How a Mid-Major Beat a BCS for a Top Prospect
Fair timelines, firm deadlines, parent relationships and sleeping soundly
A text I got yesterday from one of our clients is the perfect intersection of a lot of the topics we’ve been covering recently.
This mid-major head coach had been battling a BCS program with bigger facilities, more ‘sports culture’ on campus, and was in a way more prestigious conference.
Because we helped develop a messaging plan, this coach didn’t suffer from the burdens associated with inconsistent communication with a recruit.
The coach also made sure to develop good communication with the parents of the recruit, meaning when we needed the parents to answer an email, text or call from this coach, the relationship already existed to make that happen when the coach wanted.
This coach set a deadline, and stuck to it.
The deadline passed, but because this coach had accurately described the decision making process at their program, there was no panic or running back to the recruit asking if they needed more time, and otherwise seeming desperate and ‘less than’ the programs they were competing against.
Because this coach did it the right way, he told me that he wasn’t panicking or second-guessing himself the night the deadline ended…he said he went to bed and got a great sleep.
The next day, the prospect called (hd couldn’t answer) and then nervously texted, asking if the scholarship was still available.
Had more time been given, had a deadline not been set, had consistent communication not been sent, their chances of landing this caliber of a prospect would not have been good.
Instead, his program landed a big recruit, and their BCS competitor is scratching their head wondering how in the world that just happened. (If, that is, they even know yet…because as we have seen, once a prospect doesn’t want you, they tend to just disappear and not say anything).
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Two big pieces that got a lot of attention from our Honey Badger Recruiting crew these last few days include:
“The Case for Contacting Your Recruit’s Parents First” - it’s counter-intuitive, but it works crazy good. We’ll give you the in’s and out’s we see working for other coaches around the country in this new article.
“You Aren’t Using Your College’s Net Price Calculator Like You Should Be” - a great tool, yes…IF it’s used properly. And, most coaches don’t. Here’s how to not only know how to explain it, but also how it’s making the difference in coaches being able to bring up the topic of money with your recruits’ parents.
Thanks also to our entire Honey Badger Recruiting community for all the great questions! What you talk to me about (dan@dantudor.com) is what we end up talking to all our Honey Badgers about. So…keep talking!