NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Steve enters his 44th season as the head coach of the wrestling team at the Coast Guard Academy.  Eldridge was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Hall of Fame in 1995 and was the Lifetime Service to Wrestling recipient by the Hall of Fame last year. He is the first coach at the Coast Guard Academy to earn national Hall of Fame honors as a coach.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?
I’m fairly hands of on style but I am adamant on basics.  In college, you
have to develop an unstoppable standup and you need to be able to take kids
down.  Once you have that down, we’ll get to some advanced stuff but not
before.

2. What’s unique about the experience at your school?
Everything, it’s not just a normal college, it’s far more.  In addition
to giving you the 14th ranked undergraduate education in the country, you
can compete in multiple sports and graduate with a guaranteed job where you
will build your leadership skills and travel the world.  Although we’re a
Division 3 program, if you get an appointment it is a full-ride…In fact,
you get paid while you are attending the Academy – where else can you do
that?  In addition, CGA graduates qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill which
can cover the expenses for post-graduate work…so it is almost a free
undergraduate and graduate degree rolled into one. 

3. What do recruits need to know about you?
I want them to be successful and graduate from the Academy first.  That
means as a freshman, I’m probably not going to make them cut a ton of
weight…once the academics are under control and I want to push a kid to
the national level, it’s time to look at the best weight to do that.

4. What do you look for in recruits?
 GPA first. Without a good one, they probably will not get in.  From a
wrestling perspective, kids that get to national tournaments typically have
wrestled better competition and will be better college wrestlers.  Someone
undefeated from a small state having never wrestled outside of the state is
typically a tough call.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting
process?
Take college prep classes, use your wrestling to get the best education
you can.  After college, there is a very limited opportunity to put dinner
on the table with wrestling. 

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?
    “Coach, what weight do you want me to go?”

7. What turns you off when you’re recruiting a student athlete?
A’s in pottery.  I want to hear kids are challenging themselves in the
classroom because otherwise I’m not going to have a chance to get them and
they are not taking advantage of the most basic thing in America… Public
education.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?
Making professionals and building a network of supporters.  CGA is a
route to literally any career path, I have former kids that are pilots
(probably 30), doctors, lawyers, FBI agents, Admirals…I could go on and
on.  Typically my wrestlers have found success in all aspects of life, Coast
Guard or civilian sector, and that’s what I’m proud of.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?
The education.  The Cost.  Wrestle at the National level.  Guaranteed
employment.  Graduate school.  The Career.  The military retirement where
you can retire after 20 years at the age 42 with a pension for life.  It
truly is the complete package.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to
you?

 Make sure it is for them, research all the opportunities on the Academy
website at www.uscga.edu.  Start an application to receive a mailing with
information.  Email us at cgawrestling@gmail.com with any additional
questions you may have.

Coach Ernst is entering his first season at the helm of the Southwestern University’s first ever men’s lacrosse team. The basic philosophy of Coach Ernst and the Pirate program is not only building strong athletes, but also strong students and strong young men. The coaching staff works hard to ensure that not only do their student-athlete’s work hard athletically but also academically and in building maturity. Southwestern University is a place for student-athletes to be challenged on the field and in the classroom. The high academic standards are combined with an expectation of excellence in the classroom and on the playing field and prepares its’ student-athletes to be impactful in society upon graduation.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach? I am a firm but fair coach who believes in being brilliant at the basics. We teach our guys how to play the game and let them run and gun!

2. What’s unique about the experience at your school? The first thing that comes to mind is weather. It is shorts and flip flops pretty much all year here. Second is the family type atmosphere that Southwestern fosters. You just feel like you are a part of things here!

3. What do recruits need to know about you? I am a no nonsense kind of guy. Shoot me straight and you will be respected for it.

4. What do you look for in recruits? CHARACTER! We look for talented athetes and quality students, but first and foremost you have to be a good person.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process? Make sure to stay proactive. Call me, email me, let me know just how much you want to play for me.
 
6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits? I like them to ask about the academics and character of the team. Lacrosse is important but not the most important thing. If I know they are concerned about the right things, I know they will be successful on the field.

7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete? Lack of response. If I contact a student-athlete it is appreciated if they respond. Even if that repsonse is to say no thanks coach.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at? Building strong, well rounded young men. We believe that if we do this then the wins will come.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program? Numerours reasons. Great academics, great weather, a great area (Austin, TX) and we are a building program…you have a shot to get tons of PT here. We are members of the SCAC, have a conference tourney, all conference team and in 2011 will have an AQ in the tournament.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you? The best way is email, but cell is the second best. Also, they need to make sure to fill out a Recruit Info Form online at: http://southwesternpirates.com/sports/m-lacros/recruit that way we can get them in our system and get them info on the school, team, etc.

Trent Goodale was named Head Coach of the Saints wrestling program in the spring of 2009. Before he became the Interim Head Coach during the 2008-09 season, he served as an assistant coach for Limestone from 2006-08.

The Limestone wrestling program had much success under Goodale’s direction in 2008-09. The team was nationally-ranked for several weeks and sent two wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Goodale also coached Joby Shreckhise to an All-American finish at nationals.

1.How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I would describe myself as a very young very energetic coach. I am only 27 years old so I am probably the youngest D2 Coach or atleast one of them. I am more of a father figure or older brother than I am a dictator, and am very passionate toward the sport of wrestling, it is what I live for.

2. What?s unique about the experience at your school?

Limestone is actually a very unique school. For starters we are one of the smallest DII schools in the country. We had around 800 students this year. We also have 22 varsity sports on campus with a little over 70 percent of the student population being athletes. So it really feels like all of the students on campus are on the same team, or are headed in the same direction.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I am from small town Iowa, and still carry with me the values I learned growing up in small town farming country, including work ethic. I wrestled for the University of Iowa from 2001-2006 and expect my athletes to be as well conditioned as the teams I was on. My girlfriend is 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Sara McMann. I am very approachable and am pretty laid back outside of the wrestling room.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

Willingness to out work competition. Passion for the sport, and a desire to be a student of the sport. Along with good morals, ethics, and character.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Look at everyone of your options. The next five years of your life are going to set up the next 50 years of your life and if you end up unhappy where you are then you are not going to become as successful as if you were. Don’t limit your options there are a lot of places that could be the right one for you.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

Where I see them in two years. What I think they are going to do for my program. Where I see my program being in the country in the next 5 years. Why I want them to be part of my program.

7. What turns you off when you’re recruiting a student athlete?

Lack of motivation, which includes not getting things done such as the NCAA Clearinghouse. Bad grades, bad test scores, especially when there is not a willingness to improve on them. Their inability to interact with the team I already have in place. If they don’t fit in with what I am already building they will take away from the team dynamics that I am really trying to build.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

Working as a group or as a whole with a willingness to work towards whatever task I put in front of them. I would say outworking competition.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Because we are on the up and coming, if they want to be part of something special in the future they should hop on board today because we are headed in that direction.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

Get on our website and fill out a recruit questionnaire, also fill out an online application

Duroe, a successful coaching figure at the collegiate, national and world levels, enters his fifth season as Cornell’s head wrestling coach.

Duroe’s Rams are coming off back-to-back top-10 national team finishes for the first time since the 1950 and 1951 seasons. Cornell placed eighth at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships and crowned three all-Americans, led by national runner-up Nick Nothern.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Engaging, caring and very involved in the students overall development on and off the mat.

2. What?s unique about the experience at your school?
Definitely our One Course at a Time Curriculum, only school in the country that has the block plan and has wrestling.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

4X Olympic Team Coach, Multiple time U.S. World Team coach, 32 years of college (all divisions) high school and international coaching experience.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

Strong work ethic, solid academic background,really passionate about the sport!

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Ask the right questions, make sure the coaches’ philosophy and priorities are similar to yours.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?
How important are the academics, can I get what I need from you to become a NCAA Champ!

7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete?

Aapathy

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

Developing our athletes and helping them achieve higher levels of success than they had imagined.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Very strong moral and ethical standards, high expectations for success in the classroom and in the competitive arena.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?
Write or e-mail and request information about Cornell College.  mduroe@cornellcollege.edu

Jon McGovern joined the Spartans as Head Wrestling Coach for the University of Dubuque in 2002. Prior to joining the staff at the University of Dubuque, McGovern was the head assistant coach at the University of Chicago. His knowledge of the sport was shared around the Chicago area where he volunteered his time running a freestyle wrestling club for high school youth.  McGovern spent 2000 year training full time at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Heplaced 4th in the finals of the 2000 Olympic Trials in Dallas Texas. He was a 1998 US National Team Member and placed third at the 1998 US National Tournament and third at the 1998 World Team Trials.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach? 

High level coach with a lot of energy, enthusiasm and knoweldge of the sport

2. What?s unique about the experience at your school?

We have a lot of emphasis on team, community, faith, FCA, and we are the fast growing wrestling community that continues to have one of the largest fan bases in wrestling. 

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

That I worked with Dan Gable and know how to help them achieve their goals here.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for guys that love the sport of wrestling and in addition are trustworhty, disciplined, and have a strong work ethic.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

See how many seniors are in the program – this is an indicator of retention.  We had 7 seniors this past year, not many college programs can boast of more.  That’s an indication that wrestlers like the program and stay with it.   Also look at how many wrestlers graduate and where they are now.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

What is your coaching philosophy?

7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete?

* Not too much – any question is a good question!

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

Developing student athletes.  We have taken wrestlers with lesser credentials and made them into either NCAA Champions, NCAA All-Amercians, or NCAA Academic All-Americans.  We build champions on and off the mat.   We were #2 in the Nation as an NCAA Academic Scholar Team.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program? 

 TRADTION THE WRESTLING TRADITION The University of Dubuque Program is one that is set in the pursuit of excellence. The Spartans compete for the Iowa Conference title and send wrestlers to the NCAA Championships yearly, and the programs’ philosophy and schedule reflect the best in mind, body, and spiritual development.  Wrestlers must compete for the pure love of the sport. At U.D. there is a belief that fun comes from a success.  

A TRADITION of SUCCESS

*     The fastest improving wrestling program in the nation (26th in

the nation in 2007, 22nd in the nation in 2008, 11th in the nation in 2009, 8th in the nation in 2010)

 Our wrestlers possess the characteristics of all great teams: work ethic, high level technique, team spirit, dedication, discipline, a passion for the UD Wrestling Tradition, and daily discipline to be the best we can be mentally, physically, and spiritually.

THE CONFERENCE

The University of Dubuque is a Division III (non-athletic scholarship) member of the NCAA. The Spartans are affiliated with 9 other private Iowa institutions as a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The IIAC is recognized as one of the top academic and athletic conferences in the nation – individual members continually represent the IIAC in NCAA championship events. In wrestling, 6 of the IIAC colleges placed top 15 at the NCAA Championships this spring (Wartburg 3rd, Coe 4th, University of Dubuque 8th,  Luther College 10th, and Cornell College 12th. The NCAA Championships is filled with IIAC fans as the top 3 IIAC placewinners plus wildcards at each weight compete in the NCAA Championships.

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach Jon McGovern  has been the Head Wrestling Coach at University of Dubuque (IA) since 2002 where he also serves as the advisor for both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Student Athlete Advisory Council. Prior to that he was the assistant wrestling coach at the University of Chicago (’01-’02), an Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete (’99-’01), an assistant wrestling coach at University of Pennsylvania (’98-’99), George Mason University (’97-’98) and the University of Virginia (’96-’97). Jon’s wrestling experience began at Riceville, Iowa where he was a 4X State Qualifier and 3X state placewinner. He was a 3X NCAA All-American,  a 2X NCAA Champion, a 3X IIAC Champion, IIAC (Outstanding Wrestler), US Olympic Festival Gold Medalist, 3X USA National Team Member, 2nd in the USA National Freestyle Team in 1998, and 4th on the USA National Team in 2000.   Coach McGovern competed with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club under Coach Gable from1993-1996 and for the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club from 1997-2000.  Assistant Coach Larson is the Assistant Wrestling Coach at the University of Dubuque and was an NCAA Qualifier for the Spartans in his senior year.  Other Assistant Coaches include Ricky Samuelson (Team Sport Pyschologist),

Eric Daughetee, Darrin Kaisand, John Pieritz, and Erik Honda.   New to the 2010-2011 staff is Evan Brown (NCAA Champion 2009, NCAA Runner-up 2010).

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

By e-mail @ jmcgover@dbq.edu or phone @ 563-589-3685

Mike Terranova joined the men’s lacrosse coaching staff as an assistant for program’s 2010 inaugural year of competition. Terranova comes to Chestnut Hill by way of Upper Merion High School, where he served as the assistant varsity lacrosse coach in 2008 and 2009 during the program’s first two years of interscholastic play.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Coach Carrington is very high energy and a great motivator and we are both focused on our players being fundamentally sound.   I like to build relationships with my players that help me learn  what approaches are best to motivate each of them.

2. What?s unique about the experience at your school?

Small school in a suburban setting with big city opportunities just twenty minutes away in Philadelphia.  As for our lacrosse program, we are brand new and have just completed our first season in D2, so the expectation to get better every year is huge.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I like intelligent players and guys that use proper technique and footwork.  Offensively I do not like to micro-manage because the game at this level is too fast, so I need leaders on the field.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

We are looking for dedicated players who care about attention to detail on and off the field.  Guys who know that studying hard, lifting and spending extra time hitting the wall are what makes the difference in how they practice and play and ultimately determines how quickly our program develops into championship contenders.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Keep your grades as high as possible!

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

Questions about our schools academic reputation and our goals as a program.

7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete?

A lack of confidence and personality.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

We are one of the most successful programs at overcoming adversity.  Nothing is easy for us as a new program so our desire and determination must be that much greater than your average student athlete.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

For the opportunity to receive a high quality education while instilling new traditions at a rapidly growing institution as well as a winning legacy on the lacrosse field.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

Rising juniors should e-mail us with their summer/fall tournament schedules and a game film if possible. Rising seniors should give us a call and try to visit campus as soon as they can, as well as sending us a film and their tournament schedule.

Coach Reynolds enters his fifth season as the head coach and the sixth of his career as a coach for the Saints. In this addition of the Coaches Corner we sat down to learn a little more about what makes him and his program run.

Q 1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?  I believe that I am extremely competative but fair and honest.

I would describe myself as a hardworking, ambitous, detail oriented, players coach.

Q 2. What’s unique about the experience at your school?

We are located 4 miles from one of the most powerful cities in the world with countless opportunities at your fingertips.  This area is voted the top job market in the final quarter in 2009 and again in the first quarter in 2010.  Our academic standards are high but with that come great opportunities for top internships and jobs during your time here.  We are also play in the arguably the top conference in the country.  We do not shy away from big games and play a top notch schedule every year (5 of the 15 games were against ranked opponents two of which were #1 and #3).  Finally where many schools were hit hard because of the economic down turn we actually saw a huge growth spurt in the last year and began two huge projects of expansion on campus.  We will complete a 50 million dollar project which will include two brand new academic buildings as well as a brand new dormitory.  On the athletics side we just held a dedication cerimony for our new athletics facility, a 2

.2 million dollar Field Turf Stadium, which will be located just off campus right along the Potamac river, a stones throw from the Pentagon.  From one crease you will be able to see the just across the river the Washington Monument, the Captial, and the Jefferson Memorial.  It will be the most premier facility in the area and arguably in Division III.

Q 3. What do recruits need to know about you?

We are looking for a specific type of player that can handle the academic and athletic side while being looked upon to be a leader in our community.  You are in the spotlight from the moment you walk on campus here.  There is no football team so we very much fit that roll as the premier field sport on campus.  We are the largest team by far on campus with a proud tradition.  The expectations are high and we have reached our goals just yet.  We want to again be considered with the best and to do that you must play the best.  If you are looking for a challenge on the field and off this is where you should look.

Q 4. What do you look for in recruits?

We look for leaders.  I am very big on recruiting players who are ready to play right away.  Not every guy coming in the do is ready to do that but we are not afraid of playing freshmen and have done so every year.  It is a rare thing to find the right mixture in a young man and by that I mean mature, goal oriented, hungry, high academic standards, great work ethic, and easily coached.

Q 5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Send a personal email or letter which includes a video or a link describing your self and always include your spring or summer schedule so that we may add them to our watch list or recruiting.

Q 6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

I like it when the players ask questions and they have researched us prior to the visit.  You see more and more it is the parent that is in the driving seat when it comes to recruiting and often that leads to a less mature individual that needs to constantly looked after.  I am not against having to work with a particular player more than another but I am not looking to be a babysitter.  Some players are just looking to be recruited to say hey look at me I am being recruited.  In most cases that does not work out.

Q 7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete?

A major turn off would be some recruits lack of following through.  There are a lot of reasons that could turn off both us and the recruit off at anytime.  What turn me off quick is when we are  tracking a guy and then all of a sudden communication slows.  If they are not interested just say so, we will!  Not every place is for every recruit just be honest with the coach and they won’t hold any ill will against you.  What turns me on is the recruit that jumps off the page and the minute he starts his tour his eyes light up with excitement of anticipation of seeing himself at our program.

Q 8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

We fight for everything.  We are a small school holding our own with a bunch of big schools.  To be completely honest we don’t have everything but when our guys finish four years and 90% of our guys do they come out better prepared for what life is going to throw at them.  When your expectation is to the play the #1 team in the country more than once a year then who have to constantly prepare, it never stops.  Once school is over our guys are picked up in all sorts of fields and the one thing that each former player always comes back in praise is that what separates them from everyone else is the endless drive they developed while they were here.  It is in each player we recruit.

Q 9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Someone should consider us for all the things I just mentioned.  If you want to go to a place where you can get a great education right next to a great sports city and play at a very high level then please come for a visit.

Q 10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

I am always accessible by email.  jonathan.reynolds@marymount.edu

Nate Bates returns to the Messiah men’s lacrosse coaching staff as the program’s recruiting coordinator for the 2010 season, two years removed from serving as an assistant coach for the Falcons.  Bates was an offensive and recruiting coach during the 2008 season, helping Messiah to an 11-6 record overall and a perfect 7-0 mark in MAC Conference play.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?  I would say that I am a players coach. I want each player to achieve his maximum potential. I have high expectations for my players and expect them to put in the time necessary for us to be successful. I will push them and continue to work with them until they have achieved it, whether that is in 1 season or 3 seasons. I want my players to walk away from my program after 4 years and say, “That was a great experience. I learned a lot, but achieved more than I thought I could.”

2. What’s unique about the experience at your school?  Our school is unique because we offer a much different college and lacrosse experience than you will find anywhere in the country. Due to the schools Christian values, our players are challenged in all aspects of their lives, not just lacrosse or not just academics. I feel we coach the whole person at Messiah and not just the lacrosse side. Don’t get me wrong, we take our lacrosse very seriously and have had a lot of success on the field, we just have a different approach than every other college team.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?  Prospective players need to know that we are here to help them be as successful as they can. We genuinely care for our players and strive daily to help them reach their goals in all aspects of life. Our office door is always open and our players know that they can come see us at anytime to discuss lacrosse, school, life, or whatever.

4. What do you look for in recruits?  We look for hard-nosed, hard-working, multi-sport athletes. We want players who have proven themselves not only on the lacrosse field, but in academics, community service and in other athletic endeavors. Lacrosse is a sport that can be enhanced by an athletes experience in other sports. Lastly we want players with character. When we talk with their high school or club coach we want to hear things like: coachable, team player, hard worker, and respectful.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?  Every recruit needs to be proactive. Players need to understand that there are more and more high school lacrosse players looking to play in college every year. College coaches do not have the time to get to know every high school program and go “hunting” for players. The recruits need to pursue the colleges they are interested in, contact the coaches and get their information to the coaches as quickly as possible. Too many players wait for college coaches to call them and miss their opportunity to continue their career.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?  We like to hear questions about the school and the academic side of college. This lets us know that the athlete is just as interested in his education as his lacrosse experience. College is not just about continuing to play, but about getting a degree that will support the student for the remainder of his life. Also, it is always reassuring and shows maturity when the athlete knows some information about the college. If he can talk about schools in our conference, different areas of study, the location of campus, this shows me that he has already done a little homework on the school and is being proactive with his college search.

7. What turns you off when you’re recruiting a student athlete?  There is nothing worse than when a coach makes a call to a prospective player and the player hardly talks at all. The recruiting process is very much about building a relationship and letting the coach and player get to know each other. The recruit needs to be able to talk about himself, share his career goals and ask quality questions when talking with the coach.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?  At Messiah we have a very high graduation rate as well as offering a very challenging lacrosse schedcompletely different college lacrosse experience than every other school in the country. We play very competitive lacrosse, offer students a great academic program and integrate faith into all we do. At Messiah, players will find a family.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?   We offer an opportunity to truly find a lacrosse family that will support them throughout all aspects of their lives. This is formed by players with similar life values, by working hard on the field, by playing a very tough lacrosse schedule, and through quality interaction with players, coaches, and other mentors who want to help you grow.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?  The best way to get our attention is to fill out our online questionnaire at Gomessiah.com. This gets sent directly to me and gives me all the information I need to “get the ball rolling” with the recruiting process. To further get our attention is to send me a complete schedule of your summer lacrosse schedule, with dates and locations of all events.

Nathan Young
Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

- I am a very structured coach whether it is our daily practice schedule or our individual practice session we always have a goal to achieve and I push our guys to achieve it. My guys always know where they stand with me on the depth chart and as a piece to our lacrosse programs puzzle. I am very open with my guys to the point that we have a lacrosse office rule, ‘if you are a lacrosse player you are never interrupting’. I don’t know if I would be called a players coach or an X’s and O’s coach, I think of myself as a do whatever it takes to win coach. I hate to lose, no matter what it is, losing does not go well with me and I will do whatever it takes not to lose. I hate to lose more than I like to win.

2. What?s unique about the experience at your school?

- We are doing something that most players at the collegiate level don’t get opportunity to do and that is start a new program. A lot of programs have a long line of traditions that when you get recruited into those programs you just follow those traditions. Here at Shorter College we are starting the traditions, we are setting the bar, we are the foundation of a tradition of excellence.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

- I do what I say and I say what I mean. There is not a whole lot of gray area with me. I am firm but fair,  and at the end of the day you know that I am doing is what is best for you and this program.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

- We look for the all around player. The player that is good in the classroom, on the field, and has good character. When my coaching staff or myself go to a recruiting showcase or combine or even a game we look at how a player plays between the white lines but also what he does once he steps outside of them. We want guys to come to Shorter College that want to work hard, want to be pushed, and want to succeed.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

- Be proactive! Coaches like to student-athletes that take the initiative to fill out a recruiting questionnaire, send an email of interest or even apply before being told to. When I talk to recruits and they say that they are interested in my program but have not filled out a questionnaire it shows to me that they are either lazy or they are not really interested. Now on the flip side, when I talk to recruits and I tell them to apply and they say that they already have then that shows me that he is serious about being a part of my program. Being proactive shows a lot about your character.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

- Where do I sign, when do we start, and what does our offseason workout looking like? haha Those are the important ones that I like to hear but I really like to hear all questions from recruits. The more questions that they have the better they see if they will be a good fit for our school and our program. So I like all questions from recruits.

7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete?

- A sense of entitlement. We have all been blessed to be a part of the sport that we love from being a fan to being a play to even being a coach. None of us are entitled to anything. When I hear kids say that they are from such an such high school with a chip on their shoulder it makes me start looking for the next player. Maybe it is just how I was raised or how I came up through the lacrosse community, but nothing was given to me and I had to work for everything that I got. I am a blue collar guy, a blue collar coach that looks for blue collar players.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

-I think our coaching staff does a great job of bringing in talented well rounded student-athletes that fit the mold of a small private college atmosphere. We demand a lot from our student-athletes not just on the field but in the classroom. So I think we are successful at getting guys to understand that they are here to get an education first and enjoy the four extra years of lacrosse they have the opportunity to play. Our program structure prepares our student-athletes to not just be lacrosse players but to be able to go into the real world after they graduate.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

- If you come to Shorter College you will receive a great education and play lacrosse for a great coaching staff that cares about you more then just being a lacrosse player. Our facilities are top notch with a lit turf practice field and a 5000 capacity turf stadium. And you have the opportunity to be on the ground floor of build a collegiate lacrosse program and make traditions rather then following them.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

- Contact me or one of coaches on staff. The best way to do that is fill out a recruiting questionnaire on our website and make sure you fill out everything correctly so that we can send out our school and lacrosse packets to you. Also if you see us at a camp, game or wherever just come up to us and introduce yourself. We will be more then glad to talk to you about what Shorter College has to offer you both academically as well as athletically.

In his seventh season as the Head Coach of the Kean University men’s lacrosse program, Shelley Sheiner guided the Cougars to one of the most successful campaigns in program history in 2008.

The 2008 squad captured the program’s first Skyline Conference championships with a thrilling 8-7, come-from-behind victory over rival Montclair State University, advancing the Cougars to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history and tying the program record with 14 wins. NCSA sat down with Coach Sheiner to learn more about his program in this addition of Coaches Corner.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I believe that I am extremely competative but fair and honest.

2. What?s unique about the experience at your school?

Kean University offers a real world education with a chance to play in some of the best facilities on any D III campuses in the country.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

Recruits should know that I love to win but I stress academics above anything else in my program.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for players that can play at a high level but who will fit the Kean lacrosse profile of a player who puts team before anything else.
5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Be honest and upfront with themselves and the coaches that are recruiting them.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

Some of the questions I like to hear are:  what are the team’s graduation rates?  Do we have strong alumni/parent support?  How do you feel I can help your program?

7. What turns you off when you?re recruiting a student athlete?

When the athlete doesn’t actively communicate with me (i.e. returning phone calls or emails) and when they ask if there is a possibility of getting playing time in their freshman year?

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

We are most successful at bringing kids from different backgrounds together and fostering a family environment that allows these young men to become life long friends.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

We play a highly competative Divsion III schedule.  We have had 5 consecutive winning seasons with over 10 wins per season and one conference championship and NCAA appearance.  My players win without sacraficing the fun aspect of playing inter collegiate sports.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

The best way to reach me is via email (sheiners@kean.edu).  Also they should fill out our prospective athlete questionaire on the Kean University website.