Mark Noonan ’83 Kicks Off “Monthly Mondays”
Staples soccer does not end with the last match of the fall.
Nor does it end with the Turkey Bowl. Not even the banquet.
There’s always something going on with the Wrecker program. This year, they’ve kicked off “Monthly Mondays.”
Early each month — from now through summer — returning players from the varsity, reserves and freshmen are invited to a special event. They may hear a guest speaker, watch a video or talk about a book they’ve all read. Each month is different, inspiring, challenging and fun.
This month, nearly 40 players met with Mark Noonan ’83. A member of 2 state championship teams and a member of Duke University’s 1st-ever championship team in any sport, Noonan went on to a globe-circling career in sports marketing. He’s worked with the US Soccer Federation, served as executive vice president of MLS, and been global chief commercial officer of the world surfing tour — among many other highlights.
Noonan shared some of the highs and lows of his life — including how he coped with a devastating knee injury. He looked back on his Staples career, and ahead to the next stages. He mixed advice with humor, and answered insightful questions with candor.
“We have remarkable alumni,” head coach Dan Woog said. “Each one has a great story to tell. Noons is among the best of the best. We’re honored he took the time to meet with our guys. He really connected with them, and gave them a look at how soccer can open doors in ways they may never expect.”
Stay tuned for February’s Monthly Monday.
Mark Noonan is a member of the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame.
