Randall University Women’s Soccer – Coach Byron Gutierrez
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Byron from the Randall Women’s Program in Oklahoma. We talk about his mix of recruiting areas. He describes the school’s small, family-friendly environment. Lastly, we discuss all the various athletic department staff and how they support the program. Learn more about Randall University Women’s Soccer.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Byron from Randall university in Oklahoma. Welcome coach. How are you today? I’m good, Matt. Thank you for having me. Thanks for being here. Excited to talk to you. Randall’s an NCCAA school and, uh, you know, I, I coached, uh, in NCCAA a lot, many, many moons ago, but, uh, and of course they always have their finals.
Not too far from me down here in Florida, um, the old Austin Tyndall complex, right?
Coach: Mm hmm.
Matt: Um, so. We’re talking here. It’s May. I’m guessing maybe the students have even gone home at this point. I don’t know, or we’re getting ready to at least. Um, so in terms of your recruiting for for the fall, I mean, are you are you wrapped up?
You still looking for a few more pieces? What’s your normal kind of timeline when it comes to recruiting?
Coach: Yeah, so around this time, we’re getting done with, uh, with this upcoming fall season, um, with recruits. And now we’re kind of into the thick of things for the 2025 class coming up.
Matt: So, so in terms of, you know, I, I know it was challenging for me recruiting at the NCCAA level and you guys are NCCAA division two, which means no athletic scholarship.
So where do you. [00:01:30] Primarily target, um, your recruiting efforts. Is it, uh, certain types of schools, certain clubs, or, uh, you know, was it primarily local international? What’s kind of your, your recruiting base usually?
Coach: Yeah. Um, and so we’re located in Oklahoma city. So a lot of, uh, local players, local clubs as well that I go and try and recruit and build relationships with students as well as with the club coaches or high school coaches.
Um, and then we’re only about 2 and a half hours from the Dallas area, um, and Dallas is a big pool of great soccer players, regardless of what clubs they play at. And so, um, that is also another recruiting hotbed that I try to go to when there’s big tournaments. Um, there and then the Tulsa area, which is about an hour and 20 minutes from Oklahoma City.
And so that that’s really my main, um, recruiting focus. Um, but we also do a lot of branding through social media. So Twitter, Instagram, um, and we’ve actually gotten a hold of, of a player or two, uh, just because of that as well. So we have a player upcoming, um, for the fall season from. Nashville, Tennessee, and she, she found us on Instagram.
And so, um, so locally in person, more than likely Tulsa, Oklahoma city and Dallas. Um, but we’re open, you know, to anybody in [00:03:00] the country using our social media brand. So.
Matt: Well, hopefully the, hopefully this podcast will expose some people to Randall that weren’t familiar and, uh, maybe we’ll, we’ll get you one or two just from this, but, uh, so in terms of, you know, going to events and things, do you also, uh, work any ID camps?
Do you guys host ID camps? Are they part of your recruiting mix at all?
Coach: Um, I do work, uh, quite a bit of ID camps. Um, I’ve worked, uh, or Roberts university ID camp, um, I work every year at the Oklahoma State Women’s Elite ID Camp as well. Um, it’s just a big mixture of players. Um, you know, they’re very, the D1 coaches, Coach Carmichael.
And coach Austin, you know, very welcoming and letting other colleges that aren’t competing against them, uh, to come work those I. D. camps and scout and it gives, uh, it gives the players an opportunity to be able to be scouted by other colleges as well. Um, you know, you don’t see those I. D. camps very often where there’s a multitude of coaches, you know, all the way from D 1 other D 1 schools all the way down to N.
C. C. A. And so I try to work those ID camps as much as I can. Um, we, we host an ID camp once a year. Um, it’s in the very beginning of the fall season. Uh, and more than likely it’s for local players, but, uh, right now with 2025 class, you know, those players will also get invites to come to those ID camps. Um, not necessarily a moneymaker, but players that are really serious about us.[00:04:30]
Matt: Yeah, no, that’s fantastic. All right. Well, it is. You know, one of the things that’s kind of blown up recently is, is the transfer portal and then, uh, you know, it seems also that college soccer is drawing a lot more attention from international recruits. So do you guys get, uh, any inner, are you looking internationally at all?
Do you, I know you obviously don’t have access to the portal, but are you working, uh, on any transfers? Is that part of your recruiting mix?
Coach: Um, and so for the transfers, you know, we have to, I kind of have to wait and see if anybody wants to come to us. We actually this past spring, we actually got a transfer from N.
C. A. Division two, you know, to us. And so we’re excited about having her for the fall season. Um, internationally, previously the school has worked a lot of internationals. Um, this fall Uh, we haven’t had any internationals as of right now, but it doesn’t mean we’re not trying to work on them as well. And so, um, really, whatever players that we can try and find, but yes, we most definitely try to work every avenue possible for us so we can, you know, continue to, to build something here at Randall.
So.
Matt: Okay. Well, whether it’s at an ID camp or a showcase or any of these things, what is it that you’re looking for in a player? Kind of what makes up that hierarchy of things you’re, you’re recruiting for, whether that’s on the field attributes or off the field stuff.
Coach: Yeah. Off the field stuff. Um, you know, when we go to tournaments or when we talk to [00:06:00] local players, um, you know, we try to find out about their academic standing, you know, we’re a small private Christian school.
Okay. And so they, they focus on the academics. The school does, you know, a lot more than than this than just being a student athlete. And so off the field, you know, how are their GPA, you know, what’s their or scores. You know, what degree planner you want to get into? Um, you know, and if you get a good feel, you know, some students are not very good test takers, but they have a high GPA, then, you know, the more likely they’re going to do pretty good at our school if they’re great test takers and they have a high GPA, like, okay, now, this is somebody we’re seriously wanting to talk to, um, and then off the field and then on the field.
Um, you know, if they can play soccer, you know, what type of level they’re playing at? Um, you know, how long have they been playing? You know, they had to have a competitive drive because the N. C. C. A. It’s like the wild, wild west out here with scheduling or, or, or playing teams, you know, and so they have to have a competitive drive to really, like, understand what you’re about to get into.
Um, and so, and we see that on the field, whether it be club soccer, um, some high school games as well. And so academically, if they’re in a good standing. And then. On the field, if they can, if they’re okay to compete, like, you know, understand that it’s going to be a grind. Um, and you can see those things on the field as well and [00:07:30] talk to club coaches, high school coaches and things like that.
Matt: So, yeah, for sure. All right. Well, let’s shift gears. Let’s talk a little bit more, uh, about the schools. I’m sure some folks aren’t familiar with Randall. So what do you enjoy about it? What drew you to it? What are some awesome things you found about the school? Maybe some things you wouldn’t even know by going through the website.
Coach: Yeah. Um, You know, some people that even live in the town don’t know about Randall. So that that’s okay, you know, um, and we’re, we’re trying to, you know, put ourselves out there a little bit as well. Uh, you know, it’s a small private Christian school. Um, and what I like about it, it does feel like home, you know, if, if you’re a student or if you’re a person that is okay with a small campus.
Um, It’s a family friendly environment. That’s what drew me into the school. You know, I can I can take my daughter to school without any issues, not feeling out of place. The students can go. Around the school, talk to anybody, whether it be professors, the president or a d, um, you know, and feel and feel good about it.
Our classes are small. So the students really enjoy that that that decide to come there because they get to focus on their academics and their teachers, their professors becomes their tutor. Essentially, it’s a, it’s a bigger campus than what 40 acres. But you can only see one big building off the interstate.
And so, okay, I’m like, yeah, this is, this is good. And, [00:09:00] um, yeah, uh, you know, when I, when I first took the job, um, I, I knew it was going to be, you know, pretty hard. Um, but I have the backing of our president, of our AD, of our admissions team, everybody there, and so I really do feel comfortable at home, you know, being at Randall University and, and they also let me enjoy my family time as well, you know, I, I think it’s important to have a good work.
And home balance and allow me to do that as well as a student athletes. So,
Matt: yeah, that’s great. Well, sometimes, uh, for, for high school kids going into a college environment, you know, it’s a big shift, let alone, you know, making the shift to collegiate athletics and you. I know all coaches, parents, teachers, everybody wants, uh, those student athletes to be successful on the field as well as in the classroom.
Uh, so making that transition can be tough. What, what support systems does the school have in place where the team have in place to really help, you know, players be successful both on the field and off.
Coach: Yeah. And so we have. We have a study hall, you know, the students can always go and study hall and make sure they get their work done.
The professors know their professors are also their advisors. So, if I’m going into, like, an exercise science program, the teacher is going to teach me is also is also my advisor. So, the teacher already knows that the students can be a student [00:10:30] athlete, and so they work around the schedule to make sure that they work with practices or games the students.
Just have to be in consistent communication with the professors. Um, and then also with us coaches as well. Um, you know, we have biweekly meetings to where we check upon their grades, make sure that they’re okay. If we need to talk to the professor, we can. Um, so it’s a little bit more hands on in that sense.
Um, and then also understanding that the class is smaller, so don’t hesitate to reach out to the, to the teacher at any time. But a lot of that is on the students, but a lot of it is on me as well to make sure that the student athlete. Um, is engaged with their academics during the season. And, and then we also have counselors on campus, whether it be mental health counselors or, or tutors to help out our students, you know, on the academic side.
Matt: Okay. Well, let’s kind of rewind it back to the fall. You, you, you. What would a typical week look like for your players in terms of when our practices, classes, meals, what’s your normal game cadence? What would a typical week look like for somebody?
Coach: Yeah, so, um, you know, I’m working on the schedule to make sure to see who we have.
Um, and what classes and whatnot. And so it looks like everyone’s starting around nine o’clock for classes. Um, then on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have chapel, uh, from 10 30 to 11. I’m [00:12:00] sorry, 1040 to 1130. Um, then we have lunch and the students go back to class after lunch. Um, and then our practices start from 2 to 4, uh, and this is a fall season.
Um, and then games are, we typically, we try to do Tuesdays and Fridays. you know, Tuesday’s away games, Friday’s home games. Um, and so yeah, that’s for the fall season, the spring season. We practice right now two times a week. Um, it’s just a little bit slower paced, you know, on on this spring semester. We try to get the students to really focus on the academic side because we’ve asked so much of them for the fall season.
And then the summer, we give them a summer packet. Um, and then we also host some practices on campus as well, where they have to practice on their own, but we’re able to watch them do that. And so. Um, traveling for the fall season, the furthest will travel is like 6. 5 hours. Um, but our games are regionally.
So Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas city, um, that’s where we’ll be traveling for our games.
Matt: So, okay. In terms of, of the school itself, and I’m not holding you to, you know, super hard numbers here, but, uh, just to give folks an idea, um, what would a typical cost of attendance look like for one of your players?
Obviously they’re not getting athletic money, but what kind of other aid is available, what. You know, what does [00:13:30] tuition, room and board, all that kind of roughly look like?
Coach: Yeah. Um, you know, I, I guess the most, the school can cost us 28, 000 a year. Um, that’s without any grant scholarships, anything like that.
Um, you know, some players can typically. Pay 20, 000. And that’s before scholarships that the institution offers. So we have, we do have institutional scholarships that the institution does offer to bring down those costs. Financial aid is a big thing for us as well. Um, we have something specifically called Oklahoma promise, um, that pays, it helps pay for tuition as well for the school.
Um, and so the most maybe a student would pay is maybe 20, 000. 20, 000 a year. And that’s, that’s again, um, that’s what the very minimum scholarships. Uh, but we also have students coming in that are not paying a dime, uh, to go to our school. And so, uh, you know, something we talk about when we are recruiting, um, players, I always talk to the parents first and foremost.
Um, because I try to be transparent as possible and talking to them about money. You know, if the school costs too much, then okay, like there’s no reason for you to come here. Um, but if the school is a, is affordable through their budget, then this is somebody I can continue to recruit, um, because it fits into at least, you know, financially what they’re trying to look for.
Matt: Absolutely. Um, well, [00:15:00] let’s, let’s talk more, uh, about the, the team and the soccer side of things. I know you’re still kind of wrapping up that recruiting class, but what, what is a roster size that you find is ideal that you’re trying to hit each year?
Coach: Yeah, well, so last year was my first year at Randall. Um, I’ve had to learn a lot about recruiting.
Um, just how, how the. System works, um, especially being a N. C. C. A. Division two school. Um, so last year we, uh, we played a whole season with only 11 players and so, um, we had no major injuries, um, a lot of rest, a lot of recovery for our players. Um, and, and just, and I’ll add to it, but we made it to our, our semifinals, our regional championship, you know, we lost, we lost 4 1.
Um, and so for this upcoming season, you know, my main focus was like, okay, we need subs. And so, um, the fall season looks like we’ll have around 18 players. Um, which is great, you know, for us. Um, and so I, I don’t necessarily know what a good roster number is because we’ve only had 11 last fall and we’re looking to have 18, uh, 18 for us.
This fall will be absolutely amazing. I know the girls are extremely hyped up about it, um, due to the fact that they’ll have subs. But also the incoming freshmen, you know, they’ll probably more likely to [00:16:30] contribute throughout the season. And so, right now, typically, we’re looking to have 18 to 20 players.
For the season. So,
Matt: well, I, I just want to say congratulations on that because to, to no, seriously, I, my first year coaching, uh, NCCAA and it was also NCAA division two, my last game, I took 12 too. So I get it. Um, you know, the timing of some of these hirings can be tough to actually recruit that first year for sure.
But. To, to have the season you did with 11 is, is very, very commendable and congrats on getting up to 18. That’ll help you out for sure. Um, so, so awesome. Um, talk to me about, uh, about other staff, whether you have other coaching staff or their other support staff in the athletic department, who else kind of helps out with the team during the course of a year?
Coach: Um, so last year we had, um, we had a player that graduated and, uh, you know, I talked to her. Um, and she stayed for the season, um, so she helped me out quite a bit, especially getting to know, like, the teams that we’re playing against, uh, what the typical college schedule looks like, because it was new to me, um, and so she, she did a great job of helping me with that, um, and she moved on to go pursue her GAPE.
Um, yeah, her G. A. Um, and you know, I was a very like, go, go do it, you know, um, and so this, this upcoming season, uh, we’ll [00:18:00] have a former player of mine just this past fall and she’ll stay with us. Um, she’s going to be our goalkeeper coach. And then right now we’re looking for an assistant coach. You know, for the upcoming fall season with these positions, um, they are volunteer positions.
So it’s just, you know, I try to look for people that want to get into the college game, you know, and make sure that we add this to the resume, um, because it is, it’s college soccer. You know, we may be smaller than a lot of schools, but it’s still a season. It’s still a grind. And so anybody that can help us out.
So it’s usually former players that we try to look for a female specifically as well. Um, you know, cause they’re women and. I have a few girls that, you know, I just don’t know how to deal with sometimes and I’m talking about my house. And so, uh, it’s always good to have a coach that reflects what we have on and off the field.
Um, and then for, you know, our athletic director helps us out with, with anything we may need, um, you know, budget wise, you know, maybe some things that we need for the season like benches or, or food and drinks, things like that, parents as well. Uh, I actually. Try to include the parents quite a bit into our college season because we have a lot of local players.
Um, and so parents don’t don’t scare me. Um, you know, being involved into the college program. Um, and then anybody, uh, we have a bursar that helps us out with video on game day. So he live streams our games. Um, so it is, [00:19:30] uh. It’s, it’s a big help for the fall season. And then the men’s coach as well. Well, we’re very close.
He’s a good friend of mine. Um, we, we try to do whatever we can together, uh, budget wise to make sure that we have equipment or anything else we may need for both programs. Not just one.
Matt: So, okay, awesome. Well, let’s talk about, uh, you as a coach kind of describe your coaching style, the style of play you’re looking to implement there.
Coach: Yeah, coaching style, I’m, I’m pretty laid back. Um, and so when the girls hear me raise my voice, they know I’m, I’m pretty serious. But for the, for the most part, I’m, I’m pretty laid back. I, during the game, I try to talk to them tactically, you know, try to get the emotions out of the game. Um, if there’s emotions involved, you know, we try to, the coaching staff and I try to calm them down.
And then, you know, so last year we played a direct style of play. Uh, we just had a very fast winger. Um, she was able to play left or right wing. Um, and so, you know, we just try to find her the ball, you know, as, as much as possible. She scored 16 goals last season. Um, I, I wasn’t like extremely comfortable with that, you know, I, I do like, uh, positional play.
Um, and so that’s the style of implementation that we’re looking to do in the fall. Um, but whatever can get us girls success. Is what we’ll try and do. I think the players that we’re bringing in understand what, what they’ve played before, or at least I understand what they’ve played before. And so that’s [00:21:00] what we’ll try and do for this upcoming fall season.
Matt: Well, coach, I really appreciate all your time. I’m going to ask you one last question, uh, to end on here. Uh, and you know, having now been there a couple of years and you learning about this recruiting process, uh, a bunch, what have you learned? What is one thing maybe you, you want. Potential student athletes to know about the recruiting process as they’re going through this journey.
Coach: Yeah. Um, and I think you said it best right there. It’s their journey. So just understand that it’s your journey, um, that you have the leverage and what school you’re wanting to go to. Um, and so. you know, don’t be scared to involve your parents into that recruiting process. Um, and just be as transparent as possible with coaches.
Whether you’re interested in going to the school, whether you’re not interested, whether the school cost too much, whether school is a good set up for you, you know, it’s trying to find the right fit for you. Um, regardless of it’s, you know, all the way from D one down to N. C. C. A. Division two. Um, if you It’s just finding the right fit and just being transparent as possible, uh, through your recruiting process, regardless of what, whatever coach you talk to.
Matt: So absolutely. Well, coach, really appreciate it. Wish you the best of luck as you wrap up the class and get ready for that fall season. And, uh, we hope you continue to bring more success to the Randall program. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Matt. Thank you.
