Marian University Women’s Soccer – Coach Chris Gaskin
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Gaskin from the Marian Women’s Program in Wisconsin. We talk about their creative scholarships as a D3. He describes the wonderful environment of the university. Lastly, we discuss how they approach their spring training in the offseason. Learn more about Marian 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 Gaskin from Marion university in Wisconsin. Welcome coach.
Coach: Welcome. Uh, thank you. Thanks for having me.
Matt: Yeah. Yeah. Not, not to be confused with Marion university in Indiana, which, uh, which I actually coached against when I was, when I was coaching, uh, in Indiana many moons ago, so I have not had the pleasure of, of going up to your area of Wisconsin, but it’s definitely, uh, definitely gotta be better weather than, uh, down here in Florida right now, this time of year.
Coach: Uh, I mean, yes, but actually it’s been, uh, it’s been pretty hot and muggy these last couple of days. So it’s, um, thank. Somewhat. I don’t want to say record temperatures, but it’s been pretty warm, like a low nineties and pretty much.
Matt: Okay. Well, then maybe we, maybe we are in the same boat. It’s nothing like England complaining about 78 degree highs.
Right? Uh, so, yeah. Well, so you guys are a D three program. Um, you know, we just hit the. The June 15th, you know, magical date for a lot of recruits to be able to talk to those, uh, you know, division one, division two schools, division three, you have the benefit, you can talk to them whenever, but, uh, give me an idea of kind of your, your normal recruiting timeline.
Um, you know, I’m guessing. Maybe you’re even chasing one last 24 right now, but, uh, but what, what, what does that look like, uh, in terms of your standard [00:01:30] operating procedures for the year?
Coach: Yeah. Um, so as you mentioned, that date doesn’t really affect us a ton. Um, uh, as far as us as a staff, um, we kind of focus more like junior year, um, maybe sophomores, if they really stand out or if they reach out to us and we’re going to an event and they say, Hey, can you come watch me play?
Yeah. You know, we’ll make sure and see them play and keep in touch. But, uh, I would say large focus junior year or senior year, um, you know, without having, um, the full prestige of some D three schools where, um, you know, players will commit super, super early. Um, you know, we kind of fit in a different, uh, timeframe.
So, uh, I would say in general, that’s, That’s kind of how we operate and when we start, so junior year, middle to junior year, and then, um, really summer of senior year, we kind of ramp up pretty heavily for that year.
Matt: Okay. Well, you mentioned events. Do you have like a, a list of places you, you, you like to go that are your, your must see places to find players?
Coach: Um, so through just experience and then, um, kind of making connections and seeing how things work, uh, I, I like to go West a lot. Um, so this coming [00:03:00] next month, I will be in California. Um, so I’ll go Northern California, just South of Sacramento, and then I’ll go Southern California, um, surf Silver Lakes, um, I’ll do those.
And then during Thanksgiving surf and silver lakes again with a November nights, which is a little bit of a, a smaller event, um, but still in the same area, um, and then of course, you know, some regional stuff, so down to St. Louis, Chicago, um, here in Wisconsin, a couple of local things in, in the spring, getting out and seeing high school games as much as we can.
Matt: Okay. Well, it. One of the things that seems to be growing a lot is, uh, ID camps. So is that something you guys put on yourselves? Do your staff work other schools, ID camps? Are they important in your recruiting at all?
Coach: To be, to be blunt, uh, they haven’t really been since I’ve been here. Um, I did do one winter ID camp, um, when I first started, um, no more a local thing.
And then, uh, our assistant coach, she will be doing a few camps this summer, um, at other places. Um, we might put one on, uh, early August. It’s tough with, with how we recruit and a lot of our recruits being farther away. Um, you know, do we really, do we want to bring them then, or do we want to wait for when we have games and they can get kind [00:04:30] of a full experience?
So. Managing that balance between the two.
Matt: Okay. Well, whether it’s at an ID camp or a tournament or high school game or whatever the case may be, what is it that you’re looking for in a player, whether that’s on the field stuff or off the field stuff?
Coach: Sure. Uh, for off the field stuff and just. Character wise, um, one of our, our big things that we talk about our, our first preseason meeting is just being a good person and that has multiple layers to it.
So, um, you know, being a supportive teammate, having a good attitude, um, you know, you’re allowed to have moments of frustration with playing time and other things, but at the end of the day, understanding that. It’s a collective effort and not an individual effort. Um, so that’s a big piece. Uh, and then on the field, um, really for, for me and how we’d like to play a technical abilities, huge, um, IQ is another thing.
And I think, you know, if there’s a player that’s not the fastest or not the biggest, but their IQ is, um, is high and kind of unique, then that’s something that, um, You know, I definitely kind of lean towards and I appreciate, um, so I would say those things, and then also maybe a little bit of versatility.
You know, if you can play two, three different positions, obviously that heightens your opportunities and your chances [00:06:00] to get on the field.
Matt: Okay. Well, one of the things that, uh, Has also grown and recently is the transfer portal. Um, has that kind of weaved its way into your recruiting at all? And I know international players aren’t so much, uh, in, in many scopes for D three, uh, but, uh, do international players, do you do any international recruiting at all?
Coach: I, I have in the past, um, it’s been a little bit of a struggle here, but I still try, um, So it’s something that I think having international players, of course, you add to the experience within the team of just the cultural exchange and, um, you know, different style of play and learning those things. So it’s something I try to do.
Um, as far as the portal goes, yeah, I will check the portal and, uh, do research on players before reaching out and just see, you know, what their previous season looked like and if they have any highlights, you know, NCSA profile still up or anything like that. Hadn’t really had any success yet, but, uh, got to keep trying.
Matt: So, yeah, I don’t know. It makes sense. Well, one of the things that, that. Always comes up, especially from parents like me is when you’re evaluating schools. Okay. What’s what’s this gonna cost me? Um, so now I’m not holding you to hard numbers here because I know things are always fluctuating. Uh, but but just give [00:07:30] me a rough idea of what an average student athlete walking into your program.
What are they looking at in terms of different? Uh, Aid packages, whether it’s academic or other aid that the school provides, uh, it would tuition. You’re on board that kind of thing. What’s kind of a maybe a standard thing that people might be be looking at?
Coach: Sure. Um, I actually think we do a pretty good job of putting competitive packages together.
But, uh, if a, if a prospective student athlete is at a 3. 5 GPA or higher, Um, they’re getting our highest academic, um, just 16, 000. Um, and then if they live outside of the state of Wisconsin, they automatically get another 2, 000. Um, so kind of also that ties into our push to look other places. Um, if they visit campus virtual or in person, that’s another thousand.
And then if they apply before December. Really January 1st of their senior year, they get an early scholarship award, which is another thousand. So, um, it’s about 20, 000 off the top straight away and that’s before FAFSA kicks in, so. Pretty decent package. And then once FAFSA kicks in, you know, that’s a individual thing.
And that determines how much people get, but pretty good starting base. And there’s some other smaller ones and in there that, um, they can also apply for, but if they, let’s [00:09:00] say where we were recruiting in California, if one of our players knows a player from high school or club team, and they decide to come, they can list them as a reference and then they get a smaller scholarship for that as well.
And both players do.
Matt: Wow. So that’s, that’s pretty neat. I haven’t heard that one before. Some, some creative financing. I like it. Uh, but definitely some good scholarship opportunities. Well, well, let’s talk a little bit more about the school. Um, what are, what are some things that you really enjoy about the school?
Some things that are maybe stick out that are awesome that maybe we wouldn’t even know about going through the website.
Coach: Sure. Um, I think campus itself, especially this time of year and in pre season and early season, um, it’s just so creative. Uh, It’s very close to a lake. And so Lake Winnebago. Um, you know, if you if you wanted to walk or jog over there, it’s, you know, a longer walk, but, uh, you know, a short five minute car ride and you’re at the lake.
So some really nice opportunities there and then a little bit wider base outside of campus. We’ve got Green Bay Milwaukee and Madison, all within, you know, about an hour’s drive. So, you know, we’ve had girls in preseason that they say, Hey, coach, where, what, what time does training look like on these days?
And they go to, you know, Pitbull concert one night or, you know, they do different things. So, um, off campus opportunities there. And something that [00:10:30] I personally enjoy is, uh, set up the field is awesome. Um, You know, it’s, there’s no football lines on it. There’s other lines, just soccer, lacrosse, um, field hockey.
But, um, I think just the environment, you know, it’s a place where people kind of look after one another. And, um, since being here, there’s, there’s been a lot of, uh, help from people just in different areas. So it’s been good.
Matt: Okay. Well, you know, one of the things that. Kids have to think about just as much as the soccer is the academic component.
Right. And, and it is a student athlete experience. So what are some of the support systems that the school offers to, to help ensure that the students are successful both in the classroom as well as on the field?
Coach: Yeah. Um, I actually asked our team this, um, in spring and maybe 50 percent raised their hand, if not more, uh, we have writing tutors that they’ve gone to for papers and different things, um, professors basically will set meetings with you, open office hours to get extra studying in, get extra help, um, there are student led study sessions, um, and I think a big thing within the team is A lot of crossover similarities in courses.
So they study together a lot. Uh, this past spring we had a team study hall [00:12:00] and, um, it was mandatory for a certain group, but we found that, um, maybe not necessarily every night, but a good chunk of times when we held it, other players on the team would come and also utilize that time and study together.
Um, so there’s, there’s that piece as well. So the tutors are helpful. The team study halls, and then just. Relying on each other as well. Um, I also get notes from professors if a student is struggling in a class. Um, so I’ll get that in my mailbox and I can reach out, um, to whoever it is and just check in and say, hey, Professor Smith said, you know, you didn’t pass your first test.
You know, are you going to go see a tutor and just kind of. Different touch points throughout.
Matt: Okay. Well, coach, let’s fast forward. Uh, let’s put, put you in October in the heart of the conference season. Walk me through what’s a, what’s a typical schedule going to be like for your players in terms of each day?
Uh, when our classes, uh, practice meals, what’s your game canes? What’s a normal week going to look like for a player?
Coach: Sure. Uh, October we’re basically it’s full conference schedule. So we go Wednesday, Saturday. Um, so if we start Monday and work through the week, you know, Monday, you may have three classes, nine, 10 and 150 minutes of class.
Um, you get lunch in between, you get lunch after, uh, if we have training at five, you’ve [00:13:30] got from 1 52 o’clock until 4 34 45. Um, we need to be at the field to get homework done, take a nap, you know, hydrate, eat whatever you need to do before training. Um, A two hour training block and then you’re back after training to, you know, shower, relax, do any more homework you need to do.
Uh, very similar schedule for Tuesday, just classes run a little bit longer. Um, it’s like Tuesday, Thursday schedule hour 15. Maybe, maybe you’ve got some labs on those days as well. Um, if you’re a science major, um, so then we’ll, we’ll play on Wednesday. Um, if we’re home, very similar schedule, knock your classes out.
7 PM, uh, game time starts. And then, you know, we’re on the field by six o’clock and getting rolling. Um, they meet as a team before we meet on the field and they walk over together. Um, so they have time just to do their pregame routine and get themselves ready. Um, so that’s kinda what that looks like. And then we’re off on Sundays.
Um, once we hit that part of the season.
Matt: Okay. Well, let’s talk more about the team. Well, is there, is there a roster size you find as ideal that you’re trying to hit each season?
Coach: Um, Yeah, you know, right now this fall, we’ll have 32. Um, it’s [00:15:00] a good number last year. We had a little more and that was tricky, but, um, yeah, around, around 32 to maybe 35, um, I, you know, potentially a little less, but, uh, it helps with injury.
It helps with. rotation. Um, as much as we hope that doesn’t happen, those, those things do happen. So, um, you know, and then, of course, being able to play elevens in training, um, is essential, uh, you know, makes a big difference. And we’re able to, uh, challenge ourselves within training and also get a feel for Different positioning and things like that.
So we use preseason and then our non conference games early on to, you know, move people around and kind of get a good feel for chemistry and different things.
Matt: Okay. Well, besides a roster of players, you’ve got a staff roster. So talk to me about the rest of your staff. Uh, what roles does everybody play?
Maybe some water, maybe about some of the other staff in the athletic department that help out with the team.
Coach: Sure. Uh, our assistant coach. Coach Bob Gomez, um, she’s from New Mexico. She joined us last spring. Um, so it’s been great having her. And, um, I had the first season by myself with a big group. So it’s great having another person to, you know, separate and expand and bounce ideas off of.
[00:16:30] Um, and then we have two former players. That’s still live in the area that come and volunteer and help out and we’ll have a third, um, who’s going to do the same so, you know, players that still want to be around the program and want to be around the sport and have an interest potentially in coaching that help out as well.
Of course our athletic trainers. You know, they help and, uh, let’s see. I think that’s, that’s about it. As far as everybody who, who helps out, we might have, um, some other coaches like in the fall, we redo a fall team banquet. So all the fall teams get together and do like a trivia night.
Matt: Sounds fun. Yeah.
What about, what about you as the man in charge? How would you describe kind of your style of coaching and the style of play or you’re looking to play there?
Coach: Sure. Um, I’m pretty laid back, um, pretty low key. And, and I try to find a good balance between having fun, but then being serious and switched on when we need to be, um, style of play, I, I like us to have the ball as much as we can, um, and kind of create a collective blueprint and then allow players the freedom to kind of.
Express themselves within that blueprint. So really challenging the IQ of players and [00:18:00] how they read the game, um, what they see and their decision making, um, Yeah. So that’s, that’s us in a nutshell and, um, always trying to grow and learn new things to, to add in, in challenge to group.
Matt: Okay. Well, we just, uh, you know, we’re sitting here in June, so we just wrapped up the spring.
What, what was it, what would a typical off season look for look like for you guys? What, what are the players doing in that spring season?
Coach: Yeah. Um, so, um, Coach Bob, she put together spring lift for the team. Um, and so they go in small groups and they lift in their small groups throughout the spring and it’s a bit of a heavier lift than what we would do in season.
Um, and then, let’s see, we started the end of February, uh, three days a week we would go. Um, Stick within our allotted number of days. Uh, and we did a lot of playing, so we did a lot of small sided stuff. A lot of touches on the ball. Um, obviously, you mentioned the weather and excuse me being in Wisconsin.
Um, so we use a smaller turf space that we have on campus and we we play inside there. So we’re not, you know, trying to feel our toes blower outside. Um, so we do that inside. And, uh, the sessions were significantly better than, you know, being, In snowy or cold, cold rain, [00:19:30] but when we are able to, and it’s warm enough, we get outside on the turf and focus on bigger concepts and prepare for our competition day.
Um, this year we, we hosted it and we had three other schools that came in and we played games kind of in a, just like a rapid fire, um, style and just, you play short game after the next and teams rotate and. Get to see a lot and record those and go back and watch and share info and break them down.
Matt: Okay.
Well, coach, I appreciate your time. I got one last question for you. And that is, if you had to narrow it down to one piece of advice or one nugget of info that you think all potential student athletes should know as they go through this recruiting process, what would that be?
Coach: Um, I, I would say, um, it’s kind of a two part. I would say one, enjoy the process. Um, two, um, don’t close any doors. Um, and then three, realize that, uh, There’s not as much pressure on yourself as you think there is. Um, and so when you make a decision, we all make decisions that at times are, we might think are going to hurt someone’s feelings or whatnot.
But as college coaches, we all, we all understand the [00:21:00] process. And so. Um, understanding that it’s, it’s okay to go with your gut feeling and what you want to do. And, um, yeah, not, not feel that pressure.
Matt: Yeah. Couldn’t agree more. Well, coach really appreciate your time. Wish you the best of luck this coming fall season.
And, uh, if you ever get down to any recruiting events down here in Florida, give me a shout. All right. Coach: Sounds good. Appreciate it, Matt. Thank you.
