NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

College Coach’s Corner: MacMurray College’s Baseball Coach, Fred Curtis

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Believer in the importance of executing and doing the “little things” well.

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

Classes ONLY 4 days aweek!

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

That they will be treated fairly and given equal opportunity to play! All playing time is based on performance.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

Quality student-athletes! Sound baseball skills. Good character, team players, ability to get along with others, coachable, positive attitude, mental toughness, goal-oriented, passion to play and compete.

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

Make application to the school and get FASA info. to the school!

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

Any questions the recruit would like to ask that they feel is important for them to know weather it be about me or anything related to our program.

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

Failure to inform me about their REAL interest in our school within a reasonable amount of time. Failure to answer phone calls or to return messages.

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

Showing special interest and concern for the overall success of our players both in the classroom and on the baseball field.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Great opportunity to get a quality education and a great opportunity to play and compete in college baseball. Be exposed to a college campus with many friendly and caring people who will do what the can to help you be successful.

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

Please call me at 217-479-7153 or e-mail me at fred.curtis@mac.edu

NCSA Coaches Corner recently caught up with softball coach Nathan Ohta from Corban University – read his comments:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

As a coach I would describe myself as driven, passionate, and focused. I love the game of softball and have a strong desire to help each of my athletes be the best they can be, both individually, and as a team.

2. What is unique about the experience at Corban University?

Corban University is a distinctly Christian school with a low student to faculty ratio where students receive a high quality education from a Biblical perspective.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

Our athletes work extremely hard in our program. Strength training, speed and agility work and skill development are a major part of what we do. I expect each of my athletes to give maximum effort as a part of everything we do, from the classroom, to the weightroom, to the field.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I am looking for talented Christian athletes that have the work ethic we demand in our program. When I watch recruits, I evaluate their talent level, but also look beyond that to attitude and work ethic when determining if they will be a good fit for our program or not.

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

The biggest thing a recruit can do to get their name on my radar screen is complete their application to our school. This tells me that they are genuinely interested, and that I ineed to make sure I know who they are and see them play.

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

I like to hear any question that shows a recruit has spent some time looking into our school, and isn’t wasting my time when they aren’t truly interested. A question about how a specific game or play in our season went, a question about a specific major or member of our faculty, anything that’s shows they’ve done their homoework on our school and softball program.

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

Two things that tend to turn me off during the recruiting process are when I get letters or emails addressed to other coaches or universities…i.e. form letters, and when athletes don’t return my emails or calls.

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

While our defense is very solid, and our pitching has been very good, what distinguishes us from many other programs is our hitting and the mechanics we employ. We have seen our offensive numbers skyrocket in the last three years largely due to a change in our approach to teaching hitting, both mechanically as well as teaching the mental art of hitting.

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

The best way to contact me is either by email or phone. my contact information can be found on our web page www.gowarriorsgo.com<http://www.gowarriorsgo.com>

Coach Rosen from Capital University shared a few words about his program with NCSA.

1. What do you look for in recruits?  Our staff looks for young men who combine high academic achievement, strong character, and the baseball skill to play at our level.  We must be confident that a young man will be able to handle the academic challenges of our university.  Otherwise, recruiting him is not a good use of our time and resources.  He also must be a quality young man, who will represent our program and our university in the appropriate way.  If those two things meet our standards, we will then evaluate his baseball abilities to see if he would be a benefit to our program on the field.  Our baseball needs will change from season to season based on our teams strengths and weakness, but our standards for academics and character will remain consistent and will not be compromised. 

2. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?  Get informed.  I encourage all recruits to gain as much information on as many schools as they can.  The more information you have available, the more informed your final decision will be.  Talk to coaches, former and current players, check school websites, meet faculty members, etc.  Also, go visit as many schools as possible.  You get a much different feel when you are actually on a campus versus looking at a website or talking with a school representative.

3. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?  I like recruits to ask me questions about things not related to baseball.  I want to recruit young men who are interested the academics of my school as much as the baseball.  Every recruit that I talk with is obviously interested in playing baseball.  To be successful in college however, a student-athlete must put as much time and effort into school as he does for baseball.  Young men who bring that enthusiasm for school will ultimately be successful at the university, even if they are not on the ball field.  I want to recruit student-athletes that come here for the right reasons, not just to play ball.

4. What turns you off when you are recruiting a student athlete? We place a lot of importance on the character of every young man that we recruit.  We watch how guys act during games, after games, and when we have them on campus.  We want to see how they interact with teammates, coaches, and their parents.  Do guys enjoy playing with them?  Do they respond well to their coaches?  These are things that are good signs of how they will fit in if they enter our program.  The absolute biggest turn off for us is seeing a young man disrespect his parents.  If we ever see that, whether it is at the ball field or in our office during a recruiting visit, we will no longer recruit that young man.  In my opinion, that is not acceptable behavior, and it is also a sign of other character issues.
5. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you? Like most coaches, we try our best to get out and see as many kids play as we can.  We attend showcases, tournaments, and games year round.  We want to see a young man play before we begin the recruiting process so that we know if he will be a good fit in our program.  I would advise a recruit to contact us (preferably by email) letting us know of his interest in our program and also providing a schedule of games or showcases he will be attending.  That will begin communication, and hopefully we can inform the recruit of a date we can get out to see him play.  Any video clips are also helpful in allowing us to evaluate a player.

Rich Kern, the volleyball guru, talked to NCSA about what he has learned, and what advice he would give to young volleyball players.

If you are involved with volleyball on the club or college level at all, a player/coach/parent, you’ve most likely visitedwww.richkern.com to check some rankings or scores. He is widely known for his website with everything from schedules in every division, results, rankings, articles, and much more! He was the pioneer as far as getting information out to college coaches.

NCSA’s Kelly Bowman played volleyball at the collegiate level at University of Minnesota and professionally. At Minnesota, she was a first team All-American and made 2 back to back Final Four appearances. She is NCSA’s head volleyball recruiting coach.

Kelly Bowman – Rich, you are recognized as one of the leading experts in the game of volleyball, and volleyball recruiting. What got you to this point?

Rich Kern – Well I was involved with volleyball in the 80’s, coached and played a little here and there. I really fell in love with volleyball when I discovered the University of Nebraska program. Back in 1995, there was no way of getting information on volleyball programs. He did a search (yahoo was the only search engine at the time) on volleyball programs and the search only returned 7 programs! Nebraska was not one of the schools listed, so I approached the school and offered to help them get a website going. Coach Pettit said yes and that he saw the value in it. I went on to develop their website. I would post scores, schedules, press releases, etc. I then took it to a national level to help other programs get their information posted as well. This is how I really got going with my own database (RichKern.com) and it just escalated from there; having a storage facility for volleyball data, schedules, scores, etc. There were others like it at the time, but they charged a fee and never really lasted. With the time and experience, I was able to build a strong report and a trusted opinion with colleges coaches.

Kelly – In your opinion, where and when does the recruiting process begin?

Rich – Birth! Only kidding, but not really… The recruiting process begins when athletes learn to make their own decisions and are ready to take the next steps. It’s what you do with opportunities and how you handle not just the athletics, but your academics as well.

Kelly – How has recruiting changed within the last 5 years with technology as well as with volleyball coaches asking commitments from students earlier and earlier (or younger)?

Rich – The internet has changed EVERYTHING! Coaches have palm pilots or blackberries with access to player info, databases, schedules, etc. YouTube and other such channels have also changed the way Coaches obtain video. Back in the day there was no such thing as getting video online and it was all in hard copy format. Do you send VHS or DVD? Now technology enables athletes to really control how their information is updated and distributed to Coaches.

Kelly – Is it easier for the ‘middle-tier’ schools to get those top players that in the past were hard to get in on the recruiting with?

Rich – The volleyball bar is just being raised higher and higher every year, so the middle tier programs will get players that a couple years ago they may have not. Club volleyball has a lot to do with this change. Top 5 recruits however are still going to be going to those top 5 programs.

Kelly – Can you comment on the dynamic of club volleyball in recruiting and how it is balanced with the high school team?

Rich – In the volleyball world, High School doesn’t mean much. Club volleyball is the real deal. If you are serious about playing in college then you need to try and play club volleyball. In my opinion, club teams that don’t allow their players to play other high school sports are only limiting the players and possibly burning them out. Coaches like well-rounded players that can adapt and learn things from other experiences as well.

Kelly – For an athlete who is underexposed, what advice would you give her?

Rich – Get exposed! Join a club team that fits what you are looking for. Get a realistic evaluation as to what you should target at the college level. Get exposure by attending national tournaments or even local camps where coaches know you. Camps are not great ways to be “discovered” in my opinion. I do like the AVCA Showcase that happens during the Final Four. This is a great opportunity for athletes to showcase their talent in front of thousands of coaches. Parents also need to recognize when they should start getting involved. Paying attention to academics, understanding what is needed and being proactive. Also, know your options! There are so many options for volleyball athletes at all of the division levels (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, Junior Colleges). Be proactive and explore all options. Last but not least, take initiative. Show interest in the Coaches/Program and almost recruit them so to speak. Coaches want you to communicate effectively.

Kelly – What are some obstacles that college volleyball coaches face?

Rich – Budgets are the main obstacle. Some schools have large recruiting budgets that they can use to handle their recruiting and some are limited. The support from the Institution itself can also be an obstacle. What expectations does the school have and what kind of support are they giving the volleyball program.

Kelly – What are some of the common recruiting mistakes that volleyball players make?

Rich – (1) Thinking you are a good player and sitting back thinking coaches and opportunities will come to you; (2) not worrying about your academics or taking it seriously; (3) if you can’t play DI then there is nothing else. There are SO MANY opportunities!

Kelly – What is the best single piece of advice you could give a volleyball recruit looking to play in college?

Rich – Focus on your Grades!! Coaches want players on their team who are teachable and open to learning. Coaches think of themselves as educators of life so they want athletes who make themselves available to learn and improve. Your attitude is very important. Not just how you handle yourself on the volleyball court, but off the court, communication, academics etc.

NCSA would like to thank Rich for taking the time to help educate our audience!

If you would like to find out which college programs you qualify for and get your information recruiting information verified, call 866-579-6272 or click here to start the evaluation process.  Verified information is 4 times more likely to be accessed by college coaches!

National Letter of Intent:

The Signing Period ends on August 1st. This is the last 31 days for a student-athlete in the following sports to secure an athletic scholarship to a DI or DII program: Field Hockey, Soccer, Track & Field, Cross Country, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Ice Hockey, and Water Polo.

Visits:

Remind student-athletes to take time to visit college campuses over the summer months. Plan to visit colleges around summer tournaments, games and family vacations. Reach out to the coach prior to visit, do not just show up on campus and hope the coach is available.

If a student-athlete is a top tier recruit, the unofficial visit during the summer may be the vital key in securing their scholarship offer and spot in the team. Majority of DI and DII program intend on having the recruiting done as early as possible. This also includes top level DIII and NAIA programs.

Camps:

All student-athletes should attend a few camps, combines and/or showcases throughout the summer months in order to get evaluations of their skill set, stay conditioned, compile additional video and get exposure.

Reminder: Don’t plan on getting discovered, prepare to get evaluated!

JULY RECRUITING CALENDARS

Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball:

• July 1-5 Quiet Period

• July 6-15 Evaluation Period

• July 16-21 Dead Period

• July 22-31 Evaluation Period

Football: Quiet Period.

Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Men’s Lacrosse,

Women’s Lacrosse, Cross Country/Track and Field: Contact Period

PHONE CALLS:

Juniors, 2011 Grads (Division I):

1. Men’s Basketball, Men’s Ice Hockey: DI – 1x per month.

2. Women’s Basketball: DI – 3x in July (max one per week).

3. Women’s Ice Hockey: DI – 1x per week starting July 7th.

4. All Other Sports EXCEPT Football: DI – 1x per week starting July 1st.

Juniors, 2011 Grads (Division II):

1. All Sports: 1x per week.

Sophomores, 2012 Grads (Division I):

1. Men’s Basketball: DI – 1x per month (includes letters/emails).

2. Men’s Ice Hockey: DI – 1x per month (includes letters/emails).

3. Women’s Ice Hockey: DI can call Internationals 1x from July 7-31.

JULY RECRUITING TIPS

Football: End of June and the beginning of July is the best time during the summer to reach out to coaches, as coaches’ head out for vacation in July and August to get ready for pre-season.

Fall Sports: Recruits should reach out to coaches during June and July, as fall sports will be getting ready for their seasons in August.

!!!ALERT: DI coaches are always recruiting and looking at athletes, however, at this point in the recruiting process there is not always a spot available or money tied to that spot. Seniors this late need to look at walk-on spots, junior colleges and understand that they may need to tryout.

See what Whitworth University Softball Coach Joe Abraham has to share about recruiting in NCSA coaches corner:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I am extremely competitive, perhaps too much so, but I view myself mainly as a coach who enjoys teaching the game and setting a good example for our players. I don’t talk too much about life lessons, but I like to think that I and my staff teach them by example. We are prepared for practices and we are organized in every aspect of the program. We attempt to treat our players and everyone who comes into contact with the program the way people should be treated.

2. What is unique about the experience at Whitworth University?

Whitworth offers a Christian-based education, but is open to all ideas and does not push any particular ideology. For someone who wants a great liberal arts education that you traditionally think of with many small schools in the East, but which also incorporates faith and the study of faith, Whitworth is the place to be.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

Having worked as a journalist out of college and then as a lawyer for 13 years, and having coached at the middle school, high school and travel ball levels, I think I bring some perspective to the position. As a result, my staff and I do not play head games with our players. Recruits need to know that I am constantly trying to improve our program, so vying for playing time is going to be competitive. They also need to know that we love to teach game situations and how to think about the game. I believe that players should mostly be on their own on the field and not controlled like a robot from the dugout, as that is the only way to learn great ball playing instincts.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for (1) talent; (2) very good grades; (3) passion for the game, which includes hustle, work ethic, desire to play at the college level, etc.; (4) good softball instincts.

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

The one thing I see very few girls and parents do is to talk to a good ASA, high school or college coach who knows the girl well and who will give the family an honest evaluation of the level at which a girl can realistically play in college. As a result, many girls scramble at the last minute to find a school at which they can play.

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

At our Division III level, I want to hear questions that indicate that a recruit is making sure we are a program that takes our softball seriously. Do you go out and actively recruit or do you just see who is coming to your school? Is your team working out year-round? Are you a full-time coach or do you have a full-time job and just coach on the side? Do freshmen automatically sit for a year or do the best players play?

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

1. Lack of hustle. 2. Lack of prompt response in communications. 3. Entitlement attitude.

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

On the field, the most successful part of our program is that our players understand the game and overall game strategy very well. We are also a strong hitting squad. From a program standpoint, we are extremely strong in the classroom, as well as having a team that understands that we always want to do what is right in every situation.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

First, they will get a fantastic education at Whitworth. Second, with our coaching staff entering its third year here, we have quickly built a great softball program that is improving each year on the field, as well as in giving girls an overall experience that is a ton of fun and rewarding. Finally, it doesn’t hurt that we have an incredible softball facility.

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

A phone call would be the best way, simply because it happens so rarely, whether it is preceded or followed by a letter or e-mail. Because most recruits are probably too tentative to call, a letter or e-mail is fine. Whatever the case, reach out! Unless you are Jennie Finch or Danielle Lawrie, we’re probably not going to find out about you unless you let us know you are interested!

Joe Abraham

Head Softball Coach

Whitworth University

Graves Gym

300 W. Hawthorne Road

Spokane, WA 99251

(509) 777-4397 (Office)

(614) 271-4070 (Cell)

See what Savannah College of Art and Design- Atlanta Golf Coach Wyatt C. Graff shares in the Coaches Corner:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I am both ambitious and analytical in my approach to coaching. Even though this is my first year as a head coach, I have very high expectations for both teams. Golf is not a game of perfection, and that’s the beauty of it. All golf swings are not the same . . . and they shouldn’t be. While there are certain components that should be consistent, each SCAD Atlanta student-artist-athlete is expected to work on mastering the swing that best complements his or her game. My overall goal is to have all team members on the same page . . .working towards the same goal of greatness in the classroom, on the golf course and in life.

2. What is unique about the experience at Savannah College of Art & Design?

SCAD Atlanta is the Atlanta location of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Named one of the “Most Interesting Schools” in the United States and one of “25 cutting-edge schools with an eye toward the future” by Kaplan-Newsweek, SCAD offers more academic programs than any other art and design school in the U.S., including animation, advertising design, game development, graphic design, fashion, interior design, photography, television producing, painting, illustration, printmaking, sculpture and more!

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I am a proud alumnus of SCAD, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting. While at SCAD, I earned All-America Scholar status during my senior year, graduating with a 3.96 GPA. I know, first hand, what it’s like to be a SCAD student-artist-athlete—what it takes to be successful in the classroom and on the golf course.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

First and foremost, I’m interested in their academic pursuits. I like to think of our team members as “artists who happen to play golf,” not “golfers who happen to be interested in art and academics.” SCAD Atlanta offers such a focused group of majors that I want to make sure that all team members are enrolled for the correct reason . . . and that’s their education.

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

There are three things every recruit needs to do. First, they need to visit SCAD’s website at www.scad.edu/atlanta to see if SCAD Atlanta offers an academic program in which they’re interested. Next, they need to apply for admission online. Last, they need to contact me via e-mail at wgraff@scad.edu.

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

I like to hear questions about our academic programs, teaching facilities and the quality of student life at SCAD Atlanta—questions that demonstrate to me that they are truly interested in their education.

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

My “Top Three Recruiting Turn-offs”:

1. when a recruit doesn’t say “thank you”

2. when a recruit text messages or continues a cell phone conversation while on a tour of the campus

3. when a recruit is dressed in a slovenly manner

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

Fall 2010 will be SCAD Atlanta’s first season of intercollegiate competition, so we look to the future to build a record of success. I would like to think that our “short-game” will be one of our strongest points, since I’ve repeatedly asked all of the team members to consistently work on this facet of the game. Once I have time to work with the team members, I hope that “course management” will be at the top of the list.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

I encourage every young man or young woman who wants to pursue a world-class education in art and design as well as compete at a high level of golf to strongly consider SCAD Atlanta. As a very young team, we can offer very competitive grants-in-aid. Our recruits have an opportunity to forge a legacy at SCAD Atlanta by focusing on their academics, their passion for art and design, and their love of the game.

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

E-mail is the best way to contact me. They can reach me at wgraff@scad.edu at any time.

Coaches corner caught up with Gavilan College Softball Coach Nikki Dequin to talk about her school and recruiting:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Honest, tough but fair, passionate about the game/sport and learning. Most of all I enjoy all aspects of being part of a team, the fun, the competition, even the ups and downs. I feel you can learn something from every experience and I try and instill that in my athletes.

2. What is unique about the experience at Gavilan College?

Athletes will learn how to become a student of the game. They will get individual attention whether that be for fine tuning a skill or help in the classroom. We care about our athletes and try and help them to be successful.

3. What do you look for in recruits?

The type of person they are. Are they hard working, good people? Are they willing to learn?

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

Get all the information they possibly can about a program, whether that be through talking to coaches, athletes or former athletes, but keep an open mind. Talk to other people who will be involved in their education (Athletic directors, academic advisors-whomever can help them meet their goals).

5. Why should a recruit consider your program?

We will help athletes meet their athletic and academic goals, as will many schools, but we create relationships. Our school is small, the instructors here love to teach and this reflects onto our athletes. We are competitive and classy. We carry ourselves well and give back to our community. Those are only a few positive considerations.

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

Email or by phone.

Nikki Dequin

Head Softball Coach &

Physical Education Inst.

Gavilan College

(408)848-4894

NCSA recently had a chance to catch up with Head Coach Patrick Gilliam from Trinity International University. Here are some words of advice he has for future recruits:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I am a coach who is highly competitive and passionate about the game of soccer.  However, with that being said, I am even more excited about the opportunity coaching at the collegiate level presents me to be a teacher and mentor during 4-5 of the most formative years of a young person’s life.  I see soccer and competitive athletics as a tremendous ‘laboratory’ for teaching young people valuable life lessons that will go with them far beyond their playing careers…into their lives as employees, wives/husbands, mothers/fathers.

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

I think that in the TIU Men’s & Women’s Soccer Programs, we strive to create a ‘family-like’ atmosphere/environment where the players will not only play great soccer and against top competition, but also develop life-long relationships/friendships.  I also would say that what makes the Trojan Soccer Programs unique is the dedicated focus upon a “whole-life” experience.  As a coach, I am looking to not only develop our players on the field, but off the field in their academic, social, and spiritual lives as well.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I think it would be important for them to know that I care about them…but not just as a soccer player.  My care/concern for them goes far above and beyond what they can or will accomplish on a soccer field.  My goal and desire would be to offer them a holistic experience that is life-changing and has an unspeakable impact upon their life.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I am looking for recruits who are hard-working, dedicated, and extremely teachable.  To go further…and I think this is one of the reasons we’ve been blessed to have such a healthy/positive team environment…I am looking for recruits who, simply put, are looking for a program like ours.  I am very intentional about letting recruits clearly know and understand what life will be like here at Trinity—both on and off the field.  I am clear about our goals, our philosophy, and our core values.  I am not necessarily looking for a recruit who has completely ‘arrived’ in these areas…but certainly one who wants to be in an environment/’team culture’ such as the one we are seeking to develop here at TIU.  That meshing of goals and vision help in creating a synergy within the soccer program that lend to a positive overall experience for the student-athlete.

5. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?
As I was saying earlier…particularly in question # 4…I know that I get very excited when a recruit asks questions pertaining to our overall team mission, philosophy, core values, and vision for the future.  It tells me, clearly, that this young man/woman is looking for SO MUCH MORE from their intercollegiate athletic experience than just four years of practices and games…that they are diligently seeking a HOLISTIC and life-changing experience; something we are desiring and hoping to offer every young man and woman who comes through our institution/soccer program.

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

I think that we have been very successful in teaching players that while they are to strive for/be the best they can be within the athletic realm of their lives [as soccer players], there is…at the end of the day…a great purpose and goal for not only their 4-5 years of college, but also beyond their time here at Trinity.  I think we have had great success on the field for many years now…but even greater success at preparing/equipping young men and women for life after college.

7. Why should a recruit consider your program?

I would think that within TIU Soccer, we offer a young person the opportunity to play quality/high-level soccer in a competitive/driven environment…but also, at the same time, leave their college days with a multitude of life lessons/applications that go far above and beyond simply wins, losses, and statistics.  Again, the word that comes to mind for me is ‘holistic’ and I am confident in saying that I think any player who participates in either Trojan Soccer Program will leave here with a wealth of life-lessons that will serve them far beyond the days of their athletic career.

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

The best thing that a young man/woman can do is to contact me via phone [847-317-7094] or email [pgilliam@tiu.edu].  I also would encourage them to go to either of our soccer webpages at www.tiutrojans.com and complete an online/email recruiting profile.  Doing this not only provides me with your background and contact information, but also passes on those same key pieces of information to the Trinity Admissions Office; allowing them, as well, to remain in contact with you.

NCSA had the opportunity to recently interview Coach Steven Kimble from the College of Saint Benedict. Here are some words of advice he has for future collegiate athletes:

Coach Steven Kimble

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?
Competitive, successful, and full of personality.
2. What is unique about the experience at your school?
Women come first at our school. Our female athletes have their own facilities and do not share with the men. We always get prime practice times. We have trainers that are incredibly experienced in dealing with female collegiate athletes. Our full time strength and conditioning staff work exclusively with women. We’re an all women’s college who coordinate with an all men’s college. They have their stuff and we have ours. It’s the best of both worlds.
3. What do recruits need to know about you?

That I want to coach athletes and good people; not prima donnas or complainers. If you were a bench player in high school, and you think the reason for that is the head coach, please look elsewhere.

4. What do you look for in recruits?
Work rate, strength, speed, skill, vision, and confidence.
5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?
Visit campuses of the colleges that you are interested in.
6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?
I like to hear them ask questions about the college itself. It tells me that they are not just choosing a school based on a sport.
7. What turns you off when you are recruiting a student athlete?
When their parents contact me instead of them personally.
8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?
Consistency. Our program hasn’t had a losing season in women’s soccer in over 20 years.
9. Why should a recruit consider your program?
We’re always a winning program, we have an aggressive attacking style of play, and we have a heck of a lot of fun.
10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?
Look us up on csbblazers.com. Email me or complete our recruit form.