Sports
4 Midshipmen Athletes Go Pro After Graduating From Naval Academy
Four Navy athletes from the Class of 2022 will pursue careers in professional sports. The Midshipmen will join the WNBA, NFL and MLS.
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Four Midshipmen from the Class of 2022 will pursue careers in professional sports. Those athletes are:
- Jennifer Coleman (Basketball)
- Diego Fagot (Football)
- Michael McMorris (Football)
- Matthew Nocita (Soccer)
The athletes still must serve at least five years of active duty as commissioned military officers. They will postpone their service until after their sporting careers, however. For now, the Mids will enter the reserves of their respective branches.
Coleman has her eyes set on the WNBA. The Washington Mystics offered her a contract as an undrafted preferred free agent. Coleman is assigned to commission as a surface warfare officer, and she will now enlist in the Navy Individual Ready Reserve.
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fagot signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. He will be a Marine Corps ground officer. Until then, he will join the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve.
The Washington Commanders invited McMorris to an undrafted free agent rookie camp. McMorris will also be a surface warfare officer and enlist in the Navy reserves.
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The New York Red Bulls selected Nocita in the first round of the 2022 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Nocita will eventually become a Marine Corps ground officer. For now, he will join the Marine reserves.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III approved these moves on May 21. This is allowed under DTM 19-011.
U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck cheered the graduates' professionalism.
"I know Jennifer, Diego, Michael, and Matthew will take every opportunity on and off the court or field to ably represent the Navy and Marine Corps to the American people and to assist us in our recruiting efforts," Buck said in a press release.
The four athletes graduated last Friday alongside their peers.
President Joe Biden spoke at the commencement. He told the Midshipmen that they will be "representatives and defenders of our democracy."
To learn more about Biden's speech, check out Patch's full graduation coverage.
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