Columbia, Mo. - In December of 2024, Columbia College and the NAIA soccer community lost a legend.  Dan Hogan, who coached the Cougar men's soccer team from 1991-1999, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.  Following his passing, a number of alumni and athletic staff members worked together on a plan to recognize his impact at Columbia College. Prior to the men's soccer game during Homecoming Weekend, their locker room was officially dedicated as the Coach Dan Hogan Memorial Locker Room. 

Drew Grzella ('01), Associate Director of Athletics & Events said, "In sports, the locker room is a sacred space where wins are celebrated, teams are challenged to be their best and sports families are created.  We feel there is no better spot for Coach Hogan to be remembered than right there where every season's journey begins." In addition to the plaque placed outside the space, the men's & women's teams were provided with new smart TV's, whiteboards, portable speakers, new championship banners, and updated wall graphics showcasing the past successes of their program. Grzella went on to add, "Those behind the project felt it was important to not only memorialize Dan, but to make sure the current student-athletes saw a difference in their day-to-day use of the field."

Brad Jenks ('00), who played for Columbia College from 1996-1999 stated, "It means a lot to my teammates and I that the locker room is now named in Coach Hogan's honor. He was the one who brought us together and pushed us to be great. We had success on the field, but more importantly he built a lasting soccer family. Honoring Coach in this manner ensures that future players will know the incredible legacy of Cougar Soccer was forged in large part to Coach."
 
During his nine years at the helm of the program, Coach Hogan lead the Cougars to an impressive 122-59-8 record, winning nearly two out of every three games.  Dan was named the conference coach of the year five different times during his tenure with the Cougars and his teams won five conference championships (two regular season and three tournament titles). In his final season with Columbia, the team recorded the first 20-win season in program history and advanced to the Regional Championship match. The 1999 team is still one of only two men's teams in program history to have 20 or more victories in a season. Dan went on to coach at University of Southern Indiana, Lindenwood University-Belleville (Mo.), and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (Mo.). He was later inducted into the Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame (2011) and the American Midwest Conference Hall of Fame (2023). Even though Coach Hogan left the program in 1999, his love for Columbia College and his players was unmatched. 

"It's hard to put into words how much we appreciate the generosity and devotion of the Columbia College Soccer family," commented Sharon Husmann, Dan's sister. "Following his passing, we heard from so many of Dan's former players about how the course of their life was changed because of the opportunity to play college soccer under his direction. The locker room dedication ceremony meant the world to our family. I know Dan was smiling down on the game that day, wearing his signature white Adidas baseball cap and celebrating the win. It's amazing that my brother's name will forever be a part of the field that he poured his heart and soul into. Thank you to everyone who made this a day to remember!" 
 
Fundraising for the Soccer Locker Room Project will continue through the end of the calendar year. Online gifts can be made by visiting my.ccis.edu/athletics and choosing the Men's Soccer gift designation.