Below is an emotional account of one family’s journey through the recruiting process and a year of college athletics. I debated whether to publish this because it details a journey you won’t want to consider. In the end, I decided it is important for all parents of athletes to read. Have realistic conversations with your […]

Welcome to Interview #98 I am pleased to share with you the wisdom of NCAA Division 2 Men’s Soccer Coach of Saginaw Valley State University, Andrew Wagstaff. Coach Wagstaff and I met almost 20 years ago (the same week Coach Dicicco was leading the U.S. women to a World Cup victory over China in one […]

Do you know that your teen will miss opportunities if they’re not calling coaches and meeting deadlines? I’m anxious and stressed about the college application process…and I’ve been helping kids for over 20 years. I know the anxiety and stress of the college selection process. We have four children. My oldest is a junior in […]

Welcome to Interview #97 I am pleased to share with you the wisdom of NCAA Division 1 Rowing Coach of Lehigh University, Brian Conley. Coach Conley oversees Lehigh’s women’s and men’s rowing programs while coaching the women’s varsity boats. Ever since arriving on campus, Conley has made an immediate impact. The team has continually improved […]

Twenty years ago, coaching for the first time, I first understood the painful economic side of the club teams. One of the best coaches in our club was also a father of four. One of his own children was able to play on his team without paying the coaching fee but he could not afford […]

College Coaches are still not coming to your high school games. I first published this article about five years ago. It has been shared tens of thousands of times and generated a lot of spirited discussion from coaches and parents about if and why college coaches aren’t coming to high school games. Over this time, […]

Is it possible to be a student-athlete? Or will your teen end up feeling like they’re in a vise, being squeezed by both their coaches and professors? Are academics and athletics always in competition with each other? “We are worried about our daughter being able to succeed academically if she’s involved in college athletics.” If […]

Here come the letters from coaches So you got your first letter from a coach. You have worked so hard for the moment when coaches would begin to recruit you.  Nobody is around but your family, so you all do a happy dance. With nervous and excited hands you tear open the letter and read […]

Can you be a multi-sport athlete in college? Fall football. Winter basketball. Spring baseball. Many college athletes were multi-sport athletes in high school; transitioning from sport to sport with the seasons of the year. The best high school athletes can excel as a multi-sport athlete. Is it the same in college? Here is a good article […]

National Signing Day and the Letter of Intent Every year ESPN makes a huge deal about National Signing Day. High School athletes from around the country (exclusively football and basketball players) are paraded on t.v. Football recruiting classes are debated ad naseum. This is only the tip of the ice burg. These are the major […]

I got my athletic scholarship! Why do I still owe money? After years of pouring yourself into your sport, you have that magical conversation with a college coach. You are leaning forward hardly daring to breath. The coach, leaning forward as well, begins the phrase you have dreamed about, “I would like to offer you […]

Dear Student, You are top on our list. We encourage you to apply to our school immediately. We have chosen you because you are an impressive student and athlete. In fact, we are positive that because you can walk and chew gum at the same time, you will excel at our institution. We invite you […]