The role of the high school coach in the college recruiting process
Coaching
Posted by Matt Krumrie on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 12:48 AM UTC

dannystruck

For the past three seasons Ty Swarm has worked as the head wrestling coach at Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska. Prior to that he spent 11 seasons as an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, an NCAA Division II power.

In other words, he’s been on both sides of the college recruitment process.

“I think the coach plays a supportive role in the recruitment process,” says Swarm. “If the wrestler has solid direction and support from their parent or guardian then the coach’s role will be less. If their parent or guardian is unsure or is not providing assistance in the recruitment process then the coach needs to fill this role to assist their wrestler.”

As the head coach at Jeffersonville High School in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Danny Struck takes pride when a wrestler from his program signs with a collegiate wrestling program. In the past 10 years a total of 27 wrestlers from the Jeffersonville High School program have competed in college and there are currently Jeffersonville wrestlers competing at the NCAA Division I, Division III and NAIA levels.

“Many of them never made it to state,” says Struck. “They loved to wrestle and found a school that suited them. If they want to wrestle, there is a place.”

The collegiate recruiting process is tough to navigate and can be overwhelming for some wrestlers and families.

“I believe wrestlers need assistance from coaches in the recruitment process,” says Swarm. “This is especially true if the coach has knowledge and background on what this process looks like. Often times the recruitment process is foreign to many wrestlers and families.”

Jim Harshaw competed for Pennsylvania’s Seneca Valley High School before a successful collegiate career at the University of Virginia, where he was an All-American and three-time ACC champion. He also worked as an assistant coach at Virginia and Division I head coach at Slippery Rock University.

“The role of the coach changes little from coaching an athlete to helping him get recruited,” says Harshaw. “The coach should be both an advocate and an advisor.”

As an advocate, the coach should reach out to schools that have expressed interest in the wrestler and that the wrestler also expressed interested in, said Harshaw. Some high school wrestlers receive information from 20-plus schools. If a wrestler expresses sincere interest in three to five, then the coach could consider emailing or calling those schools as a reference, says Harshaw.

“As an advisor, the coach should help the wrestler figure out what he wants,” says Harshaw. “Many coaches make the mistake of pushing an athlete toward a school in which the coach has a vested interest — his own alma mater, he’s friends with the college coach or the team attends wrestling camp there.”

However, a coach can objectively advise any wrestler by asking that person three questions, says Harshaw:

1. What does your ideal day on campus look like?
2. What is the main outcome that you want from your college experience?
3. What kind of wrestling program and coach do you want to compete for?

In addition, coaches should assess with wrestlers their actual level of interest in competing beyond high school. Collegiate wrestling is a huge commitment, and just because a wrestler is being recruited doesn’t necessarily mean they are all in.

“I think the most important thing is discussing wrestling at the next level with your athletes and getting a feel for their interest in wrestling in college,” says Swarm. “Once this has been determined then you act accordingly. Promoting the next level of wrestling is important as a high school coach.”

Once a coach and wrestler have determined that there is a desire to compete at the college level then they need to utilize all avenues to market towards the desired level of wrestling, says Swarm. Use technology to your advantage — video, email, social media and phone calls will be a part of the process, says Swarm.

“I try to be realistic with wrestlers about the commitment necessary to wrestle in college while also sharing with them what college coaches are looking for in a student-athlete,” says Swarm.

When a wrestler is recruited, be sure that wrestler follows up on any and all contact, says Struck. While it seems like common courtesy, it doesn’t always happen.

“The kid brags about getting the letter and they don’t respond,” says Struck. “They think the college will stay after them. Kids have to remember that there are roughly 150 state champs per weight class in the country (based on three classes per state with wrestling). If you don’t respond they will move on. Coaches should instill in kids that they always respond. That way they don’t burn a bridge for them or the next kid from your school.”

While coaches aren’t solely responsible for the recruitment process, they should take responsibility, says Struck.

“I complete a bio on all juniors and seniors and send it periodically to all colleges in the country,” says Struck. “I carry this bio with me to big events and pass it out. We also do a six-week college coach clinics where I have kids from our area come in one night a week and invite a different coach from area schools.”

Struck continues: “We all have computers. I send out bios on all my juniors and seniors to every college. Another unique thing we do is have kids actively contact schools. I am our high schools strength and conditioning coach. Every third week in class we take one day and I tell kids, go to the computer lab, write three NAIA schools, or write three junior colleges, or write a DI, DII or DII coach. We teach the kids to go recruit themselves and we contact those schools via the kids. It also teaches kids there are other avenues besides DI.”

Coaches looking for tips on how to assist wrestlers with the recruitment process should take time out of their schedule to do these three things, says Struck:

1. Take kids to the computer lab to have them fill out bios on college sites.
2. Start an email bank of college coaches and let them know about your juniors and seniors.
3. Meet with parents to explain to them the NAIA and NCAA clearinghouse

“I want my kids to be seen,” adds Struck.” I want them to know their many avenues. I try to educate them on the when to do things, how to do things and direct them in an appropriate level of collegiate competition.”

Coaches, remember, just because your kid is successful in your program, or in your area or state, it doesn’t mean college coaches will know about them, or find them. College wrestling recruiting budgets are small, and staffs are limited.

“Just because your kid is a stud does not mean they will get a phone call,” says Struck. “There are literally thousands of state qualifiers per weight class across the country. You have to let the colleges know that you want to wrestle in college and your chances will increase.”

 

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