College Coaching

Apparently, college coaches are feeling the pressure to recruit the next class - and it isn't just the biggest, best, highest profile schools and teams that are feeling the crunch. The Chronicle of Higher Education has an article this week on just this topic.

What does this mean for students? I equate the college application and athletic recruitment process to finding a job. Those that are in charge of hiring, do it all the time. They have the experience, the knowledge, and the history to know how to negotiate, how to navigate the process, and how to get the greatest results with the least amount of output (the best employee for less money).

Now move the analogy to the college recruitment process.

Students applying for colleges only do this once. Coaches, however, do it ten to a hundred times a year (depending on the team size) and they do it every year. How can students possibly have any advantage in this process? Sure, ultimately, the decision is in the student's hands, but they have to rely on coaches to be forthright. Students can rely on parents for additional support and information, but, let's face it, most parents haven't been through this process in 20 years, if ever. Still, parents are the main support for a student being recruited by a college coach.

Some advice for students being recruited:
1. Ask lots of questions about the team. Who are the players, who is in your position, what year are they, where are they from, how long has the coaching staff been around, how many freshman play varsity, how many seniors are on the team this year? etc . . .
2. Do your research online. Google the coach. Google the team. Look at their record, check out the NCAA website for results and news. Read the college sports blogs and ezines to find out who is winning, playing, talking etc.
3. When you talk to the coach, never lie. Not about your team, your grades, your abilities, your SAT scores. Not about who is your first or second choice school. Coaches talk to one another and a lie is always in danger of coming out. Count on it.
4. Never tell a coach that they are your 2nd/3rd/4th choice school. If they aren't first, just say that you are considering them very strongly. See rule #3 if you are tempted to lie.