Our fourth in a series honoring our
2018 Hall of Fame following the release of Andrae Kagie, today we would like to highlight Fr. Joe Eagan. Formal induction ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23 at the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner in the McLaren Center on the USF campus. The festivities will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 7:30 p.m. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the USF-San Diego basketball game on Feb. 24.
The 1982 season was a triumph for the program both on and off the field. On the pitch, the Dons captured yet another West Coast Athletic Conference crown and advanced to the NCAA Tournament winning a Western Regional Championship with a thrilling 2-0 win over San Diego State on Nov. 27.
Off the field, the season was one of tremendous success. A grassroots movement, that began following the 1978 National Championships, vying to get the Dons a facility worthy of a national soccer powerhouse, finally came to fruition in a 3-2 victory over Indiana on the brand new Negoesco Stadium.
Spearheading the project to get the Dons a new facility was Fr. Joe Eagan who partnered with legendary coach Steve Negoesco to make Negoesco Stadium a reality.
Joining the Society of Jesus in September, 1940, Fr. Eagan has held his title as a Jesuit priest for more than 77 years. During this time, Fr. Eagan has become a parish priest and a campus minister while expanding his mind to writing and teaching.
On top of that, Fr. Eagan was also giving the role of representing USF in the WCC conference to the NCAA as well as a seat on the athletic advisory board, but this wasn't his first time in the world of sports and it was an easy adjustment for him.
"I love sports," Fr. Eagan said. "I played football and baseball as well as track in school. I just loved sports growing up and knew them fairly well so it was easy for me to take an interest in everything about USF sports."
Even when his time an as athlete came to an end, Fr. Eagan remained a fan of sports and wrote "Dynasty, The Story of USF Soccer, 1931-1997," which told the history of the Dons soccer team. Fr. Eagan said he became very devoted to soccer when he first came to USF in 1975, noting that while he never played it as a kid, he saw the Don's team caught in a shadow created by the basketball team at the time.
Looked to by former head coach Steve Negoesco, Fr. Eagan led the front in getting the Negoesco Stadium project rolling. With a total cost of $175,000 and only $150,000 in donations to build a field, Fr. Eagan managed to create a stadium for the Dons soccer program and its fans.
"They were playing in the baseball field with a couple hundred in attendance and it was just beat up," Fr. Eagan said. "We weren't allowed to spend any money we didn't have so I spent the first year contacting the alumni and raising about a couple hundred thousand as well as materials for the project. It was a shoestring operation, but it worked."
Now almost 40 years later, the stadium remains and so does Fr. Eagan's passion for USF soccer. Even though he lives in Milwaukee, Fr. Eagan makes a point to visit USF whenever he visits San Francisco. And although it is difficult to keep up with the soccer team, the coverage of the Dons makes it feel like he is basically there.
The rich and storied tradition of USF Athletics will come alive on Friday, February 23 with the formal induction ceremonies at the
Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner at the McLaren Center on the USF Campus. The festivities will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 7:30 p.m. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the USF-San Diego basketball game on Feb. 24
USF's Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018, which will comprise the 44th group of inductees, includes
Hans Friessen '72(men's soccer),
Stefan Gartrell '06 (baseball),
Andrea Kagie '97 (women's basketball),
Jessica Potter '08 (women's golf),
Huey Thomas '65 (men's basketball), and
Fr. Joe Eagan, who will be inducted in the special service category.
With the inclusion of the new members, USF's Athletic Hall of Fame now includes 272 individuals and 21 teams.
Individual reservations for the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner are priced at $75 while a table of 10 may be purchased for $725.
The Athletic Department has announced the formation of an athletic alumni association whose mission will be to engage and connect former students across different sports, generations and geographical areas in an attempt to build and foster an on-going association with USF Athletics.
All former students who have competed for a minimum of one year in an intercollegiate sport are eligible, as are team managers and spirit squad members who compiled at least three years of service as an undergraduate
Join the Dons Honor Club
