Recently, we had the opportunity to catch up with Monmouth's Hugh MacDonald and speak with him about his experiences with Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer.
Tell us about your experience being a pro soccer player so far.
So far it's been great to be able to wake up and play soccer for a few hours, and then have the rest of the day to myself, getting paid is just an added bonus. The guys have been great, and we've been doing well, so all in all it's been a very positive experience for me.
What is it like to play for Bruce Arena?
To be able to play for arguably the greatest coach in United States history has been a good thing for a young player like me. There isn't a detail overlooked by Bruce. He knows the game extremely well and understands what each of us need in order to be motivated to play at our highest level. He's done a lot to change the soccer culture here and has brought in the right players with the right attitudes in order to be a successful team and organization.
How does the daily environment compare to that of college?
The daily environment of pro life is a bit different from college. They do everything they can in order to make you as comfortable and concentrated on soccer as they can. From the massages on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to the chiropractors, to the fitness coach and equipment, everything is top notch. They make it extremely difficult to make excuses at this level with all the ammentities you would need, which is what every athlete looks for.
What are your plans for finishing your degree?
Finishing my degree is still very important to me, and Coach McCourt, and Mom, so I plan on taking a couple classes at a time for the next year or two in order to finish my remaining 30 credits. When I transferred to Monmouth, one thing that Coach McCourt told my mom was that he would make sure that I got the school side sorted out, as well as the soccer side, so I'm doing my best to make sure I can get my degree as soon as possible.
How has your playing experience at Monmouth helped prepare you for pro soccer?
I knew that transferring to Monmouth would give me the best chance to play professionally after college so I made the move. Coach McCourt knows the game as well as anybody and could get the most out of any situation he was in. He has a lot of contacts professionally as well, so I knew that if I put the work in I'd be able to get where I'm at easier than if I were somewhere else. Believe it or not, the training sessions and preparation of playing at Monmouth are very comparable to that of playing professional soccer. The only thing I regret is not making it to the Final 4 while at Monmouth, the boys aren't too far off from that happening, and I'll always wish I was a part of it when it happens.
Photo credit: Ernesto Motta / Red Bull New York
