Recruiting coordinator-it may be the most fulfilling part time job a parent has ever had.

One of the areas I consistently highlight in my seminars is the pivotal role parents or guardians play in the recruiting process. If you’re fully committed to supporting your prospect’s journey toward the goals of competing in their sport in college and earning a scholarship, you might find that the role of “recruiting coordinator” becomes one of the most fulfilling part-time jobs you’ll ever have. And yes, while the pay may be less than minimum wage (okay, maybe way less), the investment of time and effort will undoubtedly pay off.

As a dad helping my daughter Kaam navigate the recruiting process, I can tell you that this part-time job is one I absolutely embrace. It’s challenging, time-consuming, and sometimes feels like a never-ending to-do list. But it’s also incredibly rewarding, so much so that I encourage other parents to take the reins and get involved if they want their child to truly maximize their opportunities.

So, you might be asking: Is this really a job? Is the pay really that bad? And, How could this possibly be fulfilling? Let me break it down for you.

The “recruiting coordinator” role isn’t a job you apply for, and there’s no paycheck involved. But don’t let that fool you. The time and energy you put in now can pay off in ways that money can’t measure. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for success in the recruiting process and there are few guarantees in this business. However, after nearly 20 years of working with athletes and their families through PrepSearch, I can guarantee that if you follow a proven process and don’t cut corners, the return on investment (ROI) will be well worth the effort.

Let me share an example from my own experience with Kaam to show you how seemingly small actions can lead to big results. Kaam was initially skeptical about the recruiting process, she’d seen it work for many of my clients, but when it came to her own recruitment, she wasn’t convinced that the small, seemingly insignificant steps would yield real results. One of the most common areas where I see resistance, both from clients and from my own daughter, is in the email communication with coaches.

This is part of your “part-time job.” Whether you’re sending the emails on behalf of your child or helping them track and follow up, this is a critical task. Let me give you a concrete example: two of Kaam’s top recruiting targets were in the Big 12. As her recruiting coordinator, it was my responsibility to ensure that her emails were organized, targeted, timely, grammatically correct, and free of errors. And I can’t emphasize this enough: No generic emails. No CC or BCC. Each email should be personalized to the coach and the program.

In May, I instructed Kaam to send an email to a coach at a highly selective public university in the Big 12, two weeks before each of her reginal and national volleyball tournaments. We carefully crafted the message, making sure it was specific, professional, and included her NCAA eligibility center number in the subject line along with her height, position and graduation year. The email was targeted specifically to the coach’s program.

Now, keep in mind that at this point, Kaam wasn’t even considering many of these universities as in  her top choices. However, we were following the process, sending emails ahead of major tournaments to get on the radar of as many coaches as possible. Fast forward to December of that year. Even after switching clubs, we received not one, but five emails from coaches at universities that we hadn’t previously considered. Each email conveyed their strong interest in Kaam. The tone was welcoming and eager: “We are extremely interested in Kaam Mitchell. Please take a look at everything our university has to offer outside of volleyball—academics, culture, student life, and more.”

Those emails were a direct result of the work Kaam did in the spring. This story highlights the importance of consistency and following a proven strategy. Over the years, I’ve seen this formula work for PrepSearch clients time and again. The key takeaway here is that sometimes, the most unexpected opportunities come from areas you never even considered. The process works, but it requires commitment. You can’t take shortcuts. Keep in mind that most of the time, you won’t hear back immediately, and you’ll likely get responses from schools that weren’t even on your radar. But that’s part of the beauty of the recruiting process, new opportunities will emerge that you hadn’t thought of.

So, now that you’re convinced (hopefully!) to fully embrace the role of part-time recruiting coordinator, let’s break down the components of what this role entails. To help put things into perspective, I’ll revisit some of the lessons I’ve learned through Kaam’s recruiting journey.

There are a lot of moving parts in the recruiting process. Between travel for high school and club contests, performance coaches, mental health professionals, tutors, and so much more, it can quickly become overwhelming. That’s why I encourage parents to get into a routine. Dedicate specific blocks of time each week to manage each component of the recruiting process. This will help prevent burnout and ensure you’re staying on top of everything.

Have you taken steps to enhance your prospect’s digital presence? From free apps and social media to paid platforms and websites, there are plenty of ways to help your prospect stand out. Keep everything updated and ensure accuracy. Kaam and I use five free apps,  two social media platforms, and one website to manage her recruiting efforts. Are you building a college list from scratch, using free resources, or are you investing in a paid platform? I recommend using a tool like PrepSearch’s college list builder to organize and refine your list as the recruiting process evolves. The key is to have a list that serves as the foundation for your strategy.

Email communication with coaches is another vital piece of the puzzle. I recommend sending at least five emails to new colleges two weeks before each tournament, showcase or contest. This is a major component of your “job” as a recruiting coordinator. These emails should be targeted, personalized, and trackable. You’ll want to track dates and follow-ups to ensure consistent communication with coaches. Be sure your emails include schedules for upcoming events, updates on your prospect’s high school progress, and the latest video highlights and full contests. As you get new footage from tournaments, showcases, or camps, be sure to replace older clips with fresh content.

Ensure that your prospect’s video footage is up-to-date and readily available. It takes time, but consistency is key. It takes me a few hours each week to do all of these things, but I try to stay on top of each of them so I’m never overwhelmed. Most importantly, it’s the most rewarding part-time job I’ve ever had because I can see how it benefits Kaam’s dream and our ROI. The pay now is terrible, but the value of many athletic scholarships and financial aid agreements is well over six figures. The work you do now will pay off later.

To learn more about PrepSearch and how I’ve helped over 1,700 students attend college through sports since 2007, please explore the rest of my website. For more information about my seminars for high schools and clubs, or to inquire about my recruiting advisory services, feel free to complete the contact form on my website at www.prepsearch.net.

If you know a prospective student-athlete in grades 8-12 who could benefit from additional free exposure to college coaches, have them download the new PrepSearch app today! It’s available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Stores.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prepssearchappsapp

https://apps.apple.com/app/prepsearch-app/id6738037970

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