Pat Coogan started national championship games in back-to-back years. He felt the agony of defeat in 2024 while at Notre Dame. He basked in the glory of victory in 2025 while at Indiana. Two different schools, two different outcomes, one constant leader in the middle of the offensive line.
Coogan, who transferred from the Fighting Irish to the Hoosiers last offseason, is known for his fiery pregame speeches and animated leadership style. None of it is for show; it's simply the intensity that Coogan has always played with. Teammates can't get enough of it. Just ask Indiana wide receiver and fellow NFL Draft prospect Omar Cooper Jr.
"He was just one of the greatest leaders that I've had in college," Cooper said. "Just every game, before the game, he was the one that gave the offense the pregame speech. I just loved how he had so much juice and energy, and you could just tell his love for the game by the speeches he gave and how he practiced every day. It just showcased why he was such a great leader for our O-line, and why our O-line was so good this year."
Indiana's offensive line made notable improvements from 2024 to 2025 despite returning three starters. Under the watch of veteran offensive line coach Bob Bostad, the Hoosiers turned in the Big Ten's best rushing offense while allowing just 1.56 sacks per game en route to a national championship.
Coogan's transition went almost flawlessly, replacing former starting center Mike Katic. Even as far back as the first few weeks of spring camp, Indiana players were already raving about Coogan's attitude and earned respect.
While the offensive integration process took time, Coogan immediately forged locker-room relationships which manifested into success later in the year. Soon, an undefeated national championship campaign was birthed from the experience and influence that Coogan helped shepherd into the program.
"There was many people part of the program, part of the University, part of the community that went though some really dark times related to the football program and just the history that they have," Coogan said. "So being able to see them after the (National Championship), seeing the look on their faces, watching them reach the mountaintop of college football, was really, really special.
"A lot of people have really poured their heart and soul into the program and gotten nothing in return for a long while, results wise. So to see that was really special."
Coogan's football dreams didn't end, though, after he hoisted the elusive national championship trophy. In fact, they were only beginning.
After Coogan made a name for himself nationally given how well Indiana's offensive line coalesced, he soon began to realize how real his NFL dreams were. Being named Rose Bowl Offensive MVP didn't hurt his draft stock, either.
So in the aftermath of IU's College Football Playoff run, Coogan — perhaps surprisingly — found himself as one of a record-breaking nine Hoosiers to receive invites to the NFL Scouting Combine. The projected Day 3 draft selection now had a chance to prove his value on the biggest pre-draft stage possible.
"This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and it would be a shame for me to stop and smell the roses and think I've made it any point," Coogan said. "I know there's so much more work to go, and there's so much more work to be done, there's so much more to get better at."
At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, Coogan's draft stock isn't tied to any one position. He has two years of championship-level starting experience at center. He also began his career playing guard. Staying on the interior appears to be Coogan's best opportunity to stick in the NFL, but his versatility will be a critical swing skill.
Where Coogan hopes to win over NFL scouts and executives, however, is with his intangibles. He embraces the pressure of playing center and acting as an ultimate connector in the trenches. His mind is wired to be exactly that.
"It's a quick process, but one that I take a lot of pride in and very comfortable with," Coogan said, "because of the coaches that I've had, the work that I've put in."
Coogan's impact on Indiana will never be fully quantified. Sure, IU's blocking improvements and rushing success are tangible evidence points, but Coogan also brought an edge to the Hoosiers' locker room that seemingly lacked in previous years.
Every Indiana player who has been asked about Coogan in 2025 have all said something similar: He's one of, if not the greatest leaders they've ever played with.
NFL teams in search of culture builders and team-first offensive lineman, even if they may not be the prototypical draft prospect, could soon be seeing in Coogan what Hoosier Nation has known all along.
"They're getting somebody who works hard every day," Cooper Jr. said. "He's gonna fight through the injuries. He's gonna come out and showcase why he was the starting for us this year, and why he was the best center in college football. He's a great leader, someone who also loves the game."