The Hoops Through Life Podcast delivers recruiting tips DIRECTLY from college coaches. You won't want to miss out on tips from the coaches that could be recruiting you! We will also be interviewing leading experts we believe will assist in the transition to the next level. New episodes drop the first and third Wednesday of every month, and a bonus episode on months with 5 Wednesdays!
Episode 14 - Rodney Rogan
On today’s episode we have Coach Rodney Rogan. Rodney has experience coaching at Nebraska Omaha (Assistant Coach) and Rhodes College (Head Coach). He is currently the head coach at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). The Blue Jays made it to the Sweet 16 of the DIII NCAA tournament.
On this episode we discuss:
- What Coach Rodney looks for at AAU tournaments
- Offering scholarships at the DI level
- How to write an email that sticks out
- How student-athletes get on his radar
- How they handle student-athlete visits across the country
- The hard questions you need to ask when talking to coaches
- The parent’s role in the recruiting process
And much more!
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EPISODE 13 - Lindsey Burke
On today’s episode we have Coach Lindsey Burke. Coach Lindsey has experience coaching at the University of Mary Washington, Bucknell University, and the University of Rochester. She is currently the head coach at Randolph Macon College (Ashland, VA).
On this episode we discuss:
- What tangible basketball skills Coach Burke looks for when on the recruiting trail
- Relationship building in the recruiting process
- The pressures of social media and how to use it to enhance your recruiting process
- Deep dive into your nonnegotiable factors
- How to let coaches know you aren’t interested in their institution
- What recruiting during the college season looks like
- Tips for going on an official visit if you’re shy
And much more!
If you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
Episode 12 - Matthew Donohue
On today’s episode we have Coach Matthew Donohue. Coach Donohue has experience coaching at North Arlington High School, Mt. Oliva High School, Bloomfield College, and Elmira. He has been the head coach at Catholic University for 16 years.
On this episode we discuss:
- The importance of mutual interest
- The evolution of the recruiting process
- How Coach Donohue and his staff decides which summer tournaments to attend
- What a coach’s presence on your sideline means
- What to expect during an on-campus visit
- The importance of time management
- Handling adversity
And much more!
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EPISODE 11 - Allison Spaschak
On today’s episode we have Coach Allison Spaschak. Coach Allison has experience coaching at SUNY Brockport, Randolph Macon College, and is currently an assistant at the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY).
On this episode we discuss:
- Fundamental basketball skills needed to succeed at the next level
- Timeline for the recruiting process
- Tips for student-athletes when reaching out to college coaches
- What non-negotiables you should be asking yourself in the recruiting process
- The questions you should ask coaches when on a visit
- You never know who is watching you, and who they know
- What you should be doing the summer before your first year in college
And much more!
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Episode 10 - Sarah Assante
On today’s episode we have Coach Sarah Assante. Coach Sarah has experience coaching at Southern Maine Community College, Regis College, Washington and Lee University, and Dartmouth College. She is currently an assistant coach at Bryant University (Smithfield, Rhode Island).
In this episode we discuss:
- The importance of relationships throughout the recruiting process
- Being patient in the recruiting process
- Do’s and don’ts when visiting a school for student-athletes and parents
- The role of the student-athlete in the recruiting process
- Why strength and conditioning is important for college athletes
And much more!
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EPISODE 9 - Holly Johnson + Shannon Wagar
On today’s episode we have Holly Johnson and Shannon Wagar; co-owners of Fourth Wall College Consulting. Holly has 10 years of experience working in college admissions and Shannon has extensive experience working with high school students and their families as they navigate the college application process.
On this episode we discuss:
- What to focus on from a college application process during each year of high school
- The importance of interacting with a campus
- Recommendations on how to make your college essay stand out
- The importance of keeping your academic momentum in your 12th grade year
- Recommendations for supplemental financial aid sources
- Updates to the FAFSA and how it's affecting this year's admissions process
- Common mistakes students make in application process
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
Episode 8 - Stephanie Del-Preore
On today’s episode we have Coach Stephanie Del Preore. Coach Steph has experience coaching at all NCAA Division levels. She has experience coaching at Caldwell College, Stevens Institute of Technology, the University of Bridgeport, Seton Hall, and LIU Brooklyn. She is currently the head coach at East Stroudsburg University (East Stroudsburg, PA).
In this episode we discuss:
- How parents and student-athletes can set themselves apart on a college visit
- The realities of an athletic scholarship at the DII level
- The impact of the transfer portal
- The importance of building relationships during the recruiting process and once student-athletes get to campus
- The student-athlete’s role in the recruiting process
- Why communication is KEY
And much more!
If you liked this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 7 - Christine Mabry
On today’s episode we have Coach Christine Mabry. Christine has experience coaching at Averett University and Virginia Wesleyan University. She is currently an assistant coach at Bridgewater College (Bridgewater, VA).
On this episode we discuss:
- The role of social media in recruiting
- How to deal with nerves during the recruiting process
- How the college basketball season impacts recruiting
- Questions to ask the coaching staff when on visits
- Importance of communication in the recruiting process
- What to look out for when watching a college practice
- What to do if you don’t get along with your high school or AAU coach
- How to set yourself up for success academically in college
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
BONUS - Parts 1 and 2
On today’s Bonus Episodes Parts 1+2 we have Diandra Mundle, Brooke Riley, Sarah Sondrol, Sierra St. Cyr, and Olivia Weinel. Diandra, Brooke, Sarah, Sierra, and Olivia are recent graduates and former women's basketball players from Shenandoah University.
On this episode we discuss:
- The individual’s they leaned on during their recruiting process
- How your AAU program can support your college recruitment process
- How they prepared, and what they would do differently to prepare for college physically and mentally
- How to mentally work through not having a lot of playing time in your first year or throughout your career
- The power of surrounding yourself with a supportive and positive community
- The importance of having a well rounded college experience
- The support they leaned on throughout the recruiting process
- The importance of establishing relationships with coaches through the recruiting process
- How they prepared physically and mentally for their first year of college
- The adjustment from high school/AAU to college basketball
- How they got through “mental blocks” during the basketball season
- The process Sierra took to figure out her major
- How they deal with life without basketball
And much more!
You can find these episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 6 - Jered Lyons
On today's episode I sat down with Coach Jered Lyons. Coach Lyons has experience coaching men's basketball at Hood College, Salisbury University, and Eastern Mennonite University. He is currently the head women's basketball coach at Washington Adventist College (Takoma Park, MD). In this episode we discuss:
- The recruiting process from an NAIA perspective
- The questions Coach Lyons asks high school coaches, AAU coaches, and trainers
- The importance of taking ownership of the recruiting process
- Coach Lyon’s “red” and “green” flags for an on campus visit
- Coach Lyons explains how the scholarships at Washington Adventist works
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 5 - Alexa Tovella
On today’s episode I sat down with Coach Alexa Tovella. Alexa has a wealth of knowledge about the recruiting process at the NCAA Division I and Division III levels. Alexa began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Edgewood College. Between 2015-2019 Alexa was on staff at The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, from 2015-2018 serving as an assistant and during the 2018-2019 season she was the acting head coach. In 2019, she found her current home as the assistant at Western Illinois University. In this episode we discuss:
- The power of word of mouth recruiting
- The importance of grades in the recruiting process
- The importance of being interested in the program versus being interested in being recruited
- Why the competition you compete against in high school and AAU matter
- How to separate yourself with the intangibles
- Why it's important to be a good teammate
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 4 - AUDREY CUNNINGHAM
On today’s episode I sat down with Coach Audrey Cunningham. Audrey began her coaching career at the University of Maryland, eventually becoming the director of recruiting operations. She is presently an assistant coach at NYU (New York, NY). In this episode we discuss:
- The role coaches play in the recruiting process
- The recruiting timeline
- The importance of being self-aware in the recruiting process
- The “little things” coaches look for
- The importance of choosing a school based on a 360 degree view
- Self promotion on social media
- What to focus on the summer going into your first year of college
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 3 - Jackie Hartzell
On today's episode I sat down with Coach Jackie Hartzell. Coach Hartzell is the head women's basketball coach at Arcadia University (Glenside, PA). In this episode we discuss:
The importance of:
- Sending full game film to coaches
- Personalizing emails when reaching out to coaches
- Being a self-advocate in the recruiting process
- Expressing your interest OR disinterest in an institution
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you've enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
BONUS - WHAT LEVEL OF PLAY?
In this bonus episode I talk about my three recommendations for high school student athletes who are wondering what level they can play in college. If you're unsure about your skill level you won't want to miss this episode!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 2 - Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft
In this episode I sat down with Coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft. Melissa is currently the head women's basketball coach at Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA). In this episode we discuss:
- Recruiting from the NCAA Division III perspective
- The uniqueness of each student-athlete’s recruiting process
- The importance of FIT in the recruiting process
- The importance of MUTUAL interest
- How to prepare before you go on a visit
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!
EPISODE 1 - Aby Diop
In our FIRST ever episode I sat down with Coach Aby Diop. Aby is currently the head women's basketball coach at Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA).
In this episode we discuss:
- Tips for emailing coaches
- Tips for talking to coaches on the phone
- The role of social media in today’s recruiting landscape
- The impact high school/AAU coaches can have on the recruiting process
- Questions Coach Aby likes to ask student athletes and parents while on visits!
- Actions that might get you crossed off a coach’s list!
And much more!
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you enjoy this episode make sure you subscribe and leave us a review!