Nicholls State University Women’s Soccer – Coach Juan Garcia
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Juan from the Nicolls State Women’s Program in Louisiana. We talk about how they recruit different areas of the country. He describes their top-notch and growing facilities. Lastly, we discuss how their staff works together to advance the program. Learn more about Nicholls State University.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Juan Garcia from nickel state, Louisiana. Welcome coach. How’s it going? Good, good. Glad to have you here. Uh, you, you guys, uh, are, are just outside new Orleans. One of my favorite cities. Cause, uh, I mean, I could eat crawfish at toufee all day, every day, if someone let me, but, uh, but so I’m, I’m excited to hear about what’s going on there at your school.
Um, you know, with these, I always like to kind of. Start talking about recruiting and it’s kind of a weird time right now. You and I are talking here, uh, mid October. Um, so how, how much work have you been doing in the fall on recruiting and kind of where it is your class of 24 sit right now as we sit in mid October.
Coach: We’ve been doing a fair share. Um, so it started back. We had our ID camp right at the beginning of preseason. Um, so right at the last weekend of July. Um, so that’s kind of our last ID camp. We’ve had some kids that we’ve been talking to from there, some kids that have been in the process for about six, seven months from now, um, along the way.
And then, um, we’ve definitely still been answering emails, um, all fall, um, as we’ve been going, um, pretty much hoping to have everything wrapped up in the next three weeks, um, in terms of 24s. Uh, So we already have 25 on the radar already, but, uh, we are looking for a couple of pieces still on that for that [00:01:30] 24.
So we’re trying to get wrapped up or closed up.
Matt: So would you say it’s fair to say that by the end of 2023, you’re hoping your class of 24 is, you know, locked up or all but all but maybe one spot locked up? Is that kind of where you guys like to have it? Yeah, for sure. Okay. Well, in terms of, of that class and the recruiting that you guys are doing, you mentioned you have an ID camp, but in terms of, of events and places you like to go, uh, tournaments, you know, kind of are on your must see, uh, list.
Where is it that you guys like to see players the most? Yeah.
Coach: Um, right now it’s probably gonna be West Coast based, um, so we’ll probably hit up, uh, Surf Cup as we go, um, a couple EC& L events as well, um, luckily for us, I will actually be traveling back to the East Coast, uh, for a little bit of winter break, so I’ll hit up all the, everything up in Virginia, my neck of the woods, um, contacts that I have out that way, whether it’s ID camps, working with clubs, or, um, just attending tournaments for about a month or so while I’m out there.
Okay.
Matt: Well, you, you mentioned you guys do an ID camp there end of July and ID camps, uh, other places. Do you, is, is the July ID camp the only one you guys do or, and how, how important are ID camps in your overall recruiting process, whether that’s your own or the ones that you might work other places?
Coach: Um, they’re definitely fairly important.
Um, a lot of the times we will have our players, especially for like that July one, all our players will report, um, to kind of work that camp. So there’ll be a part of it. Um, [00:03:00] so they’ll actually get to see firsthand what the team looks like, um, how we kind of go through everything, what that standard is like.
Um, we also have one at the end of right around March. So right around the end of March, Um, we look to have another one. We’re trying to plan something to see if we can get something end of January, beginning of February as well. Um, see if that’s something that we can get going. Um, but just trying to attract kids from different places.
So, we know high school soccer is big down here in Louisiana. Um, so, uh, we usually pull a lot of those kids, uh, but by having something in the middle or towards the end of January or February, then we also kind of get some kids that are ending high school season or right before high school season from other states like California, Texas, um, out East coast as well.
Matt: Well, whether it’s at an ID camp or one of the events you’re going to attend, kind of what makes up the hierarchy of things you’re looking for in a player, whether that’s on the field stuff or off the field stuff.
Coach: Um, well, I mean, eyes are on everything, so we’ll have everything recording, um, through our VO as well, um, so we can check out, like, body language, responses, stuff that we can’t pick up in game while we’re actually coaching, um, but a lot of it that we’re looking for, um, especially throughout those warm ups and those first small sided games is just technical ability, um, decision making in small spaces, um, kind of how we go from there, um, ability to kind of connect with others, creativity, um, a lot of the stuff that you won’t be able to see necessarily when we go [00:04:30] 11 v 11 if we have 35 people at this ID camp, um, so kind of really getting that personal one on one, getting a good look on people, um, and just kind of seeing kind of what makes, what personality wise.
Okay.
Matt: Well, And I get this question asked a lot. I always love to hear, uh, different coaches perspectives, but in terms of when you’re out there recruiting, you know, you, you, let’s just say, you know, your 24s are mostly done. Let’s, let’s think 25, for instance, you know, um, how much of the, the people that are, that you’re really recruiting, how much of it is people that you’ve gone out and identified somehow, whether that’s at an ID camp or at an event or something versus.
The conversation starting because a player reached out to you and said, Hey, I’m interested in, in nickels. Here’s my tape. Would you come watch me play? That sort of thing.
Coach: We think that’s what it looks like. It’s probably about 50 50 maybe 60 40 in terms of players reaching out. Um, so right now, especially, um, with our recruiting budget, it’s tough to get to a bunch of different places right now.
Um, so a lot of those players reaching out to us, um, we do end up having those conversations with them, seeing where they’re at, if we do like their game film, um, their highlight film, so that does make a big impact. Um, but then a lot of it is also like when we do have chances to get out to these tournaments, um, can we see them?
Um, in person, see them in different atmospheres, see them in something [00:06:00] where they’re a little bit more comfortable. Um, and kind of seeing how they kind of react to things that way. And, um, kind of seeing how that would apply into our system as well.
Matt: And then when you, when you are recruiting, these players are, do you reach out to club coaches, high school coaches to, to get their input as well?
Coach: Um, it will depend on the area. Um, so, um, somewhere like here in Louisiana, we’d reach out to their high school coaches just because it’s so popular down here, um, somewhere more East coast, maybe like Virginia or, uh, somewhere West coast, like California, that we’re probably reaching out to their club coach, um, or other contacts that we, that we have.
Okay.
Matt: Well, in terms of, uh, the school, let’s, let’s, let’s dig in a little bit more. I’m sure there’s some folks out there not familiar. With Nichols, but, um, you know, you, you made the move there a couple of years ago, I think, uh, to, to be coach. So, you know, what are some of the things that you found that are, that are really attractive about the school that you really like?
Maybe even some things we wouldn’t know just by going through the website.
Coach: Um, I think the program right now is definitely on an upswing. Um, so this is year three of coach Bodine’s, um, kind of rebuild of it. Um, so right now we’ve got some really good pieces. Um, I think our biggest problem right now is just, we’re super young.
We’re starting seven to eight freshmen, sophomores every game, um, so just kind of going through that process of learning how to win. But that core is strong and they’re playing pretty well together as the season’s going on. [00:07:30] Facilities wise, um, top notch. We have our own. There’s not a men’s team here. So our facilities are our own.
We don’t have to share them with anyone. Um, so we have a brand new, um, turf building that just got opened up that we kind of share with football. Um, that’s an indoor outdoor, uh, turf facility. We have a turf field that we practice on its own by the community. Um, but we actually just Got a 4 million donation as well.
This past fall, they were going to get a groundbreaking in November, uh, where they’re going to expand our soccer facilities. So brand new locker rooms, a brand new turf field stadium, um, weight room and everything built into our own facilities, which is going to be nice, um, kind of huge for our program, kind of put us in the top two, top three in the region.
Um, Definitely best in our conference in terms of facility wise for soccer as we’re kind of going forward. And then just the community, um, a lot different than anywhere else. I’ve been, um, everyone kind of looks out for each other. Um, campus is pretty beautiful. Um, facilities for like dorms for recruits.
Um, pretty great. There’s a. They have a pool if that says anything in terms of, like, the actual, like, dorms areas and stuff, they can kind of go to. Um, so, I mean, campus is pretty walkable as well, which people seem to like. Um, and then where, if you do want that big D1 life, um, or kind of those kinds of events, we’re 45 minutes from New Orleans.
Uh, we’re 45 minutes from LSU. Um, but we also have D1 football here as well, which definitely, uh, [00:09:00] makes a big impact for us as well.
Matt: Okay. Well, besides the soccer component, right? Uh, kids are there to go to school, try to get that degree. Uh, so how do your student athletes really balance the demands of, of being a D1 soccer player with the demands of, of the academic rigor as well?
Coach: Um, so we have the school specifically is very. Big in terms of like, nursing. That’s probably our most popular major. Um, we have a partnership with the local hospital over here, and we’re top five in the region. Um, for that, um, guaranteed placement for the most part in terms of job security once you come out of that nursing program, just because it is so intense.
Um, so we do have a lot of kids, whether it’s nursing, allied health, which is like physical therapy, PT. Um, and it is a big balance, right? Um. We do a really excellent job in terms of academic success center, where we have one specifically for athletes where they can get any tutoring or anything that they that they need, so it’s never going to be too crowded.
We do a really good job setting them up with tutors, setting them up with extra help, and then just planning around those schedules. I think 1 thing that we do here in terms of practices to kind of help alleviate that in the fall in season. We’re practicing 6 a. m. every day. So we’re done by 8 a. m. Um, kids have the rest of the day to kind of focus on their studies, recovery, anything else they need.
Uh, so we kind of help them plan out that schedule along that way. Um, we’ll have certain kids by the time they get junior seniors that will have, like, clinicals. Uh, for some of those other majors, then we do a pretty good job being [00:10:30] flexible in terms of, um, getting them scheduled if they have to miss practice every now and then in order to kind of get some of that stuff done, then we’re, uh, we’re pretty good that way as well.
Matt: Yeah. Cause that’s, uh, you know, I think one of the things I hear the most is nursing, uh, and college athletics tends to be, uh, hard to do together, especially at a D one environment. So that’s awesome that you guys have that, uh, that support and that, that set up to help them with that.
Coach: I think a lot of these kids coming in as well that do want to have that nursing program kind of in the back of their mind.
A lot of them have done dual enrollment as it is. So, they’ve kind of knocked out some of those easier credits by the time they already got here. So, it lets them kind of space everything out, manage your schedule a little bit better. So, that’s definitely a plus when it comes to that stuff because those 1st, 2 years, you don’t know what you don’t know in terms of scheduling being away from home.
So, the better you can kind of get that planning wise and kind of spacing yourself out, making sure you don’t get burnt out and the better it is for everyone. For
Matt: For sure, for sure. Well, when it comes to college, uh, one of the big things everybody’s wondering, especially us parents who are stroking checks is, uh, what’s this going to cost me?
Right? So, you know, I’m not holding you to hard numbers here, but if you can just give me an overall idea of of what it. What it costs to go to school there. What kind of an average soccer player might be looking at in terms of aid, whether that’s academic, athletic, or, or any other type of, of aid that might be available.
Coach: Yeah. I think that’s one of the things that kind of set us apart and kind of gives us an advantage. Um, we have not raised tuition in the last seven years, [00:12:00] so everything’s kind of stayed the same, um, we’re. Pretty much one of the top two top three cheapest schools in the state. Um, so right now, I believe, let’s say you’re going for nursing or anything that’s super science related, um, you’re probably spending about 21, 22 a year, uh, before any academic or athletic aid, um, if you are out of state, um, It’s about 800 more.
But, um, if you’re a student athlete, then that out of state tuition gets waived. So that, you get that 800 back. Um, so depending on what your GPA, SAT, ACT scores are, um, you can get anywhere probably from 4, 000 to 6, 000 around there, ballpark financial aid wise. Um, so, I mean, overall, with no athletic aid, you’re probably paying around 15, 16, um, which is pretty good, especially if you compare it to some of the East Coast schools or some of the schools in California, areas that we’re recruiting from, um, so that definitely makes a big difference.
Matt: Yeah, for sure. Well, let’s talk a little bit more about the soccer side of things. I know you mentioned you got a lot of freshmen and sophomores right now, but just in terms of your roster build, is there a target size that you guys feel is ideal for your roster?
Coach: Um, I think right now, especially while we’re building, um, probably staying around 35 or a little bit under.
Um, it’s kind of our goal. Um, obviously, um, that number can go up or down a few numbers either way. Um, but I think 35 based on injuries and [00:13:30] kids taking different majors are going to be tougher than others having to miss, um, and just kind of. regular nicks and bruises that we need in order to rotate through a tough schedule.
Um, 35 is probably the number that we’re at. Um, ideally, we’d probably like to get closer to 28. Um, once we have a more senior type of roster. But, um, for right now with the development and stuff that we’re pouring into them, about 35 is probably about a good number for us.
Matt: Well, and besides the roster of players, you got a staff roster, right?
The first assistant over there, can you talk more about your staff, the other coaches or even support staff within the athletic department that help with the team? Uh, what do you have there?
Coach: Um, so we have our head coach, Rob. Um, so he’s making sure kind of everything’s taken care of big picture and kind of helping to plan out training.
Um, his wife, Sandra is our director of operations. So she’ll make sure, uh, books, hotels, uh, meals, all that kind of stuff. Um, making sure all the uniforms and everything are clean for all the girls. Um, then we have our trainer, Myra. Um, so she’s making sure on a day to day basis, she’s out there with us 5. 30 in the morning.
And everything’s set up for these kids, um, ice baths, um, everything like that. Um, in terms of actual support stuff from the athletic department, we do have like a chiropractor that comes in once a week, which is huge for us. Um, we also have, uh, Miss Jen, who’s our academic advisor. She’s the one making sure that players get all their excuse letters, making sure [00:15:00] that taking care of in terms of that academic side, uh, planning their schedules out, um, getting everyone tutors and all that kind of stuff, making sure everyone stays on track.
Um, and then overall, just a great overall athletic department in terms of getting us what we need. We know things are tough, especially with budgets and everything, especially in the state of Louisiana. Um, but they’ve done a really good job making sure, Hey, we really need this, uh, for our program to help us out.
And they found a way to make it, to get it done.
Matt: Awesome. Well, in terms of on the field, you know, what, can you tell me more about, uh, your, your style of coaching coach, Rob style of coaching and kind of the style of play you guys are open to implement. Yeah.
Coach: Um, so we’re trying to play a 433. Um, so very much, uh, midfield dominated in that regard.
Um, we want to play through our 6, 8, 10, uh, try and find that nine whenever we can, um, and try and be aggressive on that press front foot forward and kind of go forward from there. Um, I think the one area we’re struggling right now is trying to find. a more natural goal score. We’ve had to kind of manufacture everything that we’ve we’ve done this so far this season, which is part of our struggles.
Um, but, um, in terms of like coaching styles, I think my role on the team is making sure that all all players, not only the starters, but player 33 34 35 were kind of taken care of. Make sure everyone kind of knows what their roles are on the team. Um, kind of be that sounding board [00:16:30] between them and coach Rob.
Um, but also Um, individual development at that point. So if anyone needs to do extra sessions, something that they want to develop or work on personally, then they come to me. Uh, we kind of set up some time and kind of knock out those sessions and kind of have a plan going forward. Um, that way, um, on game day, my role is, um, kind of work through things with coach Rob.
Um, if he has any questions or see something, just kind of confirm it or kind of go a different way, um, help him out with subs in that regard. But, um, the plan has been laid out all week in terms of what we’ve been wanting to do. So we’re on the same page that way. Um, which is really nice. Um, I think my coaching style is a lot more personality based.
I’m kind of worried about these players as individuals. I’m kind of seeing what buttons you can push. What do they need off the field on the field to make sure they’re being taken care of as people, not only as soccer players. Um, and kind of seeing how we go from there and blend all that in, um, I know we had some issues at the beginning of the season, just real, like, growing pains as a team, um, and kind of being able to be that third party in there to kind of work some of those things out, um, and kind of make sure everyone stays on the same page.
And that’s kind of been my focus all season. Um. Coach Rob is a former goalkeeper, so he’s pretty hard on our goalkeepers in terms of technique and how they do things. So, um, that’s pretty much his big focus along with, um, the midfield, um, getting those combinations right. Um, seeing how we play out of the back and things like that and just kind of keeping that big [00:18:00] picture overall.
Matt: Okay. Well, I really appreciate your time. You, you know, have covered a lot of ground, but the, the… Way I like to end these is, uh, you know, if you had one nugget, one piece of advice, information that you want to make sure any parent player, student athlete going through this college recruiting process, uh, would have, what would that one piece of information you hope everybody would know?
Coach: Um, I think especially at this level, um, at the D1 level is, Just figuring out how much you actually love soccer, um, because at the end of the day, um, whether you’re a freshman or whether you’re a transfer going in somewhere, like, things are not always going to be easy, um, it’s going to be hard at some point, um, and when things get hard, if you don’t love the game, that’s kind of when these other distractions and everything kind of come in, um, but if you really love the game and you really love soccer, um, There’s no question that you’re going to put in the work and still kind of grind through it and ask for help and kind of look for what you need at that point.
Um, so it’s just, how much do you really love the game? Because you really have to love it at this level because bigger rosters, everything’s competitive, um, and it’s, it’s Four years. So make sure you find somewhere that you like and make sure that you really love what you’re doing. Um, so that when things get harder, injuries happen or anything that, you know, you’re going to battle back and put in the work,
Matt: love it. Absolutely. Love it. Couldn’t agree more. Well, coach, wish you the best of luck as you close out the conference, uh, schedule here and, uh, you really need to make sure you get down to Florida, [00:19:30] some Bradenton to some ECNL and other events down here so we can hang out. All right.
Coach: Gotcha. Good. Appreciate
Matt: it. All right.
Thank you.
