DePaul University Athletics
A Blue Demon Family Affair
2/14/2019 1:00:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - When Susan Coleman Labovic was inducted into the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, she was tasked with writing a speech. Her son Sasa – who was 11 at the time – told her he was going to write a speech, too.
"Why is that?" Susan asked her son.
"Because I'm going to be in the DePaul Hall of Fame one day, too," Sasa said.
The Schererville, Ind. native has had a soccer ball on his feet since he could walk, thanks to his father, Dan Labovic, a DePaul men's soccer alumnus (1998).
"I've been his coach up until college," Dan said. "I've been with him either as head coach or assistant coach. I've been pretty fortunate to do that with him and with my daughters as well. Not a lot of parents get to do that."
Both of Sasa's parents have had a significant impact on his life when it comes to sports, but he never realized just how much until it came time to choose a college.
While the current junior defender was making his decision between Illinois-Chicago and DePaul, he says his parents' being alumni did play a factor. But ultimately, it was the DePaul atmosphere that helped him choose Lincoln Park and Wish Field.
"After the recruiting process, it was DePaul that struck me – a family atmosphere and a right fit," Sasa Labovic said. "I think the first thing that struck me was the smallness of the athletic department and the fact that everyone knows everybody. It doesn't matter what sport you play, everyone is a familiar face and there's a lot of intermingling between the sports. It's always everyone together."
That is the same feeling Susan felt beginning her softball career at DePaul.
"It's like family," Susan said. "Everybody knows you. For me, every time I go back it feels like I never left and I've traveled back in time. DePaul is just so special."
She was an integral member of the softball from 1986-89 before becoming an assistant coach.
Throughout her four-year playing career, Susan earned DePaul softball's Most Outstanding Player award her senior year in 1989, set the all-time, season record for walks (54) and is third in defensive chances (535). The former first baseman holds the 1985 NCAA record for career walks.
She was the 1989 recipient of DePaul's prestigious Jean Nordberg Award for excellence in academics, athletics and character. She is second all-time in DePaul softball history with 1,336 putouts and still holds the season walks record (54 in 1989). Her 495 putouts at first base in 1989 are third all-time in the school record book.
Following her senior season, she was named co-MVP and led the 1986 squad with a .996 fielding percentage. Once Susan graduated, she didn't go far as she became the first full-time assistant coach for DePaul softball program.
In 1988, Dan Labovic would make an appearance on the soccer team after transferring from Roosevelt. He met Susan and the rest is history. Dan played one season with the Blue Demons before signing a pro contract to play indoor soccer with the Hershey Impact and Chicago Power.
He found his way to DePaul through his cousin, also a former men's soccer player, Branko Pantovic, and the atmosphere of the DePaul athletic department resonated with him as well.
When their son Sasa decided to play for DePaul, both Susan and Dan couldn't help but beam with pride, knowing he was carrying on the Labovic family legacy.
"We were really excited because first of all, we love the athletic department over there," Dan said. "We have a really good relationship with everyone in athletics and we love the school's academics. It's also real close to home, so we can actually come and watch all the home games. We were really excited about it."
Susan knew where she wanted Sasa to end up – as most parents do – but wanted him to make the ultimate decision where to play.
"For me, there was no decision, but we wanted him to feel comfortable with where he was going," Susan said. "Once he decided, he was so happy.
"For me, it was like he was at home. It was so natural. It felt like I was transferring him over to extended family. I knew Jeanne (athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto), Michael (facilities director Mike Lenti) would be there for him and everyone in the department would be there for him."
Sasa noticed his parents' delight after his decision and knew he was entering a familiar, special place.
"I think this family legacy is definitely something really important for me," Sasa said. "I know my mom spent a lot of time and a lot of years here and really loves the school.
"It means a lot to have this legacy here at DePaul, enjoy such a great school and athletic program while carrying on my parents' name. I want to continue what they started paving the way for me and maybe someday my kids to come here.
"Being able to make my parents, their friends and other DePaul alumni proud strikes home for me. It's such a small world, and to see them when I play and having this opportunity is something special for our family."
Special seems to be a recurring theme with the Labovic family and DePaul. Susan, a Cahokia, Ill. native, said she feels indebted to the school because of the opportunities the university and athletic department provided her.
"I feel really indebted to DePaul because of the experience that I've had, the lifelong friends I've made, the education that I got and the doors that it's opened for me – it's unbelievable," she said. "I was able to earn two master's degrees while I was there coaching. The extended family they provided for me, I felt like I had to give 100 percent back to the university.
"Obviously, I wanted to play as hard and as competitively as I could and represent the university as best I could. Now, Sasa brings so much and I wanted him to continue and bring that to DePaul."
Even though Dan only played a year, he thinks back on his time at DePaul fondly and loves that he now has the opportunity to come back to watch his son play.
"It feels great and definitely brings back good memories," Dan said. "It makes me really proud to see him play. It definitely gets emotional seeing him out there running around doing the things we love doing. I'm very proud of him."
"It just makes you beam with pride," Susan echoed. "I can't even tell you how cool it is to go to Sasa's games and be surrounded by old faces and friends. It's the best feeling in the world."
While Wish Field wasn't around for Dan to play on while he was a member of the team, he was still able to play on Wish Field when he returned to finish up his degree at DePaul.
Something that has impressed Sasa throughout his three years with the soccer program is the unconditional support from Ponsetto. He said to see her in the stands at every match and speaking with her afterwards is something he doesn't see at other places.
Susan spent her career at Wish Field at Cacciatore Stadium and Sasa realizes how special that is.
"For me it's been almost magical, because I can play on the same field that both my parents played on," Sasa said. "It's been an unbelievable experience."
"Why is that?" Susan asked her son.
"Because I'm going to be in the DePaul Hall of Fame one day, too," Sasa said.
The Schererville, Ind. native has had a soccer ball on his feet since he could walk, thanks to his father, Dan Labovic, a DePaul men's soccer alumnus (1998).
"I've been his coach up until college," Dan said. "I've been with him either as head coach or assistant coach. I've been pretty fortunate to do that with him and with my daughters as well. Not a lot of parents get to do that."
Both of Sasa's parents have had a significant impact on his life when it comes to sports, but he never realized just how much until it came time to choose a college.
While the current junior defender was making his decision between Illinois-Chicago and DePaul, he says his parents' being alumni did play a factor. But ultimately, it was the DePaul atmosphere that helped him choose Lincoln Park and Wish Field.
"After the recruiting process, it was DePaul that struck me – a family atmosphere and a right fit," Sasa Labovic said. "I think the first thing that struck me was the smallness of the athletic department and the fact that everyone knows everybody. It doesn't matter what sport you play, everyone is a familiar face and there's a lot of intermingling between the sports. It's always everyone together."
That is the same feeling Susan felt beginning her softball career at DePaul.
"It's like family," Susan said. "Everybody knows you. For me, every time I go back it feels like I never left and I've traveled back in time. DePaul is just so special."
She was an integral member of the softball from 1986-89 before becoming an assistant coach.
Throughout her four-year playing career, Susan earned DePaul softball's Most Outstanding Player award her senior year in 1989, set the all-time, season record for walks (54) and is third in defensive chances (535). The former first baseman holds the 1985 NCAA record for career walks.
She was the 1989 recipient of DePaul's prestigious Jean Nordberg Award for excellence in academics, athletics and character. She is second all-time in DePaul softball history with 1,336 putouts and still holds the season walks record (54 in 1989). Her 495 putouts at first base in 1989 are third all-time in the school record book.
Following her senior season, she was named co-MVP and led the 1986 squad with a .996 fielding percentage. Once Susan graduated, she didn't go far as she became the first full-time assistant coach for DePaul softball program.
In 1988, Dan Labovic would make an appearance on the soccer team after transferring from Roosevelt. He met Susan and the rest is history. Dan played one season with the Blue Demons before signing a pro contract to play indoor soccer with the Hershey Impact and Chicago Power.
He found his way to DePaul through his cousin, also a former men's soccer player, Branko Pantovic, and the atmosphere of the DePaul athletic department resonated with him as well.
When their son Sasa decided to play for DePaul, both Susan and Dan couldn't help but beam with pride, knowing he was carrying on the Labovic family legacy.
"We were really excited because first of all, we love the athletic department over there," Dan said. "We have a really good relationship with everyone in athletics and we love the school's academics. It's also real close to home, so we can actually come and watch all the home games. We were really excited about it."
Susan knew where she wanted Sasa to end up – as most parents do – but wanted him to make the ultimate decision where to play.
"For me, there was no decision, but we wanted him to feel comfortable with where he was going," Susan said. "Once he decided, he was so happy.
"For me, it was like he was at home. It was so natural. It felt like I was transferring him over to extended family. I knew Jeanne (athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto), Michael (facilities director Mike Lenti) would be there for him and everyone in the department would be there for him."
Sasa noticed his parents' delight after his decision and knew he was entering a familiar, special place.
"I think this family legacy is definitely something really important for me," Sasa said. "I know my mom spent a lot of time and a lot of years here and really loves the school.
"It means a lot to have this legacy here at DePaul, enjoy such a great school and athletic program while carrying on my parents' name. I want to continue what they started paving the way for me and maybe someday my kids to come here.
"Being able to make my parents, their friends and other DePaul alumni proud strikes home for me. It's such a small world, and to see them when I play and having this opportunity is something special for our family."
Special seems to be a recurring theme with the Labovic family and DePaul. Susan, a Cahokia, Ill. native, said she feels indebted to the school because of the opportunities the university and athletic department provided her.
"I feel really indebted to DePaul because of the experience that I've had, the lifelong friends I've made, the education that I got and the doors that it's opened for me – it's unbelievable," she said. "I was able to earn two master's degrees while I was there coaching. The extended family they provided for me, I felt like I had to give 100 percent back to the university.
"Obviously, I wanted to play as hard and as competitively as I could and represent the university as best I could. Now, Sasa brings so much and I wanted him to continue and bring that to DePaul."
Even though Dan only played a year, he thinks back on his time at DePaul fondly and loves that he now has the opportunity to come back to watch his son play.
"It feels great and definitely brings back good memories," Dan said. "It makes me really proud to see him play. It definitely gets emotional seeing him out there running around doing the things we love doing. I'm very proud of him."
"It just makes you beam with pride," Susan echoed. "I can't even tell you how cool it is to go to Sasa's games and be surrounded by old faces and friends. It's the best feeling in the world."
While Wish Field wasn't around for Dan to play on while he was a member of the team, he was still able to play on Wish Field when he returned to finish up his degree at DePaul.
Something that has impressed Sasa throughout his three years with the soccer program is the unconditional support from Ponsetto. He said to see her in the stands at every match and speaking with her afterwards is something he doesn't see at other places.
Susan spent her career at Wish Field at Cacciatore Stadium and Sasa realizes how special that is.
"For me it's been almost magical, because I can play on the same field that both my parents played on," Sasa said. "It's been an unbelievable experience."
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ MEN'S SOCCEREpisode 27: Ryan Thomas
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Thursday, October 09
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Sunday, September 07