DePaul University soccer player Chase Stegall was found dead inside his residence hall on the school’s campus.
Stegall, 20, died on Monday, June 2, according to the school’s student newspaper, The DePaulia.
His death was described as “unexpected” and no cause of death has been announced.
“Chase was known for his warmth, strength of character, and vibrant presence — qualities that touched the lives of many both on and off the field,” DePaul President Rob Manuel said in an email to faculty, staff and students. “His loss is deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, classmates, faculty, staff, and all who knew him. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest sympathies to Chase’s family, friends, and loved ones.”
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DePaul vice president and director of athletics, DeWayne Peevy, and men’s soccer head coach, Mark Plotkin, released a joint statement after news of Stegall’s death.
“We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Chase Stegall, a cherished member of our community, dedicated teammate and kind-hearted friend,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Chase’s family, friends, teammates and all who loved him. In the coming days, we will support Chase’s family and teammates through this devastating time. His loss will be deeply felt across our entire Athletics and university family and his memory will forever be a part of DePaul University.”
A junior midfielder from Atlanta, Stegall played in 16 of DePaul’s 17 games last season, scoring a goal against Drake on September 2.
Stegall was the son of former professional football player Milton Stegall, who played 21 games over three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992 to 1994. Milton later transitioned to a decorated career in the Canadian Football League, where he was a nine-time All-Star.
Chase is also survived by his mother, Darlene, and his brother, Collin.
The soccer player announced his commitment to DePaul with a celebratory post in December 2022.
“I am extremely blessed and excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career playing division 1 soccer at DePaul University,” he shared via Instagram. “First, I want to thank God because without Him none of this would be possible. I also want to thank my family, coaches, teammates, and friends for supporting and believing in me.”
In February, Chase wrote an essay detailing a terrifying recent health scare.
“I can’t tell you exactly what happened,” Chase wrote. “All I know is that I had a seizure. And all I remember is waking up in the hospital. But when I opened my eyes, there was Mark Plotkin, my head soccer coach, standing next to me. He’d left practice and had come to the hospital to see how I was doing. He stayed there for hours with me.”
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He continued, “My teammates and friends constantly checked up on me, too. They’d helped me get to the hospital, and sent me texts to make sure I was doing OK. Their kindness, their care, stayed with me.”
Chase eventually recovered and returned to the soccer field, and he explained how the experience helped him realize DePaul was “the right place for me.”
“My journey as a student-athlete at DePaul has been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve found a supportive community that cares about me,” he wrote. “From waking up in the hospital with my coach by my side to scoring my first college goal, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of playing this sport. It’s helped me learn the value of resilience, dedication, and representation.
Chase concluded, “The DePaul community has meant everything to me, and reminded me every day that I’m living my dream. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
