Where Belief Takes You: Nick Markanich, '23
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Nick Markanich, '23 (Photo: Scott Walstrom, NIU)
For former NIU men’s soccer forward Nick Markanich, ’23, the hardest part of the game has never been physical.
The mental side is the most challenging. Learning how to ride the highs and lows, trusting yourself when momentum disappears, and believing in the next step, even when the future feels unclear.
“It goes in waves,” Markanich said. “You’re on a high, then you’re down again, then you’re back up. You just have to keep believing in yourself and know everything will work out.”
Today, that belief has carried him to continue his professional career in Major League Soccer, where he plays for the Houston Dynamo on loan — a temporary move from Club Deportivo Castellón in Spain, where he remains under contract — the latest chapter in his journey.
Where It All Started
Long before professional contracts or international moves, soccer was something Markanich shared with the person closest to him: his twin brother, Anthony, ’23.
“My brother and I decided to play high school soccer junior and senior year, and that was one of the best times of my life,” Markanich said. “We had a really good team and a strong soccer community.”
At Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, Markanich found soccer opened the door to college. He earned a partial athletic scholarship to NIU, enough to make the next step possible.
Choosing NIU Together
For the brothers, staying together mattered and their visit to NIU sealed the decision.
“We loved the facilities — the Chessick Center, the Convocation Center — all of it,” Markanich said. “And the coaches. Ryan Swan and Andrew Bordelon were there to welcome us, and we just fell in love.”
Bordelon, then an assistant coach, became a steady presence across their careers.
“He was a big part of recruiting,” Markanich said. “He was there for us throughout our college career. We still stay in touch with him and Coach Swan.”
While Nick played forward, Anthony anchored the back line as a defender.
“He’s my best friend,” Nick said of Anthony. “We were always competitive, but it made us better.”
Building Confidence
Markanich arrived at NIU talented, but unsure. Confidence, he said, was something he learned.
“Before, I didn’t really have confidence,” he said. “I enjoyed playing, but once you actually believe in yourself, you’re a much better player.”
That growth showed early. As a freshman, he scored eight goals and earned Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
Swan played a defining role in building his confidence.
“Coach Swan was always telling us we had potential to play at the next level,” Markanich said. “He’s a big reason why I’m where I am now. He moved me into different positions to make me the best player I could be. He was always positive and encouraging, and that helps your confidence so much.”
By his junior and senior seasons, Markanich had become a leader and a force — earning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-MAC honors both seasons while helping the Huskies reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021, a rare milestone for the program having only been a part of the tournment ten years prior in 2011.
“That obviously helped with recruitment to go pro,” Markanich said.
Nick Markanich, '23, feels the game-day energy as a Houston Dynamo. (Photo: Houston Dynamo)The Reality of the Pros
After being drafted by FC Cincinnati, Markanich quickly found himself back at the bottom of the learning curve.
“It was a shock,” he said. “You’re coming from college on a high, and now you’re playing with veterans who’ve been in the league a long time.”
What followed was not instant success, but growth.
“You have to earn everything again. I grew a lot that year,” Markanich said.
He wasn’t re-signed and moved to the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship and had to transition again. In Charleston came a breakout: a record-setting 30-goal season that led to a transfer of his contract to Castellón in Spain.
A year overseas followed with excitement and challenges far from home. Eventually, he went out on loan returning stateside to MLS with Houston.
“It’s complicated,” Markanich said. “You never really know what’s going to happen.”
The People Behind the Player
Through every high and low, Markanich credits his family with helping him stay grounded and motivated. Long before college offers or professional contracts entered the picture, his parents were making sacrifices that shaped the player he would become.
“My parents drove me everywhere,” Markanich said. “Sometimes an hour each way just for practice. They worked all day, then drove me, never complained. They didn’t really have the finances for it either, but they made it work. I owe everything to them.”
Markanich has also found steadiness in his wife, Abigail McHugh, ’23, a former member of the NIU women’s soccer team. Together, they navigate the realities of an unpredictable professional soccer career.
“You can’t play forever,” he said. “So you have to enjoy every moment you get and keep your family close.”
Riding the Wave
Looking ahead, Markanich hopes to stay connected to the game long after his playing days end, possibly back on the sideline as a college coach.
For current NIU athletes chasing the next level, Markanich offers this:
“Confidence is everything. You’ve got to tell yourself you’re good and you deserve to be where you are.”
And when the wave dips?
“Sports can really get to you mentally. If you’re benched, if things aren’t going well, you’ve got to stay strong,” he said. “NIU gave me the foundation.”
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