Governors State University Men’s Soccer – Coach Matt Eggert

On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Eggert from the Governors State Men’s Program in Illinois. We talk about his timelines of recruiting for a top NAIA men’s program. He describes the school’s diverse degree programs with an inexpensive price tag. Lastly, we discuss their small but quality staff. Learn more about Governors State University Men’s Soccer.

Matt: [00:00:00] Hi, everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer. Today, I’m lucky enough to be joined by another Matt, Coach Matt Eggert at Governor’s State. Welcome, Coach. Thanks for having me. Yeah, thanks for being here. I, you know, early January in Chicago. What’s uh, what’s your weather like today? 

Coach: Uh, we’ll go with sunny.

How about that? Okay. All right. We’ll bury the rest of it. 

Matt: I’m not gonna lie even in uh, even in Florida here. We’re sunny, but for Florida, it’s it’s cold. We got a Polar vortex is uh is dipping all the way down here Well, hey, it’s funny. We were just talking about you know, the coaches convention coming up this weekend and it’s right in your backyard But you’ve got recruiting events to do and I’m going to recruiting events this weekend.

It’s that high time of the year, right? Which is crazy, but for you guys, you know NAI tournament team men’s program Are you? Are you done and dusted with your 25s? You still picking a few pieces? Are you focused mostly on 26s? What like kind of what’s your timeline normally in a given year? 

Coach: Yeah, it’s a great question And I think that there’s a lot of misinformation out there about timetables when it comes to recruiting even at the scholarship level And i’ll be really honest with you.

We’re very fortunate to be to finally crack the top 25 and You be a team that’s getting to the national tournament on a regular basis, although we don’t take that for granted. And, and we’re almost exclusively focusing on 25 still, and we will for the rest of the [00:01:30] spring. And, uh, one of the messages that I want to get out to your members and as many, uh, families as I can is that, uh, I think there’s an, there’s an instance that if I didn’t get recruited by about this time of year, That I may need to settle for something else.

And that’s just not the case. You know, uh, as we know, the greater landscape of higher education in this country is difficult right now, especially in the Midwest. Uh, we’re fortunate to be going strong while a lot of schools around us are closing. Uh, staffing is getting cut, you know, and that matriculates its way down into athletics as well.

So, you know, I think that the message out there is that there are still top programs looking for you if you’re a senior right now.

Sorry about 

Matt: that. Yeah, in looking at your roster. It’s got a fairly heavy international bend to it Do you think that changes your specific timing because it’s it’s you know, pretty much internationals It’s it’s always a late thing. It takes a while. There’s a there’s a lot involved Whereas the domestic kids maybe are are running a little bit quicker or trying to trying to get At least committed and get their stuff resolved.

Do you think that has anything to do with it or is it just more the men’s versus maybe the women’s side or what are your thoughts there? 

Coach: Yeah, you know, I, I, I would definitely say that there are differences between the men’s and women’s side. But, uh, for me, uh, I think about 50 percent of our roster is international, 50 percent is domestic.

Uh, you know, we’re a little bit heavier on the first team with the internationals, but [00:03:00] uh, I think it’s a good point, right? I mean, there’s a couple of different strategies with the internationals. Uh, we’ve had success with being the last program of poker chips at the table, so to speak. Uh, there are timetables in Europe when players are getting released from their academies or making decisions on whether they’re going to be signed, you know, professionally, whether they’re going to drop down three or four divisions, uh, or they’re going to try their luck in America, you know, and, and, you know, I think that that’s been our niche, but I think also, there’s plenty of players, uh, playing, you know.

And above in this country that are unsigned right now, uh, or on verbal commitments and with the volatility of what’s going on in NCAA right now, with the, with the large number of people, uh, in the transfer portal, there’s, there’s still a lot of quality players. Uh, our strategy when we started this program six years ago was that, uh, we were going to, uh, be a little bit international heavy for the first half decade to build a reputation.

And then we’re looking to looking to gradually now that we have the reputation and we’ve proven ourselves to the American kids and American families that we’d like to, we’re looking for a higher concentration of American guys. So we’re really excited to be where we’re at right now and, and, and having a renewed focus on trying to bring in some more of those American guys.

Matt: So when it comes to domestic recruiting, what are your favorite places to go? Uh, where do you like to spend your time looking at kids? What, where, where do you like to be? 

Coach: I think I’m always, [00:04:30] I’m a, I’m an old school person and I like to win my backyard. I’m really fortunate that Chicago is in my backyard where, uh, walk out the front of our school and you’ll, you’ll find yourself at a train that’ll take you right downtown.

So, uh, we’re in a major, major market here. Um, I am someone that believes that, um, there’s still value in, in high school athletics. Um, and I think that there are plenty of kids that maybe are priced out of, you know, some of the top academy teams and things like that, that, uh, are playing in, in, in high school and then maybe in some under the radar, but still very good adult leagues in the Chicago area.

So, in addition to high school games and club, we’re also looking for those. Those 18, 19, 20 year olds, uh, those transfers that are playing in, in Colossa and things like that in Chicago, that, uh, uh, is really under the radar where you’re going to find some of the better players, you know? Uh, and if you look hard enough, you also find guys that are willing to do whatever it takes in the classroom too.

And we find those guys, those are diamonds in the rough. They’re going to help us continue to grow. 

Matt: Yeah, I love that. What about it camps? Do you guys run your own? Do you or your staff work others? Are they important in your process at all? 

Coach: You know, uh, I I we don’t run id camps. Uh, we do Um, and so in the any I we have a huge advantage where we’re allowed to bring players in to our trainings.

Um and we feel that, um, you know, we don’t look at it as a as a revenue maker, although [00:06:00] that’s part of the reality and some structures, but. I think it’s I think there’s plenty of other, uh, bigger programs here in the area where we can get in and see those players and if they only pay once and get seen by us and someone else.

I think that’s a benefit to the family and. In the end, families, right now, times are tough and there’s a finite amount of money. And if someone’s spending, uh, 250 or 200 times 10 for idea camps, that’s less that they can afford for their, their first year at our institution. So, you know, we, we want to, we want to impress from day one that we’re coaches, but we’re also parents and we understand that every penny counts.

So we’re going to try to find ways to see them in, in, and when we bring them in, we’re not going to charge them. 

Matt: That’s awesome. Especially, uh, you know, I stroke, I stroked an ID camp check just this morning. So, uh, yeah, I hear you well, whether, whether it’s at a club game, high school game, adult game, ID camp, wherever it is, what kind of makes up the hierarchy of things you’re looking for in a player, both on the field and off.

Coach: Uh, I think the thing that we’re most proud of with our group right now is the type of people, uh, that we have in the program. Uh, so we’re going to spend a lot of time, um, finding out what type of person you are. Um, we talk to the people, uh, around the player a lot. Uh, our nickname for that are who are the players champions, right?

It could be a parent. It could be a big brother. It could be an uncle. It could be a teacher. It could be your high school coach. It could be your club coach. Uh, [00:07:30] but who, who knows you as a person, right? Um, so I think when we take a look at a player, it’s, it’s, this may be a little bit controversial, but I don’t think it takes a lot of time, um, to, to realize if someone has or doesn’t have it or has that potential from a purely soccer standpoint, but the vast majority of the time is a lot of conversations with the player, the people around the player.

Um, to make sure that the type of person that we want to work with, because if you’re coming in and you take care of all the things off the field, that means that, um, we’re going to be able to spend the majority of our time helping you, uh, become a better soccer player and meet your soccer goals because you’re able to take care of the other things off the field.

We’re here to support you, uh, with those things as well, but we want to spend our, our time, our most valuable resource in the areas that are going to help us win as much as possible. And that comes with having high character guys in the program. 

Matt: Well, let’s switch gears, talk a little bit more about the school.

As you mentioned, you were able to start the program there back in 2019. So you’ve been there a few years. What are some of the things you found that kind of set the school apart? Some awesome things, maybe some things we wouldn’t even know by going through the website. 

Coach: Yeah, I think, uh, the diversity of degrees.

It’s a public university just outside of Chicago, um, over 60 degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level. Um, everything from, um, film study to business, uh, to fine arts to computer science. So there’s a wide breadth of things, which is very cool, uh, that we’re [00:09:00] known from. I think the second thing is proximity to a major market.

Uh, internships are a huge deal when it comes to life after soccer and getting that quote unquote real job. And we’re well positioned, um, for, for students to, you know, get out and get that real world experience. And I think, I think the third thing is the price point. Um, Governor’s State is still. One of the least expensive schools in the Midwest.

I think the second, uh, best value when it comes to, uh, tuition and fees, uh, in the state of Illinois. So it’s difficult to play scholarship ball, uh, at a lower price point with, with this many options for degrees and internships.

Matt: For sure. Well, one of the challenges that a lot of student athletes have, and I’m sure, especially international players, at least from my personal experience when I had them on my roster, is making that transition to being a college athlete and a college student and, and, you know, the rigors of both, both of those things.

So, what kind of support systems does the school have in place to help student athletes be successful both on the field and off? That’s 

Coach: I think it starts with me. Um, when my children were little, I stepped away from coaching and got a teaching certificate. So, uh, that’s that’s my area. That’s my my and I’ve had real world experience in the classroom when it comes to intervention and and English as a second language.

So it starts with that. Um, it’s it’s [00:10:30] we have, uh, free tutors involved for all of our classes. Um, we have check ins and check outs with our, with the coaching staff. Uh, it’s a really hands on, uh, faculty as well, uh, low class sizes. If you go to class, uh, the professors are available. Um, I’m proud of a lot of things, but I’m proud of the fact that, uh, in year, year six now, our, our team GPA for our entire program is above 3.

3. I think it really surprises people that our first team GPA, which is, like we said, a little bit heavier international, uh, the team GPA is right at about 3. 6. So do we need it that high? No, but we want people that, um, are serious about the education side of things as well. And I think the reputation that we have Uh, around campus is that our guys go to class, they ask for help, they follow up, and, um, the teachers have been, the faculty has been absolutely fantastic with, uh, supporting those internationals and domestics that need that extra one on one help, whether it’s Zooms, uh, extra tutoring time, or one on ones in office hours.

Alright, that’s great. Um, 

Matt: let’s step back, take me through maybe October. We’re in the heart of that conference season. Walk me through, what does a typical week look like for a player in terms of winter classes, practices, games, meals, all that kind of stuff? 

Coach: Uh, we’re really fortunate to be able to, to, to make soccer, uh, the first thing we do in the morning.

Um, so we love to get up. We have practices around [00:12:00] at 7:00 AM Um, when we have a a, a training session together as a team, it’s a, it’s a great benefit to us because it allows maximum flexibility for our guys when it comes to. Uh, and a lot of our guys are still working a bit. That’s just the reality of being a college student in America now.

Um, so you’re typically going to have a training session in the morning. You’ll have a block of classes, um, study hall. Now, um, we’ve done something a little bit different with those hours. Uh, they’re scheduled, um, but don’t necessarily need to be in one particular spot. So there’s a lot more flexibility.

Um, we’ll have film probably twice a week as a team, um, and um, we’re going to be typically playing two games a week, uh, with one day full off. So you’re looking at two games, a recovery session, a couple practices and a day off. Uh, and in, in between there, you’re going to have probably two lifting sessions, two film sessions, a recovery session, uh, and some, some, your classes and your, and your one on one tutoring.

Thank you. 

Matt: Well, in terms of, of talking about the team itself, um, you mentioned first team, uh, and it looks like there’s a, you know, a JV as well. What is, is there an ideal roster size that you have in your mind for, uh, both the first team and overall or what’s that look like in terms of numbers? 

Coach: I think I think the reality of of college [00:13:30] soccer is that things are a little bit dynamic right now.

Um, when it comes to revenue and sourcing for for smaller schools, we’re about a 3000 student school. Um, so the reality of the situation is that in the end, the rosters are going to be a little bit bigger because, um. We we serve at the pleasure of of the president and and we need to make sure that we’re balancing our budgets, right?

So, uh, we’ve been typically carrying about 50 in the program. We like to look at it as 1 team with. Enhanced extra developmental matches, right? So, uh, typically it shakes out to, you know, 27 to 23 per team. Um, the maximum roster, uh, in the post season is 26 So, uh, but we have guys that are that are able to move up or down on a daily basis on the NEI, which is a great benefit to us.

So we’re able to re evaluate guys on a day to day basis, and we like to give guys an opportunity in the development team to come up and experience it and get those opportunities to fold into that group for a day or two and, and then, and see if they’re able to hang at the level and if. And whether, whatever that natural number is, whether it’s 27, um, we want to give maximum guys opportunities to develop and move forward.

And we’re proud of the fact that, you know, we, every year we have a few guys that matriculate, you know, up upwards into the first team, but it makes it a competitive environment for [00:15:00] everybody. Right. Because if guys are able to come up, that means that. guys are also able to move towards the developmental side of things as well.

So it’s a great tool in the NEA to have that flexibility where you can move guys on a daily basis from group to group. Um, but, uh, yeah, I think our, I think our team will probably even out at about 50 for the whole group. Um, which is, If you look at the championship teams in the NEI, you know, you’ll see teams that have 70 or 80 in the roster, that’s just the reality.

Um, we’ve had a little bit bigger teams, we’ve had smaller teams, but we feel with the staff that we have, we’ve been able to help everybody, you know, and that’s a good number for us. 

Matt: You mentioned staff, kind of talk to me about the other staff you have, what roles do they play, and maybe what other support staff are involved in the team throughout the athletic department, things like that.

Sure. 

Coach: Yeah, excellent point. Uh, starts starts with two fantastic assistant coaches. Uh, Juan Soto, uh, associate head coach, uh, was worked his way up and very, very successful coach in Northwest Indiana high school, um, mainly helps me with advanced scouting and filming and done some daily practicing sessions with the first team.

Uh, Fibo Arriaga, a great player. Uh, local guy, um, really important to the group because he was a local guy that was a good high school player, but maybe not heralded as a top top player, went to a team in our conference, worked, worked, worked, had a great career, parlayed it into a 10 [00:16:30] plus year professional indoor career, still playing professionally.

So I think it’s great to have those guys in the program that can look guys in the eye and say, Hey, I was right where you were. I grew up right down the street from here. Nobody gave me a break, but I worked and worked. This is how I did it day in and day out. Uh, he’s a, he’s, uh, oversees the strength and development program as well as our developmental program and helps as much as he can with the first team.

Um, and we do a little bit of outsourcing when it comes to goalkeeping training. Uh, so it’s a tight staff, but, uh, we went quality over quantity for that. And then on the school side of things, we have, uh, we have a dedicated academic advisor for athletics, which helps us a great deal. Yeah. And, um, really proud of the fact that, uh, we were able to grow as a, as a department enough that I was able to give up my compliance duties.

And now we have, we have an assistant athletic director that deals with compliance and student well being helps with the, with the study hall and helping of those things to teachers as well. So, so we, we feel that it’s a, it’s a lean group, but I think it’s, it’s, like I said, it’s quality over quantity and they do a tremendous job for the boys.

Matt: Yeah, it sounds like it. Well, what about you? How would you describe kind of your coaching style and the style of play you’re looking to play there? 

Coach: Uh, I think, uh, the style of play that we’re looking to do is, uh, we hear sort of philosophy of positional play, right? Um, so, so we’re not moving the ball to move the ball, we’re moving the ball to move defenders out of the areas we want to attack.

Defensively, [00:18:00] we’ve always been a high pressing team. We’re known for that. Um, and then I think the thing that maybe, uh, has, has helped us attract top talent is that we’ve always had the edict that the final third belongs to the players. So it doesn’t mean that we don’t train in the final third, but we allow creativity.

We encourage them to try things to be aggressive. And, um, year over year, we’ve increased our goals. Yeah. Uh, for and, and, and to the point where we were second in the nation in the N. E. I. this year in goals scored, uh, so I think it’s been, uh, it’s been a fun, exciting, fast paced way to play and, uh, credit goes to the players, but, uh, I think the style of play has really helped attract guys that they know they’re going to come over here and they’re going to get their opportunities to score and, and at that point, um, you know, it’s, it’s on them to, to shine through and they have for the most part.

Matt: No, that’s fantastic. All right. Well, coach, you’ve, you’ve been generous with your time. I’m going to leave you with one last question. Uh, and that is if you had one piece of advice for any player going through the college recruiting process right now, what would that be? 

Coach: I think the biggest advice that I would have is, uh, make sure you know what you want, right?

I mean, this is a great time. I will definitely say to everyone out there, um, that if you’re willing to go to class and you really take your things off the field, there is a place for you to play and have make those lifelong friends and get that college experience. Um, I would invest in putting together your film.

And then I would say, you know, if I [00:19:30] could, one extra thing is be persistent, right? I think the biggest difference between internationals and domestic kids isn’t always the ability. It’s the fact that a high school, domestic high school kid may send me some film. And one email, and if they don’t hear back from me, they move on to someone else, right?

Be persistent, right? We’re, we, we care about you, but we’re busy. We’re a little bit understaffed. Um, you know, don’t take no for an answer, right? So know what you want and go after it. Uh, be persistent, but polite with coaches. Um, and you’ll find your way. 

Matt: No truer words were spoken coach. Really appreciate that.

That’s for sure. Well, thanks for jumping on. Wish you the best of luck and, uh, and hopefully we just keep getting one step closer to that national championship banner. 

Coach: Thank you, Matt. Appreciate your time. 

Matt: Thank you.