NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Signing day is about a week away and many athletes out there are wondering what Coaches look for when they offer student athletes scholarships. Coach Bob Chmiel discusses the three things he uses to evaluate players. Coach Chmiel spent seven years as Notre Dame’s Director of Football Operations and Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Coach. Prior, Chmiel was the University of Michigan’s Football Recruiting Coordinator, where he also served as an assistant coach. He was named one of the “Top 11 Recruiting Coordinators of All-Time” in Tom Lemming’s book Football’s Second Season: Scouting High School Game Breakers.

Meet the Millers – a great example of a family working the recruiting process hard and the right way. They’re right in the middle of a very positive recruiting experience and can offer some valuable insights into the process.

The Millers came to hear NCSA’s College Recruiting Simplified at Penn High School in September of 2010, when their son Gabriel (in yellow shirt) was a sophomore on the (5A) Penn High Football team, one of the most respected programs in the nation. Athletic Director Ben Karasiak made recruiting education available that night, and the Large Group Instruction Room was packed.

Gabriel is the Center and Long Snapper for the powerhouse Penn team. He wants to be a Long Snapper in College. His snaps to their Punter are fast, accurate, and consistently timed at .68 – .72 seconds. He is excelling academically with a 3.8 GPA, and Penn is one of the most respected academic high schools in the Midwest. The Millers have taken advantage of the NCSA Network, and came to this year’s presentation at Penn to personally share how it has impacted their recruiting experience since Gabriel entered as a 10th grader. Steffany Miller, Gabriel’s Mom, had this to say:

“I can’t tell enough people about the wealth of information that NCSA has provided us with. My husband Doug and his two brothers each had full rides to college back in the 70′s, so we would have thought things were done the same had we not have gotten the knowledge from NCSA! Now let me tell you, if you are doing everything that needs to be done for your athlete, it will seem like it is another full time job, but it is what it is. They give you all of the information needed to contact the college coaches then you and your athlete just need to get busy and get to work! I can’t imagine all of the time that I have put in to this, that I could have ever expected a highschool coach to have to do for each of their athletes that want to go to college. Parents, you need to be just as committed to the recruiting process as your athlete is, because there is a lot of work to do, but once you receive your first email from a coach, you will know that it has all been worth the effort! Thank you NCSA for all of the tools that you have provided our family with! Especially for directing us to Chris Rubio Long Snapping. What a change that has made in our son! He was committed before, but now has direction, proper instruction, and all of the confidence in the world!”

Besides being in the NCSA Network, Gabriel and his family have received guidance on the top Camps and Exposure events to attend. Many families struggle with this as they want to get their kids out there but don’t know which events are best to attend. Here are Gabriel’s insights on the process so far:

“Last year when my family and I heard Charlie Adams speak at Penn, we approached him after the Talk and brought up that I wanted to be a Long Snapper in college football. He advised me to contact Chris Rubio for long snapping.  That one piece of advice has changed the course of my college recruiting.  I am currently the #7 ranked long snapper for the Class of 2013 in the country via the Chris Rubio rankings, and the #6 ranked snapper for the Class of 2013 via the Kohls rankings.  Chris Rubio has really pin pointed the areas that I needed to work on.  I will be going to the Rubio national event in Las Vegas in January, and I expect to finish well enough to  be ranked in the top 5.  I have watched this year as many of my fellow Rubio longsnappers, and now friends in the class of 2011 and the class of 2012 have receive full scholorships to major D1 colleges.  I have very high expectations that with continued hard work and dedication, I will follow in their footsteps.  I’m not just chasing a dream anymore, but I now feel empowered to climb the ladder of success!  The information that we have gathered from NCSA has been priceless.”

Gabe Miller of Penn High School

I contacted Mrs. Miller and asked her a few questions so I could share some of the insight they’ve gained seeing the recruiting process from the inside:

CHARLIE ADAMS: Steffany, what are some of the misconceptions you feel that families have about the recruiting process?

STEFFANY MILLER (Gabriel’s mother) “I think that many families think that the colleges are going to come seeking out their athlete, when in most cases, that is just not going to happen.  Also many think that it is their high school coach’s responsibility to have a college scholarship all wrapped up for their athlete. I feel that the high school coach should be willing and able when contacted by a coach to give their recommendation, but they just don’t have time to do all of the leg work for every athlete. ”

CHARLIE ADAMS: What are the top 3 things you all have learned so far about recruiting?

STEFFANY MILLER: “It is alot of work, but with the help of NCSA it is so much easier!  You have to be pro-active and let colleges know that you are interested in them.  My son’s position is specific, so he asks the coach if they are going to need a long snapper in his graduating class.  They will tell you if they are interested, if they are pretty sure they aren’t going to need that position filled, they will generally let you know, and you just move on.  When they are interested they will ask for more films, and for you to keep in touch with them.  Don’t get discouraged!”

“Start early, and stay positive.  My sons two top college teams recruited their long snappers out of the graduating class ahead of him. He could have gotten upset, but it just motivated him to work harder!”

CHARLIE ADAMS: Getting back to the role of the high school coach, what do you think are fair expectations of the  Coach in recruiting and how have you worked with Penn High head football coach Cory Yeoman?

STEFFANY MILLER: “Gabriel keeps Coach Yeoman very up to date on all of the camps that he attends, and how he does at them.  We have let him know that we are working with NCSA, and each time Gabriel talks with a different college, he lets Coach Yeoman know that someone might be contacting him.  We believe it is our job to send the college coaches to Coach Yeoman requesting information about Gabriel, and we would hope then that he would give them his take on how Gabriel would fit into their program.  Penn High uses Hudl to tape all of the games, so we go through each play of every game to make his highlight films.  We have the new highlight film updated every Friday night and continually send the updates to every college around.”

CHARLIE ADAMS: Steffany, what are the 2 things you have found most helpful about the NCSA? Athletic Recruiting Network?”

STEFFANY MILLER: “The Recruiting Management System for the athletes is absolutely fabulous. It pulls all of your hard work together in a very professional presentation.  NCSA also then sends out your profile to all of the colleges that your athlete matches up to.  If you want it sent to other colleges, you are able to do that because of all of the information that you have learned from NCSA.  Their athlete webinar calls are so informative, and it really keeps the athlete (and parents) on track and focused on what needs to be done next!”

It is critical to get into the Network to see what kind of College programs you might qualify for…

To Learn More about how to have Success in Recruiting like the Miller Family…

NCSA has over 30 Recruiting Expert Speakers including former Notre Dame receiver Derrick Mayes, former Clemson soccer standout John Wilson, award winning Journalist Nicole Watson, Coach Rich Hoffman – who coached Alex Rodriguez in High School, former Wisconsin running back Cecil Martin, and many more. To bring a Recruiting Expert to speak at your School, Club or Event

Charlie Adams, NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Speaker

cadams@ncsasports.org

To follow Charlie’s insights on Facebook

           Most people are unaware that of the 1700+ colleges in the U.S that sponsor collegiate athletics and are able to offer financial packages, 24% of those schools are members of NCAA Division III, more than any other NCAA Division.  Many high school athletes, when starting the recruiting process, are quick to avoid Division III for reasons such as cost and what they believe is a low level of competition.  Division III is a great choice for many athletes because it offers superior opportunities in playing time, a high level of competition, and a great education.

            Many sport stars for various Division III colleges are undoubtedly D-I caliber athletes, but they chose to play D-III for one reason: playing time.  Countless players attend Division I schools with hopes of athletic stardom and end up sitting on the bench for four years, or making it onto special teams at best.  Athletes who attend D-III schools usually have the opportunity to play for four years and enjoy massive athletic success.  Pierre Garcon, a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, attended Division III powerhouse Mount Union.  In four years as a starter, Garcon averaged over 60 catches, over 1000 yards, and 15 touchdowns per season, earning two-time D-III All American honors.   

            With over 400 colleges offering school-sponsored athletics, Division III provides a highly competitive athletic system.  Many D-III athletes have the opportunity after one or two years of success at their school to transfer to a D-II or D-I program, but instead choose to stay with their respective school.  Division III athletics are home to some of the most dedicated and hard working student-athletes in college sports.

                Possibly the biggest draw of Division III sports is the academic opportunity that comes with them.  Schools with D-III programs such as Johns Hopkins, MIT, CalTech, Emory, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Williams, Tufts, Amherst, and many more, boast the top academic reputations in the country.  Division III athletics  provide an opportunity for student athletes to obtain a level of education that they may not have had without sports, getting into these top colleges.  Athletics at these D-III schools provide smaller class sizes and more academic assistance than large public schools, resulting in academic success.   If the student-athlete chooses to end his or her athletic career after college, he or she will have a degree from a top academic college providing great opportunities in the working world, along with all the skills and values learned from college sports.

            Division III athletics provide opportunities for a student-athlete to play all four years, compete at a very high level, and obtain a high level education that he or she may not have had the opportunity otherwise.  It is a great athletic and academic opportunity that every high school recruit should seriously consider while going through the college sports recruiting process.

NCSA recently received feedback for the College Coach’s Corner from Loras’ Baseball Coach, Daniel Wellik:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Personable, demanding, and understanding.  As a younger coach it is easy for me to relate to players, as not too long ago I was in their shoes.  I expect alot out of my athletes and in turn hope they expect alot out of me.  We are all together for common goals so we hold each other accountable.  I feel that I expect alot but am fair in doing so.  I also understand that sometimes things don’t go as planned and being able to adapt is one of my strengths.

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

First and foremost, Loras College is a wonderful place with great people.  The people are what makes Loras, you will not find a friendlier atmosphere where young people turn themselves into responsible adults.  It is a great place to learn and grow at.  A few things other things to note would be that we are a smaller school (enrollment 1800) and that we are a laptop computer campus in which every student receives a computer and where technology is used in the classroom on a daily basis.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

We are here to help you become who you want to be.  As cheesy as the NCAA television commercials are about student-athletes going pro in other things than sports, it is true.  There are so many things outside of baseball that we try to help our athletes with.  From internships, to studying abroad, to learning important things about life in general.  We try to teach our kids how to be most importantly good people who will be good husbands, fathers, and members of their community.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

Ability is the first thing that most coaches look for and so do we, we want kids that can help us win.  Second, we look at the person academically usually over a 3.0 gpa and 20 act.  There are also other things like character, internal drive, and we want kids that want to be at Loras not kids that want to be somewhere else.

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

Be honest with themselves and with coaches.  Always keep the lines of communication open and let coaches know if you are or are not interested.  Coaches would rather hear no than not hear anything at all.  Also, look at what the school is offering you and ask yourself if that is what you want.  We have had kids who have picked other schools when they don’t have their majors.

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

I like to hear questions about goals we have for our program and the future.  I also like questions about what we see in them as players.  It gives them a good idea about how much we are interested.

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

When they don’t respond.  If I contact a young man and they don’t respond in a reasonable amount of time, it frustrates me becasue I don’t know if they are not interested or are.

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

I feel like we are successful in instructing and teaching the game of baseball the right way.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

The opportunity to play with outstanding teammates, be coached by outstanding coaches, and receive a degree that will set them up for success for the rest of their life.

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

Email me at daniel.wellik@loras.edu or they can go to our baseball webpage at www.duhawks.com and fill out a prospective athlete questionnaire.

College Coach’s Corner – Simmons College Women’s Tennis Coach, Bob Rauseo:

How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I’m all about the preparation.  If we can prepare as much as possible then the results will follow.  Its a nice a feeling entering a match or tournament knowing that you did what is necessary to succeed.

What is unique about the experience at your school?

Simmons is unique in that we have a lot of nursing majors. It is not uncommon to see our players in scrubs before or after practice. We’re also an all women’s undergraduate college.  I believe this adds to the overall camaraderie that we share.

What do recruits need to know about you?

Recruits should know that I expect a lot from my players, both on the court and in the classroom.  We have been very successful by focusing  on both academics and athletics.

What do you look for in recruits?

In no particular order, I look for “Head, Heart, Legs”.   Players who are intelligent enough to make adjustments, will fight to the very end and get to as many balls as possible.

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

I like to have my recruits meet my team.  Even better is if they can do an overnight visit.  It is important to know the caliber of teammates that you might be playing with.  Also, the players will give a lot of insight to the recruit.

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

I like to hear recruits ask about the academic/tennis balance.  It is important for them to be aware of the commitment which is necessary as part of a winning program.

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

The main turn-off for me are when prospects are unable to meet the requirements they need to meet — when they can’t or don’t return their application, financial aid, and housing materials in a reasonable amount of time.  If you are unable to handle your private business, you will be unlikely to be a productive member of our organization.  I also am very turned off by prospects who do not treat their parents and those with whom they come in contact on their visit with respect.

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

We’ve been very successful at getting the most out of our players. At the end of four years, I want my players to feel like they worked hard to be the best player they could be.  We provide as many opportunities as possible so that players can go as far as their game will take them.

Why should a recruit consider your program?

The first reason that a recruit should consider our program is the opportunity to play for a winning team. We’ve won out conference five out the last six years and have played in three NCAA tournaments.  We recently won a round in the NCAA’s for the first time. With our success comes a confidence which players can use in all facets of their life.  I love the idea of such a small school playing at a national level.

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

I can be reached by email at robert.rauseo@simmons.edu.  Or, my office number is 617-521-1043.

Coach Burdette from Kenyon College found time for NCSA to let recruits know a little more about their baseball program and recruiting. Here is what he had to say:

 1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I would describe myself as a player’s coach because I have walked a mile in their shoes. I went to a selective academic Division III institution, much like Kenyon, and competed at a high level on the baseball field. I understand the trials and tribulations they are going to go through on a day to day basis and throughout the four years.

2. What is unique about the experience at your school?
I truly believe that Kenyon is unique in the fact that it is a national campus, very selective academically and has been a tremendous baseball program. Not many places are able to offer all of that in one package.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?
Recruits need to know that I will ask them to be first-class in the classroom, on the field and in the community. In that same fashion, the baseball program will be run in a first class manner – from the way we run practice, to the schedule, equipment, uniforms and attitude we bring to the park every day.

4. What do you look for in recruits?
Recruiting at Kenyon encompasses the three major pieces that I’m sure all colleges have: academics, finances and ability to play baseball. However, my focus has to begin with the academic side because of the selectivity, and then it’s about how passionate and talented the student-athlete is playing the game.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?
Market yourself. I can’t possibly see or know about all the talented student-athletes that are out there but I will track down any lead that comes my way. (Call, Email, Video, On-Line Questionnaire).

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?
I like recruits that are fearless – guys that are not worried about depth charts or the rigors of the academics. So questions that pertain to how successful they can be and not worried about how difficult the challenge might be.

7. What turns you off when you are recruiting a student athlete?
One turn-off is when a student-athlete remarks how he doesn’t like his coach or that his coach doesn’t know what he’s doing. Another big one is when the student-athlete is disrespectful to his parents.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?
Our program is about 100% graduation rates, scoring runs and winning big games. We have had some tremendous victories over some big-time programs and we want to continue our ascent to elite status.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?
A recruit should consider Kenyon because we care about the entire student-athlete. It’s not all about wins and losses, although we want to win all the games, but more about developing a great player, great student and great person.

10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?
Contact me via e-mail (burdettem@kenyon.edu), phone (740-427-5810 – office), mail (Baseball Office, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio 43022) and fill out our on-line questionnaire (http://www.kenyon.edu/). Also send video if you have it and a summer showcase/game schedule.

We appreciate Coach Burdette’s time and effort in putting this information together. Feel free to reach out to him to learn more about his program by using the information above.

Recently, I’ve had a number of conversations with 2008 HS grads who didn’t receive any help in the recruiting process.  These are student-athletes playing various sports at D1, D2, D3, and the Juco level.   These conversations were also with student-athletes who never got the chance to play beyond high school.   One thing was common to all I spoke with:  They didn’t receive any help in the recruiting process.  All expressed a wish to do the process over.  Of course, they’ll never have that chance.

I’ve also spoken with over 6,000 families about recruiting and I understand what their hopes, dreams, and desires are.   To put them in a few categories would be unfair.  Every situation is unique to that family.  So each definition of success is unique.  However, there are some common themes that emerge – in no particular order.  First, a large number of families define recruiting success as getting scholarship money to play a sport in college.  For those who have read these pages and all of our education materials, you realize that scholarships are more likely to be “partial” not “full” scholarships.  Second, recruiting success is attending a college where the student-athlete gets to play.  Over 80% of the student athletes I speak with would like to play during their freshman year in college.  Most student-athletes have never sat the bench in their lives.  Third, parents want to ensure that their children graduate.  Most realize that a child’s success in the classroom will correlate with their success on the playing field.  Those parents want the college coach to care as much for their child as they do.  Fourth, student-athletes want to play at a college where they can study what they want.  Most parents don’t realize that this isn’t available at all colleges.  Some are shocked to find out that some college coaches dictate the degrees their student-athletes can pursue.  Finally, adults realize better than their children that the college decision will impact their child for the rest of their lives.  That’s at least 60 years in this day and age.  Getting that decision right is crucial!

So knowing all of this, why do parents insist on entering the recruiting process without competent help?  Why do they think that the “fan in the stands” who had their 2^nd cousin, once removed get recruited knows anything about college recruiting?  Why do parents think that someone who was recruited 20 years ago, know about recruiting today?  Why would a student-athlete rely on the high school coach in this process?  Most HS coaches don’t have the time or resources to help a child find “Recruiting Success”.  They don’t spend enough time getting to know the family to find out what that definition of success is.  Why do parents spend thousands of dollars on activities that will not help their child get recruited?  I’ve heard of families sending their kids to Australia, Hawaii, Europe, and other exotic destinations thinking this will help their child’s recruiting resume.  This is a foolish waste of resources if you have limited funds to devote to recruiting success. 

What is recruiting success?  It’s what you define it to be.  But a family needs to clearly write down those expectations so they can achieve success.  If you need expert help to achieve recruiting success, click here.

Training for combines can be a critical part of your success. After all, you don’t want to look like “Average Guy,” below.

While almost every recruit spends hours training to excel at camps and combines most recruits don’t spend nearly as much time worrying about how they will get their results to college coaches.  The NCAA bans coaches from attending combines, so recruits usually assume they will simply get the results off the net.  While coaches may be actively checking for the top 2 or 3 performers in camp, what about the other couple hundred (or more)?  Chances are their results will go for naught unless they actively take steps to get them to college coaches.

Recruits need to pair their results with the rest of the information coaches need to build a Recruiting Profile.  This entire package needs to be sent to college coaches.  Ideally it should come from a trusted 3rd party to ensure it gets viewed.  If you aren’t doing all of this, you might as well be “Average Guy.”

NCSA recently had a chance to attend the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Convention held in Nashville. The time at the convention allowed NCSA staff to network with the college coaches and build on those relationships allowing us to help our NCSA student-athletes find the right college fit. NCSA speaker, Bridget Venturi, joined me in attending the convention meeting over a 100 coaches on the two days of the exhibitor event.

Talking with the coaches at the event to find out what needs they have and where they are in the recruiting process was very valuable. A topic with many of the college coaches was about communications during the recruiting process. It reinforced the things that we at NCSA teach our student-athletes in our coaching sessions:

Coaches emphasized:

• They do want to hear from the student themselves – the high school athlete needs to be prepared to talk and communicate with the college coach by answering questions thoroughly and having some questions of their own to ask. Some coaches have mentioned that they have stopped recruiting students when parents are too involved and the students are not the ones communicating with the colleges.

• Getting back to the coaches in a timely manner and also providing information that the coaches request from the student-athlete.

• Grades are essential and coaches emphasize the students taking the honors and AP classes through out high school.

• Be honest in communication – hear the coach out before saying ‘no’. Learn enough about the college and softball program before declining an invitation for a visit. Best is to take a visit to know for sure if the school is a good fit or not.

• Coaches said the intangibles such as: character, maturity, leadership and how they treat their teammates are often the best way to separate potential recruits.

• It is more about overall fit with the student-athlete and the college than just about how much money that the school gives them to play softball. They want student-athletes who want to come to their school and want to be a part of their softball program for all the right reasons.

Much of the information we received from the college coaches reaffirmed the value of finding the right overall fit. This means looking at the college for the right

I recently had an opportunity to ask Steven Fisher, of San Marcos High School in California, a few questions about his experience at the Team One Futures Game which was recently played on October 23^rd in Peoria, Arizona. Here is the quick interview:

It is quite the honor to be invited to play in the Team One Futures Game. How did you receive the invitation?

I was noticed for the Futures Game at a Team One event located at Orange Coast College. From there I was invited to play in a Team One All American preseason event where I was a standout among others from across the nation. The Team One preseason event was a compilation of all the best kids from this 36 team, preseason event. Again, all the kids from the pre-season event were seen somewhere in the nation and were the best from whatever state they came from. From there the best kids from the pre-season event were selected for the Team One Futures Game.

It sounds like a lot of fun; can you describe your time at the Futures Game?

The Futures Game was tons of fun, not only did I have the chance to show my talents in front of many college recruiters, I also got to play against the best kids in the nation that are my grade. We started the night off by going through a major league style workout. First we stretched, took batting practice, took grounders and prepared for the game. We played in the Peoria Stadium Complex where many great major leaguers have played.

Did you learn anything while you attended the event?

Oh yes, one thing that I learned while I was there was that baseball is such a fun and simple game and can be seen in so many ways. We were around coaches from around the nation and they knew so many little things about the game. Just being around those coaches rubbed off and created a relaxing atmosphere and brought the fun in the game out. Even though this was the biggest event I had been to the coaches seemed to really lighten the mood and bring the best out of us, keeping the game loose and competitive. I really enjoyed myself.

What kind of exposure did you receive while playing there?

There were more than 30 college recruiters sitting in the stands with radar guns pointed directly at home plate all writing. It was pretty neat.

Since you have gained experience playing in a big game with a lot of scouts, what advice can you give to other student-athletes if they ever have an opportunity like that?

Take a step back and look at the big picture. The game of baseball is very simple and hasn’t changed much since it was created. When you step into the batter’s box and see your name on the score board, go ahead take in the moment, it’s pretty awesome, but make sure you step out of the batter’s box and clear your head before the at bat begins. Go out there with confidence, but remember to play your game and not try to impress the scouts.

Tell us about what you’ve learned since being with NCSA. 

Since I have been with NCSA I have learned many valuable tips from the coaches and advisors there, but most importantly I’ve learned from the coaching calls where I had a coach or player or somebody talk to me or the group about their lifetime experiences and what they would do if they had a second chance. Now, as I am getting older, I am starting to understand that you only get one chance at life. This is definitely one thing that drives me to continuously get better and to chase my dreams full speed ahead. NCSA is definitely a place that can help me if I have questions about college, future, or daily life.