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More College Search Questions An Athlete Should Ask!Too many future college athletes fall in love with the recruiting process and forget that they are actually the customer/client in this relationship! Yes, we all love the attention those coaches give us. The letters and calls and emails are all flattering to receive. But, at the end of the day, if you don't do your job in finding the program that fits you best, you'll end up unhappy. Being an unhappy student athlete is no fun. It can feel like you have no friends. So, don't be shy and make sure you ask these questions, too! By the way, I'm a former NCAA Division III head basketball coach as well as former NCAA Division III head golf coach and I have many colleagues in the coaching ranks at various levels so if you have any questions please feel free to use my "Ask The Dean" feature where you can fire away any time. Just click on that button near the top of the nav bar on the left side of the page. I really want to help you make a good decison for you! Here's those other questions...
8. What's a typical practice like?Even better than asking, see if you can sit it in on an actual practice. Try to get to one that isn't a recruiting festival where lots of other recruits are in attendance such as is common during a lot of "recruit weekends." That is certainly better than no first-hand view of a practice at all, though.9. Find out the graduation rate for that sport!This is THE reason why you are going to college. Yes, we all have those professional dreams, but make sure you get that degree, just in case!I think it's important to find programs and coaches that value the importance of getting your degree. The proof is in the pudding of the graduation rate!
10. How approachable is the coaching staff if you have a problem with something other than athletics?You want to know how committed the coaches are to your success on and OFF the court. Good coaches want to help you succeed PERIOD. They will do anything they can to assist you. Find a coach that doesn't mind just listening once a while and that runs a successful program and you've got a winner in my book!Those coaches that can't be bothered with non-athletic stuff are the ones that have THEIR best interest at heart, not yours!
11. What's the head coach's overall recruiting philosophy?In a nutshell, you are looking for honesty here. Any good coach will tell you that they are always looking to recruit talented players with great character. Want you want to try to find out is just what does that mean for this coach? Are they "over-recruiters" that recruit a whole new bevy of players each year? Are they "over-promisers" that promise lots of time to everyone?You probably can't ask the coach this one directly, but see if you can talk to a current player about it or even a former player that's now graduated.
12. Find out the coach's playing experience.Not every good coach played at a high level, but I think you want at least someone that played collegiately at some level and understands the stress that gets put on student athletes to perform both on and off the playing surface.13. What's the team chemistry like?You want to try and get to know some of the players even after you ask this one. I would ask about it just to see if the coach has a good handle on it. If they tell you everything is just rosy but then you hear from the players that there's lots of team conflicts going on....well, let's just say that wouldn't be what I'd hope to find.By the way, everyone doesn't have to be buddy, buddy. But, you don't want any part of a situation where people are just way out of line when it comes to being a prima donna. Or, in a situation where folks are at each other's throats constantly about silly, nitpicky things. It happens. Get to know some current players by email. Spend a night with the team if you can. Check it and evaluate how you might fit into the group.
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