Student-Athlete Showcase (SAS)

SEC football coach goes to jail for recruiting visit

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:09:43 PST

There are never-ending surprises on the recruiting trail for all college coaches, including University of Georgia's Mark Richt.

Read full article

Remembering JoePa: The Recruiting Legend

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:05:40 PST

The legend of Joe Paterno, the coach, will be forever etched in the record books but also debated amid the scandal that rocked Penn State over the final months of his life.

However, the legend of Joe Paterno, the recruiter, is one that is less visible but nonetheless is very intriguing. Since the Penn State icon, who died Sunday at age 85, stopped hitting the road to recruit years ago, some of the stories are dated. But they still paint a picture of the man few got to know up close and personal.

Read Full Article

$2,000 Stipend for Athletes On Hold

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:47:28 PST

After more than one third of the Division I schools expressed concern, the NCAA decided to suspend the new rule allowing student-athletes to get paid $2,000 above and beyond the cost of tuition, room & board, fees and books.

Division I Board of Directors will meet again in January at the NCAA convention to see if it can address coaches' concerns and issue a revised ruling.

Full article

How close was Tim Tebow to becoming a USC Trojan?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:59:01 PST

Former USC head coach Pete Carroll talks about his recruiting trip to Tim Tebow's house near Jacksonville, FL.

Full Story

3 Ways to Climb the College Recruiting Ladder

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:55:00 PST

There are numerous schools of thought on how to get college coaches to show more interest in you. After more than 20 years in collegiate athletics, I’ve heard just about everything…

Full Article

What will happen to Penn State recruiting?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:06:40 PST

In light of the scandal at Penn State, will recruits stick with their verbal commitments or de-commit and go elsewhere?

Nittany Lions' #1 prospect, Joey O'Connor (Windsor, Colo.) has already pulled his commitment and is rethinking offers from South Carolina, Notre Dame, Utah and Tennessee, among others.

Other PSU recruits like J.P. Holtz are taking the wait-and-see approach.

Read more...

The Evolution of Recruiting

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:45:49 PST

"It's all about Facebook," says ESPN Analyst and former Notre Dame head football Coach, Bob Davie.

Davie, along with a panel of experts, discuss the evolution of recruiting and the impact of the internet and social media.

WATCH VIDEO

Is conference realignment affecting recruiting?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:29:46 PDT

Defections from the Big East conference have not only left presidents and chancellors scrambling to secure the future of their athletic programs, they also have begun to affect recruiting.

Read full article here

Pressure to verbally commit

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:35:09 PDT

From Recruiting-101.com

Q: Should I commit to a school (even if I am not 100% sure on that program) so that I won’t lose my scholarship?

As I have mentioned many times in my recruiting definitions for parents and players, college coaches are prone to deadline an athlete during the recruiting process. I even spoke with a college coach just yesterday about an athlete. He said there was an athlete with an offer still waiting to decide but they had another kid ready to pull the trigger who does not have an offer. If the first kid doesn’t decide soon, they will deadline him and move on. And just for the sake of mentioning, this is from a Division II school.

When a college coach deadlines you in the athletic recruiting process, it is a difficult situation no matter how many scholarship offers you have. But what makes it even harder is if there is only one athletic scholarship on the table and only interest from other schools. If you are deadlined, is it worth committing to the school even though you are not 100% sure about it?

The answer to that question really depends on a lot of things and varies from a case to case situation. If a basketball coach deadlines you now, chances are that they will want you signing with the school. Before there are two different signing periods for basketball, you have to realize that you will likely not be getting out of your Letter of Intent. So for basketball, I would make 100% sure that want to attend that school because the coaches will want a National Letter of Intent faxed in next month. If a football program does that now, you actually have some time between now and February to make sure that you are confident with that decision. But even if there is time between now and Signing Day, it is a tough question to answer.

The first thing that you must think about is what is the worst case scenario that you can go through here? Let’s say you wait out the deadline and they end up getting a commitment from another recruit at your position. You may now have lost your opportunity to attend that school on a scholarship. So what other schools are showing you interest? Do you like these schools more? Is there a realistic chance of getting a scholarship offer (that is a tough question to answer)? If it is a Division I school you are being recruited by, do you lose your chances of playing at that level? Would you be happy playing at a Division II school?

In the worst case scenario situation, these are some important things to think about. It may be worth telling the other schools that are recruiting you the situation. It may entice them to offer a scholarship and help your situation in the recruiting process. Others will likely tell you that they need to further evaluate you and will know more later. Being honest with the other coaches is the best way to hopefully help yourself in the recruiting process.

The second thing is how do you feel about the school itself. Does this school have what you want to major in? How do you feel about the location? How is their football/basketball/other sporting program? No matter where you pick, there will always be doubts that may creep in. If these doubts seem to come up each and every time that you think about this school, then it may not be the place for you.

My personal opinion overall is that unless something changes (ie: coaching change or the coaches recruit another player at your position), if you commit to a school, you should remain committed the entire time. But it is much more difficult when the coaches say that you have until a certain date. You might as well ask them if you can have more time because unless you are 100% sure, it may be best to wait and see what happens. The worse they can say is no and then you will really be restricted by that time table. My opinion is that there will be a coach that wants you bad enough not to deadline you into a final decision. What level that is at is a question mark though.

Big East calls for NCAA to spread the wealth (ahem, cream cheese)

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:22:30 PDT

Yahoo - Hoping to correct one of the NCAA rulebook’s great injustices, the Big East has proposed a rule change that could go into effect as soon as next August.

No, the conference isn’t pushing for more consistent penalties for programs guilty of major violations or a later early entry decision date for potential NBA draft prospects. The Big East simply wants to ensure its student-athletes no longer have to endure post-workout dry mouth as a result of eating complimentary bagels with no spread. Proposal No. 2011-78 would permit institutions to offer spreads such as “butter, peanut butter, jelly and cream cheese” with bagels they already may provide to student-athletes at any time. Believe it or not, current NCAA legislation enacted in 2009 only allows schools to provide bagels, fruits and nuts to student-athletes, which means that a complimentary butter or jam packet would be a minor violation.

Full article here...

That it would take a BCS powerhouse to submit a formal proposal allowing kids to put cream cheese on their bagels speaks volumes about the state of the NCAA today. As if the University of Miami scandal wasn’t enough of a black eye. What’s next, a hearing by the infractions subcommittee to prohibit the bagel from being toasted?

Change in Official Visit Rules for D2

noreply@blogger.com (Zack @ SAS) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:45:50 PDT

In January 2011, new legislation was passed to allow prospective student-athletes to take official visits to an UNLIMITED number of Division 2 schools. The new rule effective several weeks ago (Aug. 1 ), is a significant change to the previous NCAA recruiting bylaws which limited the number of official visits a recruit may take between both Division 1 and 2 schools to five (5). This new rule now gives prospective student-athletes ample more flexibility to visit more college campuses, while not having to incur any of the cost. For more information on official vs. unofficial visits, see below:

An Official visit is a prospective student-athlete’s visit to a college campus paid for by the college. The college can pay for transportation to and from the college, room and meals (three per day) while visiting and reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.

Unofficial visit is any visit by a prospective student-athlete and their parents to a college campus paid for by the prospective student athlete or the prospect’s parents. The only expense the prospective student-athlete can receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. The prospect may make as many visits as he or she likes and may take the visits at any time. The only time the prospective student-athlete cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

College coaches turn to Facebook, Twitter to land recruits

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:51:56 PDT

“It’s probably the only way to communicate with recruits,” says West Virginia football coach, Dana Holgorsen, when asked about Facebook and recruiting.

Like it or not, Facebook & Twitter now account for 50% of college recruiting interaction between coaches and recruits.

Coaches and experts agree that the increasing use of social media is indicative of communication trends, as voice mail is considered superfluous, e-mail is passé and phone conversations are often clipped and awkward.

NY Times - read full article

Is college 'worth' it?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:55:42 PDT

Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

It's actually a very popular debate right now.

Here are four Time Magazine must-reads for the college-bound student and parent.

Actually, College Is Very Much Worth It

Five Biggest Myths About College Admissions

What Makes A School Great

The New Battle Over Financial Aid

Holyoke (Colo.) star authors single greatest baseball day in wake of mom's death

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:39:58 PDT

Holyoke High's Jaydin Goldenstein

Game 1: Pitches no-hitter. Game 2: Hits four home runs.

All in a day's work for Holyoke (Colo.)'s Jaydin Goldenstein, who single-handedly swept rivals Wray HS in a double-header to capture the league baseball title.

It's arguably the single greatest baseball performance of the year... at any level. And if it weren't special enough, Jaydin did it two days after his mother had passed. Read full story here...

Westerkamp chooses Huskers

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:32:54 PDT

BigRedReport.com announced this morning that Student-Athlete Showcase (SAS) prospect Jordan Westerkamp (2012 Montini Catholic, IL) has committed to the University of Nebraska.

Westerkamp landed 17 Division I offers in all, and said that he chose the Huskers because "they were the perfect fit."

To date, of the 152 juniors Nebraska is targeting, 21 are wide receivers and 9 of these WR have been offered scholarships. Westerkamp is the first of the 9 to verbally commit to the Huskers.

Evaluations from college coaches are critical to your recruiting success

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Wed, 04 May 2011 21:09:30 PDT

USC Head Coach, Lane Kiffin

Letters of recommendation and reference letters from your high school coaches are important, especially when it comes to making an impression on college coaches. But are you seeking evaluations from the college coaches themselves?

One of the best ways to stay in control of your college recruitment is to seek honest feedback from the coaches who are studying your highlight/game videos. Not only is their assessment vital to your collegiate opportunities, but it helps strengthen relationships with these coaches, too.

Some athletes may be apprehensive about receiving evaluations from coaches because the report may not be what the athlete (or parent) wants to hear. Nevertheless, college bound athletes must be realistic about their college futures, and accepting what college coaches have to say can be critical to executing a plan that positions you for great fit college options.

Here is an actual evaluation that one of the country’s top Division III football coaches provided SAS on one of our 2012 prospects. Are you getting specific feedback like this from college coaches? If not, you could be missing a fantastic opportunity to really know what college programs think when they view your films.

This young man is an above average D3 football player. He would not be one of our top QB prospects for the 2012 class. I am sure he is a terrific athlete, but he appears to go down with little contact.

Positives: great speed, agility (would be a great D3 WR). Negatives: underthrows most of his passes on film (has some good WR’s). Has poor feet, shotputs the ball, and falls every time he is touched. Also does not step into his throw when he has pressure.

We grade on a 0-4 scale, for how many years a player would “start” for us at our school. I would grade him as a 1 or 2.

Will D1 football coaches stop recruiting JC prospects?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:00:23 PDT

SDSU's Rocky Long

Junior College football recruits should not expect a phone call anytime soon from the staff San Diego State.

In an article by San Diego Union Tribune sports writer Brent Schrotenboer (@Schrotenboer), the Aztecs are stocking their rosters with high school recruits and will no longer recruit junior college players unless there’s an urgent need for it.

“We’re not going to recruit JC guys unless there’s a void,” said Long, San Diego State’s new head coach.

According to Schrotenboer, 77% of the JC players signed by SDSU since 2002 failed to make any significant impact on the program.

Is this a rising trend in Division I football recruiting or merely an isolated case? Proponents of JC recruiting will argue that bringing in JC players - even if they have only 2 years of remaining eligibility - is a vital component to Division I recruiting strategies. After all, household names like Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton both excelled at the JC level before shining at their alma maters, Cal and Auburn, respectively.

On the other side of the argument, opponents will point out that Juco players can be risky investments for D1 coaches. It's no secret that Juco transfers often struggle to make the academic transition when they transfer to 4-year schools. Such was the case for many of the JC players recruited by SDSU in past years.

What are your thoughts on this? Please post your comments below.

Read full article here...

Rex Grayner
Student-Athlete Showcase (SAS)

Is the music on your highlight video HURTING your recruiting?

noreply@blogger.com (Zack @ SAS) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:59:57 PDT

by Zack Walz, Student-Athlete Showcase

We were recently contacted by a family that was searching for some recruiting expertise, or more specifically, some answers. They just could not understand why their son hadn’t received any college replies despite sending his information out to a number of schools, and now in April of his senior year, they’re facing the possibility that his football career may soon be over.

After some in-depth discussion, we learned that this particular athlete has been a 3x Varsity starter at one of the top HS teams in the state, and not only does he have great size, but he also has tremendous speed. His stats and honors are impressive and his HS coaches consider him to be one of the best players in the conference. I wasn’t 100% convinced that all the facts were straight, so I asked to see his bio so I could personally review his information. After my preliminary examination, not only did I agree with his coaches in their evaluation of him, but his grades and test scores were also well above average. On paper, he was a legitimate college prospect and one that could definitely warrant interest from the Division 1 level. Before making any final recommendations, however, I asked for a copy of his highlight film.

What I discovered next was appalling, and it gave me everything I needed to know about why this athlete wasn’t being recruited by a single school in the country. As if nothing was amiss, his father enthusiastically emailed me a link to his son’s Youtube video, posted for the entire world to see. I immediately clicked the link, watched and listened with horror, as the film was accompanied by a rap song that used no less than three profanities in the first 20 seconds. It was all I needed to hear and now seeing this as often as I do, what prompted me to write this blog.

As a student-athlete, you’re recruiting journey should be considered one of (if not the most) important job interviews of your young life. You’re competing against tens of thousands of other candidates for the same position, for a roster spot, and for a school and coaching staff to invest both their lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars in you to build a winning program. Your stats, speed, strength and athletic ability certainly play a role in your evaluation. But your character, personality, integrity, and moral fiber make the real difference. Would you ever use profanity on a job application? Would you ever curse in front of a supervisor during a job interview? Why then would you ever decide that using violent and offensive music to accompany your highlight film would create anything but the same type of reaction?

I decided to send the Youtube link to several D1 football coaches to get their take on it, and this is what they had to say:

Coach #1: ZW, did not even need 30 seconds to make a decision. 20 seconds was enough to make me not want to watch or recruit this young man, ever.

Coach #2: Zack, I have had to start muting my computer during highlight tapes because it puts a really bad taste in my mouth about the player.

Coach #3: I personally would NEVER recruit that kid just based on that music. I seriously not only question the kid, but the coach, the parents, the person that made that video or anyone else involved in that. I don’t care how good the kid is, I don’t care how smart the kid is, we would never recruit that kid. His character would certainly be called into question making a decision to send that to a college football coach, it’s just totally out of line. Just as a side note, it’s a shame because watching that video he looks like a heck of a player, but again, we would never recruit him based on his decision to use that music.

Next time you think about posting something online to represent yourself - a picture, a song, a conversation, a comment or remark – take notice, it will at some time be scrutinized by the very people you’re trying to impress.

Carry yourself as a professional always, and you’ll be treated as one in return.

Will Junker's Junkets Mean Goodbye BCS, Hello Playoffs?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:56:33 PDT

More corruption in major college football. Is this the end of the BCS as we know it?

Great article by #BerryTramel today on the scandalous ongoings involving Fiesta Bowl CEO, John Junker (right, with Arizona governor Jan Brewer), and what they might mean for the future of college football.

Full article

Scholarship Offers: When will I start receiving them?

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:59:31 PDT

FACT: Today’s Division I coaches want to complete their recruiting classes by summer’s end.

And in case you aren’t sure which summer I’m referring to, it’s the one before your high school senior classes begin.

OK, coaches recruit early. So what?

Well, how soon coaches begin offering you scholarships might actually depend on the “level” of Division I prospect they think you are.

Yes, for many Division I college coaches, there are four (4) levels, or tiers, of recruits and depending on which tier you fall under just might determine your time frame for receiving scholarship offers.

Here is a breakdown of the “four levels” of Division I prospects.

Level 1

You have already proven that you can play your position in college. You already have the size, speed, strength & grades to play at the major Division I level. You are a nationally-ranked ‘blue-chip’ prospect, and will likely find yourself among the ESPNU 150 Watch List with a high rating on Rivals.com. Level 1 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers before Christmas of their junior year in high school.

Level 2

You aren’t a "can't-miss" D1 prospect like Level 1 recruits, but you’re close. Coaches probably need to come by the school to see you practice in the fall or spring of your junior year before making an offer. Level 2 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers in April-June of their junior year in high school.

Level 3

You are on many college recruiting depth charts but not at the top of anyone’s list. College coaches may want to see you in their camp and spend some time with you before offering a scholarship. Level 3 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers by summer’s end following their junior year in high school.

Level 4

Coaches must evaluate you in your senior year before making an offer. You may lack the size or speed or skill to play your position at the Division I level, but the potential may be there, and coaches want to see senior-year video to determine your prospects of perhaps playing another position in college. Level 4 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers after coaches have evaluated them in their senior year in high school.

If you are a high school junior without any scholarship offers yet, don’t panic. You might be severely under the radar, and acquiring professional help to both market you and manage your college recruitment can mean the difference.

If you are a senior without any offers, still don’t panic. Contact SAS today for a free phone consultation to see if there’s still time to open college doors.

Gulf Coast's Bolock chooses nationally-ranked academic school

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:44:57 PDT

Naples (FL) Gulf Coast HS linebacker, Brandon Bolock (6-1, 210), a 1st Team All-Collier County Athletic Conference selection this season, chose to continue his football career at the University of Chicago, the 9th best college in America according to US News & World Report.

Read full story...

Tuttle lands offer from Harvard

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:01:59 PST

The LA Times reports that SAS client Cody Tuttle (2012 WR, ATH - Westlake Village, CA) has landed his first Division I offer from Harvard University.

Full story, video...

How to Protect your Facebook Profile for College Admissions

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 05:24:07 PST

High School Seniors, did you receive a rejection letter from a school you thought was a "sure thing?"

If so, check your Facebook page for any material that may have been a deal-breaker for college admissions officers. A new survey from Kaplan Test Prep reveals that 82 percent of admissions departments now use Facebook in their recruiting process.

Want to protect yourself? Read the full article here @MySoccerImage.

Making sense of the college athletics landscape

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:21:11 PST

Sure, most high school athletes dream of competing on national television in front of millions of people. The reality is, less than 1% of the nation's elite prospects will realize this dream.

Not to worry though. There are numerous opportunities to dawn a college uniform and get some (or all) of your education paid for through athletics. ESPN Rise's Tom Lakin breaks down the various college athletic divisions in this September 2010 article.

Division I | Ivy League | Division II | Division III | NAIA | NJCAA

Athletes: Stop marketing and start nurturing

noreply@blogger.com (Rex @ SAS) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:08:29 PST

Let’s face it. People want to do business with those they trust.

And it’s no different in college recruiting. Coaches recruit prospects with talent and grades, but they offer scholarships to the ones in which they’ve built confidence and trust.

And trust is becoming more and more a factor nowadays. The numbers of coaches publicly voicing their frustrations about recruits who commit and then de-commit is likely to increase before it subsides.

So as a student-athlete who dreams of landing scholarship offers, how do you build confidence and earn trust with college coaches?

Here’s an idea: Stop marketing and start nurturing.

Let’s say 20 college coaches are currently sending you mail. Your 10 “A-list schools, at the moment, are showing the most genuine interest and they seem to match up best with your athletic & academic priorities. The other 10 B- and C-list schools continue to show warm, frequent interest but aren’t as attractive, at least yet.

Most student-athletes with this level of recruiting activity make the costly mistake of becoming a spectator. After all, coaches are interested and they’re going to stay interested, right? Not necessarily.

The fact is, coaches evaluate and court hundreds of prospects for every one “offer” they extend. So to sustain interest, you must engage coaches on a more personal level than those with whom you’re competing. And I don’t mean telling coaches how great you are or sending them newspapers articles that feature you. I’m talking about cultivating relationships. I’m talking about communicating on a level that separates you from others.

Think of your college recruitment as a 2-year job interview. To land your dream job, you can’t just send in a resume and expect the offer to follow. Sure, introducing yourself is an important component, but again, the competition is stiff. You must assume that everyone in contention for the same opportunity is equally (or more) qualified than you; that every recruit on a coach’s depth chart can play as well (or better) than you.

So to get the “job offer,” you have to take it upon yourself to earn the coach’s trust, and no amount of marketing will accomplish this. Instead, you must nurture the opportunity.

Here are 5 ways to start nurturing relationships with college coaches.

Recognize a gem when you find one. If a coach is sending you quality, personal emails, and they seem genuinely engaged with what’s going on in your high school career, then chances are you have a gem of an opportunity. Sometimes it’s merely a connection you feel with a particular coach. Whenever you have this feeling, it’s good to recognize that this is a coach that you should focus your efforts and energies on. Go out of your way to let them know how honored and appreciative you are in their efforts to recruit you. Mention the coach and his/her school on Facebook. Tell others what a great experience you’re having with this coach. Coaches are human like the rest of us, and they are drawn to people who openly appreciate them.
Send handwritten thank-you notes. I know it sounds rather archaic. Taking pen to paper and writing someone a note, in this day and age, is a lost art. And that’s exactly why you should do it! A simple hand-written card can be incredibly nurturing, especially because nobody bothers to take the time anymore. And it doesn’t have to be a lengthy letter either. Two or three sentences on a blank card, expressing your gratitude for taking time to speak on the phone last night, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Sure, personal emails are great. But a thank you card in your own writing might just find its way around the entire athletic department. Make the commitment to send every coach who recruits you a thank-you card or two before you make your final college decision.
Stay connected with coaches using social media. Tune in on Twitter and pay attention to what coaches are posting. Create a Facebook feed that simplifies the process and creates a list of coaches. Much like with Twitter, a dedicated coach group allows you to filter out only their updates and get a quick snapshot of their activity, rather than having to visit each individual profile/page. Jump in. Comment on their latest game, event or news. Tag coaches/schools in your status updates. If appropriate, tag the coach in a status update or wall post. Tagging is extremely useful as it allows you to link directly to coaches’ pages or places a link to their page. For more on this, download this Free Report.
Take an active interest in their program. Subscribe to their blog. Bookmark their web pages and check in at least once a month. Research the schools that are showing interest in you and reach out to these coaches monthly. A simple congratulations email after a big win, or referencing a newsworthy topic about their school, can do wonders for a coach’s confidence and trust in you.
Don’t let the opportunity fade away. Be relentless in your commitment to follow up and stay connected with coaches. Even if you don’t receive immediate responses all the time, don't allow the communication to lose momentum and don’t stop doing your part to keep the opportunity alive. Coaches are extremely busy. They travel constantly. Recruiting is a 365-day job and many things can temporarily impede a coach’s ability to communicate. Don’t get discouraged if their interest appears to decline either. Set up a follow-up calendar for each school, and be persistent with your communication until the coach blatantly tells you s/he won’t be recruiting you anymore. If that happens, stay humble and show your warmest gratitude for the chance to correspond. Just because you aren’t a good fit for one school doesn’t mean that the impression you leave won’t result in another (better) opportunity elsewhere.

Do you have any stories or examples about nurturing relationships with college coaches? Please share them with us!