Davis and Elkins College Women’s Soccer – Coach Keenan Schaeffer
In today’s episode, I speak with Coach Keenan from the D&W Women’s Program in West Virginia. We talk about how he leaves no stone unturned in recruiting. Coach also shares what a normal week looks like for players in season. Plus, we discuss how as a coach he is always looking to provide information to his players. Learn more about Davis and Elkins College Women’s Soccer.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer. Today I am lucky enough to be joined by Coach Keenan from Davison Elkins. Welcome coach.
Coach: Thank you. Take it.
Matt: So we’re talking here end of March.
You’re in the middle of, of training the, the players that are there and looking for players to come in. Uh, so I’m sure it’s a, a delicate balancing act. But in terms of your recruiting process at this time a year, where are you generally at? How are you totally done with 20 fives and just looking at 20 sixes, still looking for a couple 20 fives, kind of what’s, what’s your normal timeline look like?
Coach: Yeah. Um, I think this year’s a little different. Um, ’cause we are, uh, kind of revamping the program I got here in June. Um, so, you know, we, uh, are looking to probably bring in about half a half a team, basically. So 14, 15 kids, um, you know, and, uh, so it does take a little bit longer sometimes it with this, uh, this amount.
Uh, so right now I’m probably, I have about three or four spots left, basically. And, you know, looking for, um, a balance between [00:01:00] transfers and. In freshman yet, um, as we continue to, to kind of plug along, and then obviously we have to start with 26 at some point. Uh, so, uh, with it being my first class, I wanna focus, um, on those 20 fives, really get them done, um, and then be able to start, uh, you know, looking at that 26 class and move on.
So,
Matt: well you’re saying you’re bringing in about half a class, uh, or half a team. Mm-hmm. What, what is your, like desired roster size? If, if you had your druthers.
Coach: Yeah. Um, so I, you know, based on what I, I’m required to have as far as the college, and then also with, um, you know, just making sure that, um, you know, we’re safe with that and have numbers to play and stuff.
Roughly about 30, so, you know, it’s 30 with, you know, probably about three or four goalkeepers. And then that way then, um, you know, throughout the season you’ll have some injuries, you know, and, and different things. It’s, it’s good to kind of have that extra amount, and I tend to play a bunch. We tend to play about 18 to 20 kids every game, so.
Matt: Okay.
Coach: Yeah.
Matt: Well, when it comes [00:02:00] to recruiting, are there specific leagues, tournaments, places that you like to go each year to, to look for players?
Coach: Yeah. Um, you know, I do go to, you know, the ECL events in Florida, uh, for sure. And I try and do that, uh, with ECRL as well as, uh, the DPL down there. Uh, you know, go to the Disney Showcase if I can extend it long enough kind of thing.
Um, but, uh, you know, we go to some other different events for ECNL, go to some GA events. Um, but then there’s also some really nice private ones. Um, you know, kind of the, uh, blue chip is, is one of Ohio I’ll be in this year, and then also, uh, going to Jeff Cup in the past and, and some other ones. But, uh, I think each spot you go to the, the, the kind of, uh, demographic you’re looking for, the geographic location.
Uh, kind of depends on the school. And so for this one, um, you know, we’re a global, uh, kind of institution. We have 125 international students on campus, and so, you know, that’s something I have to look at as well. So, uh, so we balance between, uh, working with, um, you know, different, um, [00:03:00] agencies and stuff to try and find those players going to, um, you know, these different, uh, you know, high-end events, um, as well as them going to see some of the local town as well.
So.
Matt: Okay, well what about ID camps? They seem to be, hey, you know, every school does their own or, or mm-hmm. Or these bigger for-profit ones. Like exact, do you guys do camps? Mm-hmm. How important are they in your recruiting?
Coach: Yeah. Um, you know, it’s definitely, you know, can be valuable for sure. Um, you know, to get kids on campus to be able to see, you know, what everything’s like.
If it’s starting the year, then they’re able to meet the team and stuff like that, which I think is super valuable to their process, um, you know, overall as well. Um, and then we do a, you know, team camp during the summer for high school kids. That will have some, uh, you know, ID kids invited to that as well, that can come and make up, uh, you know, make up an ID team.
But, uh, you know, they’re valuable, um, for sure. Um, but, uh, I’m somebody that doesn’t like to, uh, keep any stone unturned, so I make sure I, I do it all. So.
Matt: Okay. Well, whether it’s at a tournament or a camp or wherever, [00:04:00] uh, kind of what makes up the hierarchy of things you’re looking for in a player both on the field and off.
Coach: Absolutely. Um, you know, I think, uh, you know, wherever level you’re at, um, there is a certain, um, standard as far as, you know, um, athleticism, um, certain amount of size, uh, work rate, um, you know, technical quality, those things, um, for sure. Um, and so I’m looking for players that, you know, obviously can do something excellent.
Um, something that they can go and, and be almost successful almost a hundred percent of the time. Uh, I’m looking for, you know, players that are, have influence. You know, like I don’t want players that are gonna be, you know, looking to just be the play the ball and, and go from there. Like supporters. I want people that are gonna influence the game.
And if I have 11 players that do that, we’ll be, uh, we will be very, very, uh, positive and successful. Um, and then other than that, I mean, obviously quickness, um, you know, one B one attacking, defending, um, positional awareness is super important to me. Um, and then also if you have speed and size, fantastic.
Um, you know, that all works as well. But, uh. That’s kind of [00:05:00] some of the things that I look for and, and kind of how that’s gonna translate and relate to when it comes to the college game.
Matt: Okay. Well, let’s talk a little bit more about the school. Some folks maybe not familiar with, with DE, uh, you, you’ve been there nine months now.
Mm-hmm. Kind of what was it that drew you to the school? What are some, some things that you found that are awesome about the school? Maybe some things we wouldn’t even know about going through the website.
Coach: Yeah, a hundred percent. Um, you know, I think, uh, you know, college is about a couple different things and you know, obviously it’s a slightly different for kids from the US or you know, maybe from, uh, international, uh, other parts of the world.
But, you know, for me, I think it’s about getting an apprenticeship where you’re gonna go and have a, a degree that can help you with your job going forward to play soccer at the highest level you can. Um, you know, so that you can, you know, open up those avenues if you want to. Um, but I think it’s also about.
You know, growing as a person. And, uh, one of the nice things about here at d and e is that, you know, even though we are a small school of about 700 students, um, we have 125, uh, international students at this point from [00:06:00] 50 different countries. So, you know, it’s a, it’s a wide variety of cultures and demographics and stuff, and.
Where you would have some of that in some of the, uh, colleges and universities around the country, uh, you don’t have the ratio, um, that you would, and you don’t have the small school aspect to be able to get to know people. So you can truly know people rather than just be acquaintances and, um, you know, you can kind of create that global network that you’re, uh, potentially looking for.
So.
Matt: Okay. Well one of the challenges, uh, that people can have mm-hmm. Is making that transition, right? Mm-hmm. Between the demands of a, of a college soccer program and the demands a college academic program. Mm-hmm. So how do your student athletes really balance the two and what support systems are available to make sure they’re successful in both aspects?
Coach: Yeah. Um, you know, I think the institution’s so important, um, with that and obviously the coach as well. Um, just there to kind of guide and help and, and, uh, you know, motivate in those senses. You know, you’re kind of becoming that, uh, you know, [00:07:00] parent figure, quote unquote, for lack of better terms, uh, the school, um, you know, having, you know, some really good academic support, having, you know, a good, you know, a social and.
Um, you know, personal support as well, uh, with mental services and stuff. Um, but the big thing for me, and that’s why, you know, I really like this, uh, this place, is the fact that, you know, the international students. They’re coming over from other parts of the world by themselves. You know, the kids from all other parts of the US are coming from, you know, um, other parts.
And they’re all here by themselves. So they kind of un have people that they can connect with, relate to, um, and lean on. Um, they can lean on each other at that point. And it’s not just the, the ones that are coming in as freshmen, but you know, the ones that have been here, um, you know, the ones that have been through that and been through the homesickness and that can help support them, um, and guide them as well.
Matt: Yeah. Okay. Well let’s rewind or if you want to mm-hmm. Or since it’s your second season, maybe we’ll fast forward to, uh, to October heart of that conference season. Walk me through what’s a typical week look like for a player in [00:08:00] terms of classes, meals, practice games, the whole nine.
Coach: Yeah. Um, I really, uh, I do think our conference does a really good job with the academic balance.
Um. For sure with this. So, uh, a we play on Sundays, um, and then, uh, on Mondays we do a rehab slash film session. Um, and then, uh, we’ll do some, uh, basically Tuesday is like our hardest, like get ready for the game kind of session, uh, where we’ll go for about two hours. Um, and then Wednesday, we’ll, we’ll play again.
Thursday I off because, uh, of NCAA rules and then. Friday, they, uh, have their hardest session ’cause there’s no game that’s right next to, next to it. Uh, and then we have another walkthrough on Saturday. And the really nice thing that we do here is the fact that our, our training sessions are seven to 9:00 PM uh, so they don’t conflict with academics at all.
Um, and, uh, and we do a, you know, some small sided small group stuff, um, throughout the day, um, twice a week, uh, just to give them some extra touches, some more. Individual attention, that kind of thing. [00:09:00] Um, you know, whether it’s goalkeeping specific or it’s, you know, field players specific, that kind of stuff.
So, um, you know, that way then they can have a really good balance of academics, athletics, and still get what they need to be able to, um, you know, strive to be the best athletic player they can and best academic student taken.
Matt: Okay. Well, let’s talk more about the team. We, we talked about the roster size, but who else is on that roster that helps out with the team in terms of coaches, trainers?
Mm-hmm. Any other support staff in the athletic department, and what role does everybody play there? Mm-hmm.
Coach: Yeah, yeah. Uh, you know, so we have, um, obviously, uh, traditional, you know, athletic director, compliance officer, all those things to help make sure that, you know, uh, the guidance is there and to make sure that kids are eligible for sure.
Um, as far as the, um, athletic training staff, we do have one that is specific to us, uh, throughout the year. She’s, uh, focused on us, uh, very heavily in the, uh, fall. Um, and then once we get into the spring, um, you know, she’s there for us, but she’s focused on another sport. So, you know, we do have one that’s specific for us.
This [00:10:00] is nice. Um, and, uh, we are in the middle of, uh, finding ourselves a strength and condition coach, which we’re super excited about for that. So for right now, we’re, we’re taking care of that as coaches, um, which. It’s fine. I have, I have some, uh, background in that, so I’m not too worried about that. Um, and then, uh, you know, as far as assistant coaches, uh, I have some players that are staying, uh, for another year.
So they’re gonna help with that a little bit. Um, you know, but usually, you know, for me, I’m used to being a one-stop shop, so, you know, I take care of the team, I take care of the goalkeeping ’cause I was a goalkeeper myself. And, um, and I make sure that, you know, they need what they, and they get what they need as we continue to go forward.
But, uh, but yeah, uh, that’s kind of, kind of the focus overall.
Matt: Okay. Well what about you? How would you describe your coaching style and just the style of play you guys are looking to play?
Coach: Absolutely. Um, you know, so for me as far as a coach, um, you know, it’s definitely very much a, um, informative kind of, kind of situation.
I wanna provide information, um, and I try and provide it in a way that, uh, doesn’t force them or ha have them. Uh, have to sift through [00:11:00] anything. So it’s direct, non-emotional communication. Um, that is telling them, you know, Hey, you know, next time, look for this next time. Look for that. Just trying to keep us organized, keep phrases, those kind of things.
I’m a goalkeeper by trade, like I said, so I love to talk. I’m not one of those ones that sits on the sidelines that I, I can’t do that. I can’t sit to be fair. Um, so, you know, again, communicating, getting ’em organized, that kind of thing. As far as style play, we try to dictate, um, you know, both sides of the ball dictate offensively, making sure that the, uh, uh, you know, we’re kind of adjusting and, and causing the defense to move into spaces that we want.
Um, and then defensively as well, making sure that we’re forcing them into spaces that we want them to go into so it can be more aggressive. Um, but we are definitely a possessive team, um, that will look to. Find those moments to stretch the field because that’s, you know, that’s the game itself. It’s not just one thing, it’s all things.
So trying to play that total football the best we can.
Matt: Okay. Well, excuse me. Um, you’re in the spring now, kind of, what does that [00:12:00] off season look like typically for your players?
Coach: Yeah. Yeah. Um, you know, as we continue to go forward, it’ll be very much, you know, um, the letter of the law for ncaa. So, you know, we’re gonna give them, um, you know, four hours of weight lifting, four hours of soccer until we get to our non-traditional season.
And, um, you know, once we get to that, then we’re full steam ahead and I. Get ’em competitions, um, you know, going and training the, the max that we can, the weightlifting, getting it all in, making sure we’re really preparing ourselves for that fall and, and to, you know, kind of find a new foundation for that new team.
You know, uh, you know, because, you know, you lose seniors, you lose, you know, uh, some, some transfers occasionally, that kind of thing. And so you want to get that new, uh, group of players to be a strong foundation for when you add those, uh, freshmen transfers coming in in the fall. For that new team that you have a strong foundation to start.
Um, and so we really try and focus on that and give those kids that, you know, have those opportunities of being here as returners, that opportunity to really showcase themselves, you know, and, and show what they can do. And, and then that will lead them [00:13:00] into then the fall at that point. So.
Matt: Okay. Well, I appreciate all the time.
I’m gonna leave you with one last question, and that is, if you had a one piece of advice for mm-hmm. Anybody going through this college recruiting process right now, what would that be?
Coach: Yeah. Um, I, I think it’s, you know, obviously you want to try and get yourself out there as much you can, which I think is great.
Um, you know, but I think this needs as much as, uh, as there is flexibility in the game, uh, as far as transfer portal and all that kind of stuff. Um, you know, I, I think it’s, it’s the old style of being there for four years and then being able to move on from there I think is, is something that is, uh. It was really nice, you know, being what I did when I was in college and, and so I think, you know, making sure that you are understanding what you want in yourself, what you want from your college, what you want from your college soccer experience, um, and then identifying schools that fit that.
And then from there, now you have a pool of coaches and to programs to communicate and talk to. Um, you know, I think that’s super important. And part of that is [00:14:00] obviously understanding who you are as a player and as a person as well. Um, you know, which is a challenge sometimes for, for young students, but.
Um, you know, I think it’s, uh, it’s self-reflection that’s needed and that will help them and to, uh, make the best choice for themselves, um, as well as then, um, you know, hopefully provide the best, uh, of themselves to that program that they go to.
Matt: Yeah, couldn’t agree more. Well, coach, really appreciate it.
Wish you the best of luck as you wrap up your class and get onto that second season and, uh, we look forward to, to seeing how you guys do. And if you get down to Bradenton for that, uh, EC l showcase, gimme a ring. I’m only a couple minutes away. All right.
Coach: Perfect. All right. Appreciate it. Thank you. Have a great
Matt: day.
You too.
