Seth Stewart Stuns in his Final Season as He Leaves ‘lasting legacy’ at Loyola

When men’s soccer fifth-year midfielder Seth Stewart was just 8 years old, he made the life-changing decision to move from his hometown, El Paso, Texas, to live with his relatives in Chicago. 

The move proved early dedication to his sport, allowing him to chase his dreams while playing with the Chicago Fire FC Academy — a youth soccer development program in connection with Major League Soccer (MLS). 

Now, over a decade later, Stewart has become a highly developed player, finishing his Division I career with Loyola following a transfer from Big Ten Champion school Indiana University (IU).

A few years prior to the move, Stewart’s soccer journey began at 3 years old, influenced not only by his family, which yielded a couple professional players, but also by the culture he was surrounded by within Texas.

“I think it would have been impossible to grow up and not be around soccer one way or another,” Stewart said. “I remember watching a game on TV, and I didn’t know what teams they were, I just remember seeing a player, and I was like, ‘Wow, that looks super fun, I want to try that.’”

When the opportunity arrived to play for an MLS academy, Stewart said it was the moment he and his family realized his dream could become a career. He made the move to the Midwest on his own to live with his aunt and uncle. Six months later, his dad joined him, and over a year later, his mom, younger sister Sienna and younger brother Styler, followed.

Stewart said part of the reason he wanted to leave his hometown was because there was a ceiling for soccer at the time. When he joined Chicago Fire, the coaching staff was more intentional about tactical training and priming athletes for professional play, he said.

“I was very limited,” Stewart said. “One of the things I noticed initially, going from El Paso to Chicago, a place where there’s a lot more talent and structure that could support these players, was just the level. Even at eight or nine, just the quality was very different.”

For seven years between 2012 and 2019, Stewart was able to hone his skills as an athlete and though he attributes his growth to the time he spent with Chicago Fire, he specifically credits Charlie Trout, one of his coaches at the time, for his overall development as a player.

Stewart’s 2019 departure from the team was prompted by staffing changes and a recruitment from Chicago FC United. The director at the time, Steve Morris, reached out to Stewart to join the soccer club and further his growth whilst preparing for college.

At the same time, Stewart was entering his sophomore year at Oswego East High School, and he knew receiving an education while playing soccer was important to him.

“What I liked about FC United specifically is that they were very intentional about getting their players connected with universities,” Stewart said. “I think Chicago Fire has that ability, but they’re more focused on professional, and the truth is that I knew I wanted to have an education as well with the soccer.”

When the college recruitment process began, Stewart was heading into his junior year and  corresponding with several schools, narrowing down his list for months. By the spring semester, IU’s recruitment coordinator — now men’s soccer head coach at Loyola, Kevin Robson — had reached out to him.

Stewart said getting the message from IU sparked an excitement in him, so he began to look into their program, attending two camps for them during the summer. By the fall of his senior year, Stewart was deciding between IU, Northwestern University and St. Louis University, but as soon as he stepped foot on their campus, he said the decision was made.

“There is a level of class to all the staff and what they’re doing there,” Stewart said. “I think that was incredibly attractive to me because I wanted my college experience to involve winning and competing for things like Big Ten tournaments, conference titles and NCAA titles. I knew that was the place where I was going to be able to have that experience while also having all the other things outside of soccer that were going to make me happy.”

In 2022, Stewart graduated high school with honors and a 4.1 GPA, then he started his D1 career in the fall. During Stewart’s first season, he only saw playing time in six matches as he faced the challenge of adjusting to life on and off the field. Specifically, he said he had to hone in on the tactical differences in collegiate level play.

By his second year, Stewart made the decision to redshirt the season due to an illness and injury. Despite the learning curve, Robson said rather than burying his head, he just continued to work hard for his team.

“His role might not have been what he wanted, but at the same time, he was a player that his teammates loved,” Robson said. “They knew they could count on him to show up every single day, and when his number was called, he was always ready to answer the bell. He’s a player that has so much respect from the Indiana program and coaches.”

Stewart spent his final two seasons at IU scoring his first-career goal against Hanover College and increasing his game presence. When it came down to his final season of eligibility, he had a conversation with IU Head Coach Todd Yeagley about staying another year with his team or entering the transfer portal.

Initially, Stewart thought he wanted to remain with his team at IU but eventually decided to see what options he might have, leading him to almost commit to DePaul University, where he could be back in Chicago near his family.

After Stewart entered the transfer portal, Robson received the call saying he was hired as the new head coach for Loyola’s team. His first thought upon hearing the news was that he needed to recruit Stewart. It was a match made in heaven, according to Robson.

“I knew for this program to get where I wanted it to go in year one, I was like, this is a player that I knew would have a ton of success in the style and the brand we wanted to play,” Robson said. “So, I called him right away, and I’m not kidding, if it was like three or four days later, I don’t think we would have gotten him because he was really close to committing to DePaul.”

When Stewart heard about Robson’s new position, he knew he wanted to play under him again and was excited to be a part of his new program. Just a couple of weeks later, Stewart committed to Loyola.

“I think as soon as I heard that, it sounds cliche, but you just kind of feel this fire inside,” Stewart said. “You’re like, ‘that sounds really exciting’ not only to just lay the foundation and start something, but just to be believed in so much that, ‘Hey, I want you to be my first recruit out of anyone, to come and help this team and see where we go.’ That felt great.”

In transferring to Loyola, Stewart brings a championship mindset, according to Robson. His experience spans playing for a championship program at IU, being a part of three seasons of Big Ten tournament teams and playing on the 2022 NCAA College Cup Team.

Although Stewart is a veteran player, his position at Loyola is still new. Despite this discrepancy, Robson said he’s already settled into a role as a mentor for the younger class.

“I think he’s leaving a lasting legacy with these guys, and I think he’s also got a new chapter of best friends here in Chicago, especially with these young freshmen,” Robson said. “He really does have a great bond with this new freshman class that we brought in. They definitely look at him as an uncle. It’s pretty funny. It’s fun to be around.”

While the team is two months into the season and already in conference play, Stewart has settled in with his team, creating relationships he said he’ll nurture for years to come.

Thus far, Stewart has been pivotal in playing for Loyola, starting consistently in every game and staying for the full 90 minutes, holding a versatile role as a midfielder.

Another benefit of moving back to Chicago is Stewart is closer to home, allowing his parents to attend more of his games. He’s also able to be more present in the lives of his siblings, Sienna, 20, and Styler, 15.

“I’ve loved being able to see them a lot more,” Stewart said. “They come to pretty much every other game, which is awesome. I’m just excited to be a lot more involved in their lives now that we’re all in the same city because I guess I love them to death, I want to make sure I am there for them.” 

Outside of soccer, Stewart’s also gained accolades within academics. He was named a three-time Academic All-Big Ten athlete at IU as a biology major and is now studying to graduate with a general MBA in the spring. 

Although Stewart is considering a professional soccer career, he’s also interested in pursuing business or medical sales. In 2025, he interned with Jigsaw Medical in Illinois and this past summer, he interned in Nashville, Tenn. with Boston Scientific where got a return offer — if he doesn’t go pro.

In the five years Stewart has played and developed under Robson, he’s established himself as a valuable player and leader. In witnessing his growth, Robson said he couldn’t have been happier to get the chance to coach him.

“He’s every coach’s dream in my opinion,” Robson said. “He’s a kid that just works so hard on and off the field. He’s an amazing student, an amazing kid, he’s everyone’s best friend. The way he’s grown as a person, as a player in the five years now that I’ve known him is instrumental in the way he goes about every day and works so hard.”

As he nears the end of both his soccer and academic career, Stewart said it’s a bittersweet feeling looking back on the memories, but he’s grateful for the relationships soccer has brought to him. He said he actively tries to be intentional about appreciating everything his sport has done for him.

“I feel like life is definitely about experiences you make,” Stewart said. “It’s rewarding to know that soccer gave me some really cool ones with some really awesome people as well.”