Future Friday: Q&A with Peri Marosevic
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
March 11, 2016
Peri Marosevic
After representing the block M with pride while they competed for the Maize and Blue, our student-athlete alumni have gone off to become professionals in different areas of their lives. Whether they continued on in their sport, helped to build up a company or started a family, they are building a future. They are building our future. As they leave the University of Michigan campus they go forth with all they learned here to create a better future for us all.
Peri Marosevic (2006-08) returned to Ann Arbor this past year to secure his degree in sports management and serve as an undergraduate assistant coach with the University of Michigan men's soccer team. While in Ann Arbor, Marosevic earned All-Big Ten honors in each of his three seasons and garnered first team honors in 2008. A two-time NSCAA/Adidas All-Great Lakes Region selection, he ranks No. 6 in career points (55), No. 4 in goals (24) and No. 3 in shots (176). During the 2008 season, Marosevic tallied 29 points and 13 goals, the fourth-highest single-season total in program history. He also excelled in the classroom at U-M, as he earned U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Awards all three years, and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in 2007 and 2008.
Q. You had an accomplished professional career and are still in your prime. At what point did you decide to return to Ann Arbor for schooling?
A. I always knew at some point I was going to return to Michigan to finish my degree. When I decided to leave Michigan after the 2008 season to pursue my professional playing career, I made a promise to the program, my family and myself that I would return and work towards receiving my Michigan degree. When I received an email from the university's athletic department about a new degree completion program that was developed to provide athletes that had left to pursue careers in sport to return to school to finish -- I saw it as perfect timing and an opportunity I could not pass up on. I also felt it better to return sooner rather than later in order to provide my life with more options and I knew a degree from Michigan would do just that.
Q. As U-M's first Generation adidas signee, was the plan always to try and come back to Ann Arbor to finish schooling?
A. It was humbling to be Michigan's first Generation adidas signee and allowed me to pursue a professional career in soccer, something I dreamt about ever since I was three years old. But, it also gave me that security knowing I had the funds available to return to school when I decided to. Ever since I was little, my parents have told me to finish what I started, and finishing my education was not limited from that. My plan was always to return to Michigan. Receiving my degree from Michigan means a lot to me for Michigan has provided me with numerous amounts of opportunities to learn and grow as a person both on the pitch and in the classroom. I could have pursued a degree from various online programs while I was playing, but a degree from Michigan is something special to have and going back was one of the best decisions I could have made. I am very proud to have that degree hanging up on my wall.
Q. How do you plan on using a degree in sport management in the future?
A. With sport being such a large part of my life ever since I was a child, it grew to become a passion beyond the playing field. Once I committed to Michigan back in 2006 and saw that they had one of the top sport management programs, I knew it was a great fit. I am currently pursuing a career in sports marketing for sport has always been a deep interest in my life, soccer in particularly. Besides playing, I have always been interested in the off the field operations in sport and having played professionally for the past six years I've had the chance to see and experience vast fields in the industry. Seeing specific sport careers in action and building relationships with these individuals has only increased my interest in a career in the sport industry. With the sport management program at Michigan being one of the top programs in the country, I am extremely proud to have received that degree and be part of a program that is so prestige and widely recognized.
Q. Is there more of an appreciation for your education now that you have real-world experience?
A. When I first attended Michigan as a teenager I took certain things for granted. However, I have gained a vast amount of experience and growth as a person. During my playing career I have learned the importance of education and the impact it can have on one's life. One can only play professional sport for a certain amount of years and education allows a person to continue their ambitions and create a better life for themselves and their family. The second time around I made education my number one priority and it is amazing how much it allows you to grow, expand your mind, and view the world in different ways. It goes beyond appreciation.
2015 Michigan Men's Soccer Coaching Staff
Q. Tell us about the process of becoming an undergraduate assistant coach for the team this past season. How did it fit into your schedule? What did you learn from the experience?
A. As I was planning my return back to Michigan I reached out to Chaka Daley to express my interest in working with the team and doing anything I can to help the program grow and provide any of the knowledge I gained during my playing career. The soccer program did a lot for me when I played, not only was I offered a full scholarship to represent Michigan on the pitch, but also gave me the chance for a free education. I was definitely thankful and in my return I wanted to make sure I gave back in any way I could. The coaching staff as a whole took me into the program, and made me feel welcomed from day one. The coaching staff encouraged me to express myself, share my opinions, and the knowledge of the game to the players. It was an incredible feeling to have that trust from them. I did have a full schedule, which did not allow me to spend as much time with the team as I would have liked -- if it was up to me I would have been around the coaching staff and players 24/7 -- which might be breaking compliance rules. But, the time I did have with the staff and the boys, I made sure it was time well spent, making sure I was listening and learning from the staff and sharing my knowledge and experiences with the boys. Working with the team was a great experience for me. I learned a great deal about on and off the field aspects of operating a team and I hope I was able to help the program and the players move towards achieving their goals.
Q. What are some of the biggest changes with U-M soccer since you left?
A. One of the biggest things I noticed right away was that the program had a more professional feel around it, from the new stadium and training facility, to the operations and how things were run. Any time a new coach takes over other obvious changes are implemented, such as, playing and leadership style, mentality, and team philosophy, but I could see right away the passion the coaching staff has for the program and turning it into one of the top programs in the country. You could see this from their commitment and style of work. It is definitely something I was excited to be a part of. Hopefully I contributed in some way with my experiences in the professional environment to improve the program. I would love to see U-M soccer lift as many trophies as possible.
Q. What is next for you?
A. Since graduation I have been looking at both playing and career options. It feels so much better having a diploma in my hand allowing me to set myself up for more opportunities. This is a huge weight off my shoulders. I have been making sure to connect and talk to as many people as I can, going through informational interviews, setting up in-person meetings with professionals, and applying for positions. I am excited to see where my life will take me and what that "next thing" might be. If I continue my professional playing career that is great, but also having a diploma now, I am very excited to see what opportunities come with that. Who knows? Maybe I will be back in Ann Arbor, back with the soccer program striving to become the Leaders & Best ... and lifting Big 10 and national championship trophies. Go Blue!
The 2015-16 academic year marks the 150th anniversary of Michigan Athletics. We invite the University of Michigan family to celebrate the passion that fuels us, rediscover the stories and traditions that unite us, and imagine what the future holds for us. We look forward to celebrating "This Michigan of Ours." To share a memory of Michigan Athletics, please fill out our online form or email goblue150@umich.edu.
