Cincinnati native and FC Cincinnati center back Nick Hagglund will be inducted into the Xavier University Athletics Hall of Fame in January, the university announced Wednesday in a press release. The induction ceremony will be Jan. 10, 2020.
After playing for Lakota West High School, Hagglund went to Xavier and became the most decorated soccer player in the program’s history between 2010-14.
“I was really excited when I heard,” Hagglund said about the announcement. “It’s an amazing honor. I’m just thankful for all the coaches and all the players that were part of the team that I was there. They really made the experience amazing and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Named First Team All-Conference three times, he was the 2013 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and a led the Musketeers to the first NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Additionally, he was named to the 2012 College Soccer News All-America Third Team and the 2012 NSCAA All-America Second Team.
Following his collegiate career, he graduated in 2014 and was picked 10th overall by Toronto FC in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, which is the highest selection ever for an XU soccer product.
While in Toronto, he played five seasons and won MLS Cup 2017 before joining FC Cincinnati ahead of their inaugural season in MLS. Hagglund became the first Cincinnati native on the club’s MLS roster and has played in 18 league matches this season for the Orange and Blue.
The defender will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a dinner on Jan. 10 at the Cintas Center. On Jan. 11, he and four others will be recognized during the Creighton-Xavier men’s basketball game.
Including Hagglund, there are 143 members of the hall of fame.
“When I get to show my daughter and she understands that I’m in the hall of fame, that will be a really cool moment and surreal for myself.”
