Central Baptist College Men’s Soccer – Coach Dylan Perdue
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Perdue from the Central Baptist Men’s Program in Arkansas. We talk about their variety of sources for recruiting players. He describes the small school culture that gives a personalized experience. Lastly, we discuss their growing staff that is there to support both the first team and reserve team. Learn more about Central Baptist College Men’s Soccer.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Dylan from central Baptist college. Welcome coach.
Coach: Thank you so much. I’m excited to be here. I’m
Matt: glad to have you and don’t worry for anybody watching the video. Coach isn’t driving. We made sure that he is just, uh, in his car.
Uh, I caught him at, at, at, uh, had to slot the needle, thread the needle perfectly for his timing to get him on the pod, but we wanted to talk to him. So glad to have him here today. So coach, you guys are NAI school there in Arkansas. It’s just after June 15th. So a lot of folks are excited to be starting to get those calls from division ones and twos, but with you guys not having any of those restrictions, talk to me a little bit about your timeline.
I mean, are you. pretty much just focused on 25. How much time you spend on 26 is, uh, are you still closing off a few 24s with a few months before the season? What’s it looking like for you guys?
Coach: So, yeah, I’m going to go like, uh, D all the above. It’s a little bit of everything. Um, so there, how there were a couple last minute, uh, 2024, um, that I’m talking to right now, um, from coaching friends of mine.
And with around the state, um, but we have officially started our recruiting process for the 2025s. And then now our focus is as well as like getting 2025s in is starting to identify 2026 is that could be potential prospects early on [00:01:30] trying to trying to seal up and their major could change. But just Essentially trying to figure out, okay, is this guy’s GPA good enough?
Um, you know, what’s his test scores looking like? Is he, is he working on these things? Where is he playing at? So that maybe we can end up catching up to him and in a showcase events, I don’t know, somewhere in Texas, or, or if we end up going to Louisiana or something like we can, we can already have. Plans of going to watch this kid wherever he is, uh, a junior or a senior.
Matt: Well, in terms of events, you mentioned Texas, Louisiana. What are some of the Mm-Hmm. The events you try to get to each year, each year that are high on, on your list?
Coach: So the, a couple of the big ones for us, um, I went to the Gulf SHO Showcase last year and um, in Gulf Shores. And, uh, you know, I think that one was a was a quality one.
I think they were well organized. Um, I’ll definitely like the, uh, sports source in Dallas, um, but the, the Texas showcases are more around, um, our area. We intend to go to, um, a couple of Missouri next year as well. Um, but most of those, so Texas, Oklahoma, uh, Gulf shores is kind of the big one that’s out of the way where we wouldn’t really get an opportunity to see those kids.
Um, but yeah, those, those are kind of the big ones for us.
Matt: Now, when you look at your roster, it looks like you got a, some, some good international, uh, representation there as well. So how [00:03:00] does the, how does international recruiting work for you guys? How important is it? What, what’s your thoughts on that?
Coach: So for us, you know, uh, back in the day I played for CBC, uh, back in the day, uh, 2014 to 2017, and we were really international heavy.
Um, so my goal is to, is to keep that, keep that a trend within the, within the school. So, um, this next year will be about 50 percent international. I think it’s a huge goal, uh, bringing those guys in, um, especially like being an NIA program, it’s a, it’s a little different, uh, We’re with restrictions on what we can do with internationals.
So bringing in guys that have played academies like, I don’t know, Millwall. And then you get the guys that like Valencia academies when they were younger. I mean, just bringing in the experience, um, and like a different culture into into our locker room is like, is really important for us. I really think it made a huge impact in my life as a player.
Um, so I want to, I want to keep that going.
Matt: Okay. Well, our, our transfers or junior college recruits a part of your, your normal recruiting plans or not so much.
Coach: Yes. Um, so this year was my first year as head coach and my first already was getting a few juco players in, um, that had, uh, experience. Already playing as I mean, they played their first two years of college already, so they’re coming in, um, with already college playing experience.
Um, so, I mean, I think we [00:04:30] have five. Five players, uh, this year from a junior college.
Matt: Okay. Well, whether it’s junior college, international golf shores tournament, when you’re looking at kids, um, what kind of makes up the hierarchy of things that you’re looking for in a player, whether that’s on the field attributes or off the field stuff.
Coach: Uh, so we, we really look at both before, before I’ll sign anyone. Um, I like to have a few meetings with them, uh, through zoom call or FaceTime or whatever’s easiest for them. Um, I definitely do a personality check. Cause There, there is a standard that I want to have on the team. Um, I’ll always go for, like, yes, we do want higher level quality players, but we also want guys that are going to fit into the, fit into the program and, and really what we, what we want, um, You know, through the school, because we are, we are a Christian college.
We are Baptist college. We want believers in, um, in the program and in the school. But, um, you know, we also want guys that are, that are just good people. And, you know, we’ll end up not just being that all star athlete, but we’ll end up being a good father and a good husband and, um, be a good asset to society, you know, not just be the athlete.
Well,
Matt: let’s talk a little bit about the school. You got some unique perspective as, as an alum, as, as well as the coach. So what, what are some things you really enjoy about the school? What are some awesome things? And maybe we wouldn’t know about it just by going through the website.
Coach: So [00:06:00] for me, I enjoy the size of the school.
You can see that through the website, but I think. You know, it doesn’t really do it a lot of justice about like the culture that you get because in a smaller school, you’re not just a number, the classroom size is 11 to one. So you get 11 students to every one professor. So you get more of that, more of that, uh, personalized education from the professor.
Like they know your name in class. They know if you’re gone, they know why you’re gone because you are, um, a student athlete. Um, we’re about I want to say like 75 percent athletes at our school. So everyone is on the same same schedule as you. If you’re not in baseball, then there’s a choir person in your class doing the exact same schedule that you are going on events and in a way.
So, um, I think the school does a really good job of making you feel like The people around you are family.
Matt: That’s
Coach: awesome.
Matt: Well, one of the things that students have to deal with is, is being a student, not just a soccer player. Right. So what support systems does the school offer to help athletes and students in general, you know, be successful both in the classroom as well as the soccer field.
Coach: Right. So we do. So as a team, we do have our study halls. Our players are required to get about five hours a week. Um, and we put them in small, like, [00:07:30] accountability groups. Um, where they’ll go into the library or inside Bruce Hall, which is where my office is. Um, and they’ll, they’ll do their homework and homework together.
Um, especially like the, our goal next year is to get, um, a junior paired up with, with a lot of freshmen and kind of help them, uh, learn the ropes and how to be successful as a player. And then there’s also. You have learning disabilities, you turn in paperwork, um, like ADHD, all that stuff to be able to get more, more time.
And you turn that into our officer and they assist you in those things and making sure that the professors know, like, Hey, I need more time on tests. I struggle, I struggle, uh, keeping focused, you know, just little, any, any learning disability, they make sure that, that you’re taking care of. We also have paid tutors, um, within the school library that have their specific hours.
And. And a lot of times, you know, our schedules are hectic. My schedule is hectic. So I know the players who have class, who have work, who have, you know, the responsibilities on the field as well that are gone traveling. Um, you know, you can message one of those tutors and know they’re actually been really good about getting back to you.
Um, And with our professors as well, they do a great job of keeping me in the loop too. So if they say, Hey, this, this player needs a little extra help. I think they’re a little too shy to, to say something, then I can get involved and assist as well. Like, Hey, um, you know, our algebra teacher says that you may need [00:09:00] a little bit more work.
Can we go and go into our office together and, and, and figure this out so that you can be successful.
Matt: Okay. Well, Let’s, let’s fast forward to, to October, uh, you know, you’re in the heart of the season. Um, walk me through what, uh, a typical week is going to look like for a player in terms of, you know, when our classes and practices, meals, game cadence, what’s a typical week look like?
Coach: So if we play, let’s say we play on a Tuesday, so let’s go on a Monday.
So on a Monday, it would be, you know, you know, if you’re a freshman, you may have some 8am classes. So you go to class from 8 to, let’s say, 11, 1150. You’d go from class to those times. Usually you have about three on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. You have two on Tuesday, Thursday, some people flip flop, but it just depends.
Um, so you’d have class in the morning. We usually don’t do a lot of morning sessions. Um, you know, in the heart of the season, unless, you know, there’s a early morning recovery session, or if some guys want some extra work in the gym, we’ll have some obstacle gym work for them, uh, with bands and stuff, because we don’t want to, we don’t want a lot of heavy lifting during the, uh, during the season.
But, um, after that, you know, we’d have. Lunch around noon, I think lunch runs from about 11 to 1 p. m. And then from there we go straight to the pitch. We have [00:10:30] two teams, we have a JV and we have a reserve team and we have a first team. So our reserve team will train first around 2. 30 for an hour 15 minutes.
They’ll train and then our first team will train directly after. And then after that, they’ll have dinner around 4. 4 45 is whenever it opens, but usually our players get there around like 55 30 and dinner usually ends around 6 30. And then after that they have their study hall hours that they complete.
They could go to work. Um, you know, whatever else is on their agenda that’s up to them. Um, every now and then we will have team events. Uh, where we’ll go to Central Baptist Church and have sometimes they’ll grill for us and we’ll listen to a devotional or, um, you know, we’ll have specific team events where we go and watch film, uh, after, after training now.
Matt: Well, you mentioned, uh, having two teams, so let’s, let’s talk more about that. Is, is there an overall roster size that, that you’re trying to hit each, each season?
Coach: Uh, my overall roster size is around 40. Um, me preferably, I like to have 50. So there’s, there’s a, there’s a definite split between the two.
There’s a first team of 25 and then my reserve has 25 as well, but my goal each week is to push. Uh, three players up to my first team training and make sure that we’re showing that [00:12:00] we want you to make this like this isn’t just, um, a spot for you to be in. Three or four years. The reserve team for me is a developmental team.
I want you into my first team. If you’re in my school, I want you here. I want you to be a starter. You just may be missing something right now. And, uh, we have reserve games as well. I think we have nine this season, which is more than what we’ve had since I was a player. So, you know, that’s, uh, that was our main priority was, uh, making sure that our developmental team is, is properly funded first of all, and then they’re getting the, the match minutes where, where we can actually focus on individual player development for them.
Matt: Well, with the roster that big, uh, there’s gotta be some other roster help in terms of more coaches. So talk to me about the rest of your staff and maybe some other staff in the athletic department that help out with the team, what are their roles? What’s that look like?
Coach: Perfect. So, uh, there’s me. I’m the head coach.
Obviously, um, I have, um, I’ll be more managing in there and making sure that everything is organized. Um, our first paid assistant coach is Rowan Laufer. Um, he currently plays USL League two right now for the Little Rock Rangers. It’s a very talented player, but he also is very good at coaching. Um, so his job is more Um, he’s the first assistant for the, uh, for the first team.
And then his job is, uh, head coach of the reserve team as well. [00:13:30] Um, so he’s pulling double duty there. Um, I assist him with the, with the reserves, but I, he is a younger coach. So my goal is to let him. be able to make those decisions and get a lot of experience so that whenever he moves on from me, he’s well prepared for the next, for the next step.
Um, we have a couple of younger coaches as well. Um, Derek Strong, who is the second assistant and then the first assistant for the reserve team. Um, we’ll have a goalkeeper coach coming in. Um, and then we also have a student manager that is interesting goalkeeper coaching. So his role is going to be, you know, to assist us with making sure that the game day preparations, like the flags are out, the waters are out.
But he’s also going to be in our training sessions, taking notes, um, learning the ropes, um, of how to become a goalkeeper coach. I was a goalkeeper, so my goal is to be able to help train him with that as well. Um, but we do have another goalkeeper coach coming in, uh, Trace Stracosky. Um, and then we have a set piece analyst, and he helps me with recruiting as well, uh, Coach Michael McGay.
So we have about six coaches coming in this year that’ll be, that’ll help us in maintaining, you know, 50 players. It’s hard to, it’s hard to get the individual attention, but our goal is to make it, to make it a smooth transition as, as possible and make sure everyone’s getting the attention they need to be successful, successful.
Sorry.
Matt: All right. Um, no, it sounds good. So, so what about you as a head coach? Kind of talk to me about your coaching [00:15:00] philosophy, your style, and maybe the style of play you’re looking to implement there.
Coach: Yeah, so for me, uh, I like possession, I like to move the ball, I like to keep the ball on the ground, um, but I’m also not afraid to, to adapt on what the game demands, you know, as well as I do, you know, everything’s not going to go perfect, uh, the entire time, but if we can, if we can limit mistakes and at least have an identity, it makes it a little bit easier when we need to adapt, it’s not us changing our, our game plan, uh, for me, I want our opponents to have the change to, to prepare for what we have, To offer rather than having to change game by game of of what we do, um, there may be, you know, a little bit difference in focusing on players, but, um, you know, opponents, players like individual guys coming in that are that are just ballers.
Uh, but you know for for me, having to have that strong identity of keeping the ball. What do we look like high pressing for me we’re possession high pressing team. Going forward, but yeah. So yeah, I mean, you know, for me, my philosophy is we keep the ball, we move the ball, we go and score, we don’t concede a lot of goals.
Uh, very, very simple. That’s the goal, right? I think, you know, let’s keep the ball, let’s look good doing it. Um, you know, let’s enjoy it. But, uh, for me as a coach, what I’m looking for in a player is is, you know, are they coachable? Do they have [00:16:30] technical ability? Are they afraid to make mistakes? And for me, that’s the bigger one.
The biggest one is, is are the players are bringing in brave, um, and playing under pressure because a lot of teams in our conference will press, um, and then look to hit the ball over the top of us. So, um, you know, just being brave, not being afraid to make mistakes and excited for the game. Very passionate.
Matt: Well, besides the fall season, there’s also the spring, uh, talk to me about what your spring offseason typically looks like for the players.
Coach: So, uh, we’re really excited about this upcoming spring, uh, because the NAI has officially changed from us having three teams. Three days to play to five. Um, so that means more game minutes, uh, especially for the guys that maybe didn’t get a lot of time in the fall.
Um, my goal in the spring is to make sure that we’re maximizing everyone’s playing minutes as much as possible, but we also focus more on, uh, on getting a little bit stronger, a little bit bigger, um, a little bit faster. You know, it always helps to be a little bit of a bigger, faster, stronger, you know, the usual.
Um, so. You know, working on our size, working on our diets. So we usually train, we’ll train with weights in the morning around 6 a. m. Make it a little tough on the guys and then we’ll train around 3 p. m. Um, still split training sessions, but it just, it just depends on the player schedules as well. And when those come out, so we adjust training sessions based off of that.
[00:18:00] Um, yeah. So we’ll do that and then we’ll have, uh, we’ll probably do two days for about a month and a half, two months. And then once we start playing those spring matches, we’ll calm it down a little bit, some more on the field focus and, uh, you know, uh, weightlifting in between, uh, block days. So on Tuesday, Thursday, we may lift and then Monday, Wednesday, Friday, we’ll be on the ball up until when we start, um, When we start playing matches.
Matt: Well, coach, really appreciate the time. Uh, I just got one last question for you. Uh, if you had a piece of advice, any nugget of information you think all college perspective, student athletes, uh, should know as they go through this recruiting process, what would that be
Coach: really focus on finding the right fit and a coach that.
Wants you to be there. Um, I think that that’s a huge thing is, is knowing that you go to a place to, to be more than just a, a roster number. Um, ’cause where one, one coach may think that you’re a reserve guy, you may be another guy starter. Um, and you know, it’s, it’s all up to you and, and what you want to do, um, you know, with your career.
If, if it’s, if playing is important to you, make sure you go to a place where, where you have a shot to play. if you’re okay with sitting, then then be okay with, um, you know, having a having a tough path and I mean, anywhere you go in college soccer is going to be, the road [00:19:30] is going to be tough. Everyone’s going to be bigger than you.
Everyone’s a star. Uh, you know, every, every player, whether you’re a freshman or an international, keep coming in. You were the star at where you were at and now it may take you a year or two to, um, to develop into a, into this player that they want you to be. So just trust that process and, and make sure you’re valued wherever you go.
Don’t go somewhere where you’re not valued.
Matt: Well, coach, really appreciate it. Wish you the best of luck, uh, as you go this fall and, uh, hopefully we’ll, we’ll, we’ll check in and seeing you winning some, some conference tournaments.
Coach: Thank you so much.
Matt: Take care.
