Two years before he joined the UConn Men’s Soccer Team as a walk-on player, Jack Loura ’24 (BUS) was part of the “goal patrol,” a pack of ardent fans standing behind the opposing team’s net and heckling the goalie.

Loura wrapped up his college soccer career just a few weeks ago, devoting three years to playing for the team and serving as a co-captain. Today he’s pursuing a graduate degree in financial technology at the UConn School of Business. And he’s hoping to further his soccer career with the United Soccer League, parent company of the Hartford Athletic team.

Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chris Gbandi credits Loura’s work ethic with helping him become both an exemplary player and a team leader. As co-captain, he helped the team advance to the Big East Quarterfinals last month, before losing to Providence.

“Jack is a very good player. He played almost every game and had the most minutes on the team. He’s a lefty, a good defender, and great at blocking shots,’’ Gbandi says. “His work ethic is remarkable. To join the team as a walk-on is extremely difficult. We have so many opportunities for recruiting that becoming a walk-on player is next to impossible. And not only did he do that, he became a captain.’’

When he joined the team, Loura was very quiet.

“He was very, very shy. At the time we didn’t even know if he spoke,’’ Gbandi jokes. “What’s so impressive about him, and about the college experience for many, is that he grew into his own, matured, and became a leader.’’

Gbandi says Loura’s leadership style involves modeling success.

“You can almost see the other players asking themselves, ‘What would Jack do?,”’ Gbandi says. “He’s one of the fittest players on the team. He eats well, prioritizes training and sleeping, and does well in the classroom. He leads by example, sort of a watch-me-and-learn approach. We’re all so proud of him.’’

Loura, a Cheshire native, spoke with UConn Today recently about his decision to attend UConn, the confidence he built while on the soccer team, and his plans for a business career after he completes his athletic pursuits.

Q: You had an unusual path to becoming a member of the men’s soccer team. How did that happen?

I was the captain of the team at Cheshire High School. I had offers to play soccer at other colleges, but I’m someone who takes academics very seriously. I thought I had better opportunities to grow as a student at UConn, and potentially make the team.

My freshman year was a COVID year. Sophomore year I joined a club team, which was a great experience. Junior year I reached out to Coach Gbandi, sent a highlight film, and finally made the team as a walk-on.

Q: I understand that before you joined the team, you were part of the Goal Patrol. What was that like?

When I was a sophomore, all the students would line up behind the opposing team’s goal, and yell, and distract the goalie to give UConn the best chance we could. It was a good experience and a great way to enjoy the games, but I’d much rather be on the field.

Q: How did you grow from an enthusiastic fan to a team captain?

At first, I just wanted to be part of the team. But once I got into things, I thought I could grow into a leader. In 2023, we had five captains and four of them left. I was one of the guys who thought I could step up.

I feel like I demonstrated consistent growth. I liked talking to people and connecting with them. As a center back, one of my roles is communication, being vocal, organizing the team. That developed my confidence. Initially I was shy, but in the past two years, those are areas where I’ve grown a lot.

Q: Do you think there is a strong connection between athletics and a drive to succeed in business?

I think there could be a connection because of the teamwork, communication skills, and collaboration that exist in both athletics and the business world. Setting goals as a team and working in a competitive environment to improve and try to achieve those goals can be a part of both contexts. I think the business school reflects this by encouraging students to work on group projects and present them together.

Q: Why did you become an accounting major as an undergrad, and why are you pursuing your graduate degree in FinTech now?

I took one or two courses in accounting in high school and I enjoyed it. In accounting, everything has to add up. I really like that organization; that drew me in. When deciding on grad school, I already had enough credits for the CPA. I wanted to try something new.

Financial technology is connected to accounting and is also an up-and-coming field. I think this degree will help me in the business world and be valuable given how advanced business financial transactions are becoming. I am in an accelerated program, so I was able to start on my master’s degree while earning my bachelors.

Q: How did you juggle all the demands of coursework and soccer?

It was definitely a learning curve after being a “regular student” my freshman year. Typically, during the season, we spend 20 to 30 hours a week with the team, plus traveling to games. I plan my time carefully and I know what I need to get done. I’d divide up the work and not wait until the last day to finish it. The Athletics Department also offers a lot of resources to the team, whether academic advising, or connecting you with a tutor, or mandatory study halls for freshmen. It was important to me to take my classes seriously, get good grades, and graduate with a good GPA.

Q: Do you have any funny stories from your time on the soccer team?

I have to say that being on the team was so enjoyable every day. My teammates really are a second family to me. There were many times when the training finishes and you’d still in the locker room two hours later. We loved to play soccer-tennis, where you keep the soccer ball in the air, using a couch like a net, and spike it with your foot. It got very competitive but was always a good time.

Q: What are your plans now?

I definitely hope to continue playing soccer for a few years. Soccer will eventually go away with age, but I hope I can still play and be on a team, and then transition to business when I’m ready.

Q: Is there a lesson here about following your dreams and not giving up?

There is for sure a lesson in there about continuing to do what you love and following your dreams. My freshman year and fall of sophomore year I was not playing at the level I wanted to be, and it was frustrating. I kept training and running on my own, or with my sisters and friends, to stay prepared and ready when an opportunity came up. When I reached out to Coach Gbandi and he presented that opportunity, I made sure to make the most of it.