract.
Â
The Streamwood, Illinois native started in 63 of the 65 games he played in at Marquette throughout the past four years, scoring six goals and dishing out 16 assists.
Â
We caught up with him last week to see talk about his first few months as a professional soccer player have gone, both on and off the field.
Â
Q: You went from finishing your season in November to combine workouts to getting drafted in January. Talk about the timeline from the end of your season until the draft.
Pretty soon after the season ended, I was invited to the New York Red Bulls combine. I didn't know if I was going to go at first because I was waiting to hear back about the MLS combine. I decided to go and while I was there, I learned that I was invited to the actual MLS combine in North Carolina.
Â
After that, I came home for a few days before traveling out to another professional combine in Las Vegas. For the next few weeks I was working out on my own, staying fit and preparing for the [MLS Super] draft. The Red Bulls drafted me in early January and a couple weeks later I flew out to Florida to begin training camp with the team.
ÂWelcome to #RBNY, @Pattyseags! pic.twitter.com/SCbm6YP9dG
— New York Red Bulls | #StayHome (@NewYorkRedBulls) January 10, 2020
Q: You were drafted 10th overall by the New York Red Bulls, the highest draft pick in Marquette soccer history. Talk about what it felt like to hear your name called on draft day.
It was a surreal moment and something that every little kid dreams of when they start playing soccer. I was expecting to be drafted but wasn't expecting to go in the top-10, I was just thrilled to be in that position. Draft day and signing my first professional contract were two of the best feelings I've ever had in my life.
Â
Q:What did the Red Bulls head coach (Chris Armas) and the general manager say about why they chose to draft you?
They felt like I really suited their playing style, which is counter-pressing and high intensity. In college I was a high energy, high intensity player and I pressed as much as I could, just getting up and down the field. The GM and coach put an emphasis on that and I've seen that so far in my time with the team.
Â🤳 @Pattyseags has a message for #RBNY fans! pic.twitter.com/6KqWz9v6NJ
— New York Red Bulls | #StayHome (@NewYorkRedBulls) February 27, 2020
Q: What was the training camp process like with the Red Bulls? How long were you training with them before the season began?
It was a really long and difficult process. Instead of being one of the older veterans like you are at school, you come into a new team with guys that are 27 and 28 years old who are experienced professional soccer players. I felt like I had to prove to them how I fit in and why I should be there. After you get drafted, nothing is guaranteed so you're still fighting for a position on the roster.
Â
Our training camp was two weeks long in Florida with two-a-days every day and four exhibition matches. After that, it was a week of training at the team's complex in East Hanover, New Jersey, followed by another two weeks in Arizona. I just tried to work as hard as I could, humble myself, and learn as much as possible from the older guys.
Â
Q: What was it like signing your first professional contract?
It was just an incredible feeling and it made me motivated to work even harder to prove my value to the team. It's a dream come true to be playing at this level.
Â
Â
Q: In terms of your living situation, where do you live now and when did you move?
I live in a house with two other teammates who are on the USL (United Soccer League) team close to the arena in Harrison, New Jersey. The team assigns housing for us as rookies to get us on our feet and make sure we're comfortable in a new city we're not familiar with.
Â
Q: When you the team was still together (before COVID-19 league shutdown) what did your daily schedule look like?
I'd typically wake up around 8 a.m. and get to the facility at 9 a.m., where I'd eat breakfast, get changed and go through video before practice. After that we'd stretch, warm up and go through training.
Â
When practice ends, we go through a team lift or workout for an hour or so. We would then go relax in the hot tub and get treatment if we needed it before heading home. Most days we're at the facility from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. if it's not a gameday.
Â
Q: You played in two games with the team before the season was postponed, what was it like to get out there and play at the professional level?
Getting out on the field for the first time was definitely a surreal moment. I started in those games and played the full 90 minutes, which is crazy to think about. I just remember being that little kid in the crowd dreaming about being out here one day playing in these big stadiums and I'm here now.
Â
It's life changing to be playing in front of thousands of people like this. I just think back to my preparation and my coaches who helped to prepare me for the professional ranks. The little details and the suggestions they've had for me both on and off the field have helped me become a better player and person.
Â
Q: What have been your favorite off the field activities since you've been living in New Jersey?
A couple buddies and I go to the driving range when we can. A lot of the time it's just our teammates hanging out and getting a bite to eat or having a bonfire at someone's house.
Â
Personally, I've been doing a lot of reading about managing finances and investing.
Â
Q: Since the season has been postponed, what have you been doing to stay fit and ready to get back to action once everything resumes?
Our trainers have been giving us workouts to do from home every day to stay fit. Sometimes it's going on runs and other times it's high intensity interval training to try and simulate a game-like atmosphere as much as we can.
Â
Besides the conditioning workouts, there's always an upper body or a core workout that we do as well. We try to do as much as we can despite the circumstances that we're given right now.
Â
Q: When play resumes, what goals do you have for yourself and the team this year?
As a team, our goal is to finish at the top of the standings in both the Eastern Conference and the MLS as a whole. To be able to do that, we all need to stick together and that's been shown a lot with our family-oriented culture and togetherness within the group. When everyone is bought in, it makes everyone's play that much better as a team.
Â
As an individual, I just try to soak everything in that the coaches and veteran players tell me. I try to apply those lessons to both trainings and games to make myself and the team better.
Â
Q: Since college soccer has had spring ball suspended, how do you think that will affect the development of student-athletes?
It's obviously difficult for everyone right now and this is a time where teams can build a bond and togetherness both on and off the field. From an individual perspective, however, I think it depends on how bad someone wants to succeed and wants to be great and they'll find ways to better themselves during this time.
Â
If you have a group that's bought in and committed to improving even when everyone isn't together, it'll really help ease the transition when the team is back on campus and working out together.
Â
Q: Which Marquette players can you see having a breakout season in 2020?
I think Wegs [Zak Wegner] has a chance to have a big junior year. He has the ability to control the middle, distribute and be a quality box-to-box six. He can also be a key part to the attack and helping the ball change direction.
Â
Christian Marquez can definitely be another player that can help up front and replace the scoring of Josh [Coan], Connor [Alba] and Luka [Prpa].
Â
Q: What's a piece of advice you have for future collegiate players who are entering the professional soccer world and are entering their rookie seasons?
My advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity you have, because you may never get it again. Just be appreciative of where you are because there are thousands of people around the world who would die to be in your shoes and get these opportunities.
Â
Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).
Â
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