Chase Stegall, a sophomore midfielder on the DePaul men’s soccer team, died on Monday inside his dorm, the school announced.
Stegall, an Atlanta native, was 20 years old. No cause of death was revealed, and the school said details on a memorial service will be announced at a later time.
‘Chase was known for his warmth, strength of character, and vibrant presence – qualities that touched the lives of many both on and off the field,’ DePaul President Rob Manuel said in a statement. ‘His loss is deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, classmates, faculty, staff, and all who knew him. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest sympathies to Chase’s family, friends, and loved ones.’
He played in 16 of the Blue Demons’ 17 games during the 2024 season.
‘We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Chase Stegall, a cherished member of our community, dedicated teammate and kind-hearted friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chase’s family, friends, teammates and all who loved him. In the coming days, we will support Chase’s family and teammates through this devastating time. His loss will be deeply felt across our entire Athletics and university family and his memory will forever be a part of DePaul University,’ DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevy and men’s soccer head coach Mark Plotki said in a statement.
Stegall is survived by his parents, Milton and Darlene Stegall, and his brother Collin. His father played for the Cincinnati Bengals for three seasons before landing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 1995. When he retired in 2009, he held CFL records for career touchdowns (147), career receiving touchdowns (144) and receiving yards (15,153) and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2012.