November 2021

Competition is intense between programs across ALL levels. Even at elite programs, universities that seem like they would be an easy sell: they’re in heated competitions with 3-5 other elite schools for their top prospects. Believe me, no coach or school has it “easy!” For this reason, you need to find every edge possible to separate yourself! When building relationships …

Since academics are a key decision factor for most parents, and for some prospects, get to know key selling points for both the University and the Athletic Department. You want to have your facts straight and be well-versed in your campus knowledge! Have your staff take an official campus tour through the Admissions Office every year or six months to …

A huge resource-waster for you: putting a ton of travel time and money into recruiting a player who will never be admitted into the University. Every Admissions Office is different. Each school varies greatly on their admissions standards and how flexible they are with the Athletic Department. When you take a new job you need to immediately find out: #1- …

Transfers are inevitable—they happen in every program and under every head coach. As you are evaluating players from every angle – take a good look at the probability that they can be successful within your system, under that head coach, at that school and in that town. Players transfer for a variety of reasons—they’re too far from home; they aren’t …

One of the toughest aspects of evaluating top players is analyzing risk versus reward, if you encounter red flags during your research. You will likely come across players who can be big playmakers for you– everything impresses you– until you start getting info that they have major legal, drug, attitude, academic or family issues. Are you willing to take a …

As an assistant coach you may have aspirations to be a head coach one day— even one day very soon. You’re sure to have a vision of how you would build your team, your style of play and the type of recruits you’d go after. You’ve likely daydreamed for decades about how you will run your team. Press pause on …

One of the biggest difference-makers in recruiting is organization as a staff, you can quickly get overwhelmed and running in 50 different directions without a system. Organization and consistency will help you get through stressful times, your day-by-day job is unpredictable, so being organized and prepared for anything that you can takes the pressure off you for the unplanned chaos …

#4: High school and AAU coach recommendations, particularly if the prep coach has had success throughout their career or has an established relationship with you You will need to make daily recruiting calls to prep coaches, and this needs to be a habit you develop quickly. You will likely spend more time on the phone with prep coaches than you …