Deciphering Codes of Communication in College Recruiting

Tom Kovic

Effective communication between prospects and college coaches can be a critical component in the final choice in the college search for high school athletes. That being the case, communication is truly an art, and college coaches are masters in providing prospects and families with valuable information, yet in very subtle and non-committing ways.

As prospects begin to narrow down their college choices, they should have a clear understanding of where they stand in the recruiting process.

College coaches have an uncanny ability to target goals, determine clear strategies, and execute successful plans with relentless persistence. It’s part of their make-up because they have high expectations of winning. Furthermore, most coaches do not use rocket science when determining how to reach goals. They are gut thinkers who advance one inch at a time.

Every coach wants to win, and the best coaches realize winning takes time, patience, and the right team to accomplish the task. For instance, if the recruiting goal is to land eight prospects each year, they may begin the process with 100 interested athletes. Step 1 is to “divide and conquer.”

Families and prospects who have placed a great effort into gathering information about the college search need to target clear plans of action. The next step is to execute the project to the point where you begin asking tough questions. Below are some examples:

Coach, based on your assessment of me as a prospective student-athlete, can you give my family and me an idea to where I stand on your priority list?
How many athletic scholarships do you have to offer in my recruiting cycle?
Can you provide support in the admissions process?
If athletic aid is exhausted, can you guide us toward alternative grant opportunities?

Most college coaches will not provide you with straight answers during the early stages of recruiting. They are masters at speaking in “codes” and feel very comfortable navigating grey areas of recruiting with confidence. They have a mystical way of answering every question politely without backing themselves into a corner.

The family that understands this dynamic will have the best chance of appreciating the unique make-up of college coaches. Your role is to listen, learn, understand, and listen more carefully!

For instance, those prospects who are being recruited by D-3 and D-1AA college coaches are not focusing on an athletic scholarship. They are focusing on the level of support a coach can potentially provide in admissions and financial aid.

For example, lower-tier prospects who are still active may not be getting straight feedback from the coaches. College coaches are masterful at playing a “domino effect” strategy where support for one prospect will be determined by the decision of the candidate ahead of him.

I suggest a firm but polite approach with the coaches. You don’t want to lose your footing on the recruit priority chart, but you do need feedback.

Identify your top college choice.
Choose 3-4 simple but substantial components that separate you from the pack of prospects.
Reach out to coach and line-up a phone meeting.
Express clearly your commitment to attend, and firmly state the strengths you possess that can help drive the program to a higher level.

The college search for athletes is a personal journey and one that should be well-organized and navigated impeccably. College coaches devise recruiting agendas that they approach fiercely to recruit and retain the best and the brightest prospects.

It takes courage to step up to the line and speak candidly with college coaches about where you stand on the priority list. That being the case, the prospect and family who exercise a well-prepared plan have the best chance of getting answers to tough questions.