NFF National Scholar-Athletes
The 1987 WAC Newcomer of the Year, UTEP quarterback Pat Hegarty was the Miners’ team leader in total offense and passing yards in 1987 and 1988. He ranks third in school history in career total offense per game (205.6) and career pass efficiency (127.5); fifth in career passing yards per game (208.8); sixth in career passing yards (4,593); seventh in career completions (334) and completion percentage (55.4); eighth in career total offense (4,522), career passing touchdowns (30) and career games with 300+ passing yards (3); ninth in touchdowns responsible for (34); 10th in single-season pass efficiency (130.8) and career pass attempts (603); and 23rd in single-game total offense (370). A co-captain in 1988, Hegarty led the Miners to a 31-24 win over Air Force to clinch the school’s only 10-win season and a spot in the Independence Bowl. In the loss to Southern Mississippi, he threw for 203 yards and a touchdown and teamed with David Flores to set a UTEP bowl game record with 308 yards passing.
An Academic All-American, Hegarty compiled a 3.85 GPA in English literature. After a brief stint with the Denver Broncos, he earned his master’s in English from the University of Colorado-Denver in 1994. Since 2005, Hegarty has been an award-winning freelance screen and game writer in Los Angeles. He appeared on The Hit List of Best Spec Scripts in 2010 and won the 2007 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition and the 2007 Filmmakers International Writing Contest. Hegarty was a finalist for Best Adapted Story at the 13th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards in 2010 and for Best Story at the 10th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards in 2007. He was named to UTEP’s Centennial Football Team in 2014.
