Penn State Harrisburg Women’s Soccer – Coach Brandon West
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Brandon West from Penn State Harrisburg’s Women’s Program. We talk about their school’s recruiting tactics and what they’re looking for in players. We cover what is different about a stand alone program that is still attached to a larger University system. Lastly, we discuss what coaching support as well as academic support his school is able to offer. Learn more about their program here.
[00:00:00] Matt: Hello everyone. Today, we are lucky enough to be talking to coach west from Penn State Harrisburg. How you doing this morning, coach? I’m good. I’m good, man. Thanks for having me. Yeah, of course. He got all the, the, the Nittany lion stuff. Uh, Right there behind you. And we’ll, we’ll talk more about how, how it, how it is being a branch campus and that sort of thing.
[00:00:19] Um, cause I am curious to hear about that, but, but let’s start off talking more just about the, kind of the, the recruiting trail and, and how you go about that. So when do you start usually hearing from players? What year are they in school and when do you start and what age are they when you start going
[00:00:37] Coach: out and watching.
[00:00:39] Yeah. So, I mean, we hear from, I mean, women’s soccer recruits. Like I hear from freshmen all the way up to seniors. Um, some are really like they’re they’re way ahead of the game and some are late. Um, you know, so, uh, you know, typically we’re focusing, I’m focusing my time. Um, Uh, rising juniors, rising seniors.
[00:01:06] So juniors that are going to become seniors or sophomores that are going to become juniors. That’s sort of where my focus is. Um, you know, and I would say we’re trying to get players, um, obviously being division three, there’s no like national letter of intent, but we’re trying to get them verbally committed.
[00:01:21] You know, either late spring of their junior year, early fall of their senior year, that’s sort of like our time to. Um, and so spring of, uh, of a prospects junior year is like the big focus point, um, for, for, for me, my program, um, in, in terms of identifying players and being able to, hopefully by the end of the spring, you know, offer spots and, and all that stuff.
[00:01:48] So. Okay.
[00:01:49] Matt: How about how many inbound contacts would you say you get in a week or a month or, you know, pick a timeframe that you.
[00:01:56] Coach: Quantify, um, you know, in a week, if there’s no showcases coming up, I’m probably getting, you know, anywhere between 20 to 50 emails a week from, from, from recruits, um, that I’m not in continual contact with, that’s just new people.
[00:02:12] Um, one, an event pops up that number increases, uh, because you, you know, when you sign up for, for, to, to go to an event, you know, Kids are emailing you to come watch you play. And so I probably get closer to, you know, 50 to 70 emails a week, um, you know, asking to go play. So I think it’s, it’s dependent on the time of year.
[00:02:37] Um, and, and when events are starting to pop up, which will start happening more in, in February and March is sort of those big months where tournaments and all that stuff are starting to come up. So it’ll start picking up again. Well, I don’t know what
[00:02:49] Matt: the U S men’s national team playing in negative 12 degree weather.
[00:02:51] Maybe those college showcases will start popping up in negative.
[00:02:55] Coach: We have an ID camp coming up February 26th. So, you know, I’m hoping openness, not too cold. So
[00:03:01] Matt: I wish you luck on that one. That’s for sure. Um, well you talk about those first contacts. What are, what are some of the things you like to see in a first contact from a
[00:03:10] Coach: recruit?
[00:03:12] Uh, that it’s not just a blanket email. Um, and that’s pretty easy to tell. Um, so I think, I think first and foremost, make sure you get, if you are going to send a blanket email, make sure you have the right coach and the right school in there. Cause I do get emails with, you know, a different university name or a different coach name.
[00:03:30] Um, so, uh, but I think the more personalized it can be the better, like if you know what you want to study. Make sure we have that major. Um, you know, uh, you know, and, and I would say if you’re really interested in our school or a school, like, do you, you know, make sure you mentioned something about that school or the soccer program, or why you’re potentially excited about, uh, Being recruited to, to that university or college.
[00:03:59] Um, so I think the more personalized the better, um, and then I always think having highlights on it is, is great. Um, because if I’ve never seen you play and you don’t have highlights on it, like the response in my emails is going to be like, Hey, do you have any highlights? So I think if you send that, it saves, it saves an email.
[00:04:14] Um, so, um, yeah, I would say the more personalized it is, and then having, you know, Um, it doesn’t have to be full game, you know, three minute highlight tape, I think is great. So great. So once
[00:04:29] Matt: you’ve, once you’ve started your conversations with a player, do you generally continue those on email or do you prefer texts and phone
[00:04:38] Coach: calls?
[00:04:39] Yeah, for our top kids, I’m on the phone more with like texting and phone calls. I, I think, I mean, just knowing the landscape of, of, you know, kids today and recruits today, like they’re on their phone. Um, you know, so, um, initial contacts through email, but then, you know, when I’m really interested in, in, in a potential recruit, you know, then, then it all goes through texts and email.
[00:05:03] Cause I know I’ll get faster response. Um, you know, so texts, phone call is typically how I operate when I’m seriously interested in someone that you
[00:05:13] Matt: mentioned the. Velocity of emails picks up when their showcases coming up and that sort of thing. So where do you spend a majority of your time when it comes to recruiting?
[00:05:24] What, what tournaments do you like to go to? Are you watching any high school games? How are you seeing players when you’re out and about, and how much are you out
[00:05:33] Coach: and about. Um, most of our regional stuff. So, so I, you know, I think the big ones, like, you know, the Penn fusion winter showcases coming up, just cause a lot of the regional teams will be there.
[00:05:43] Top regional teams will be the. Um, Jeff, cup’s a big one in Virginia. Um, that’s more of a national event, I would say. Um, but again, a lot of the regional teams will, will, will be there. Um, you know, and then there’s some local ENL and girls academy events. Like there’s a girl’s academy event down in North Carolina this year.
[00:06:01] There’s, uh, you know, PDA in New Jersey does an ECL event every year. So we’ll, so we’ll be at that. Um, and then PA classics has a lot of, a lot of big events too, in, in the central PA area. So, um, those, I would say, I mean, we attend more, um, you know, but I would say those are like the big ones for us where we’re spending a lot of our time.
[00:06:23] I mean, EDP has got a bunch of showcases national league, all that stuff. Um, but those are like, I would say the bread and butter, like where we get the most bang for our buck. Um, and we can see all the top tier. You know, in, in our region. I mean, I think being a state school, like that’s our advantage, um, you know, is, is our ability to recruit regionally and we’re in a great, we’re in a great part of the country for soccer.
[00:06:50] Um, you know, so we don’t have to go far to find top level.
[00:06:54] Matt: Absolutely. So, you know, obviously you’re, you’re a state school, so recruiting PA makes the most sense. But do you guys do any international recruiting at all?
[00:07:07] Coach: Um, I very little in, and I think we just don’t have the niche for it. Like we don’t have like an unbelievable international scholar.
[00:07:17] Um, but I think what’s unique with, with, uh, you know, our campus is we have an award called the discover award, which basically any. Touching the state of Pennsylvania. They, if they have over three to like, they qualify for this award and it basically brings it down to a comparable cost of in-state tuition.
[00:07:38] Um, so I would say, yeah, we spend a lot of time in PA, obviously. Um, but you know, the, you know, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, like any. Touching PA like we’re going to be, we’re going to have our hand in, in, in those states. And I think you can see that from our roster, we’re predominantly PA, but, but we do have kids coming from, you know, New York, New Jersey, um, because we can get the cost down to what a Pennsylvania kids.
[00:08:10] Sure.
[00:08:10] Matt: Sure. Um, well, let’s talk about cost for a minute. Obviously. You’re division three, so no athletic scholarships. So what, what kind of other money are most of your students getting dark or do you put kind of a, a bigger emphasis on some more, I guess. Players with high academic achievement, because the chances are they’re going to get more aid.
[00:08:36] How does that work for you guys as a D three school?
[00:08:39] Coach: Yeah, I think, yeah, we do. I mean, on the pamphlets at any recruiting event, typically you can see their GPA. Um, and, and yes, that’s going to help with their ability to get more scholarship. But I also think it’s a direct correlator of that student athletes, maturity, like their ability to handle clubs, soccer, and.
[00:08:56] Um, in high school soccer and probably other sports they’re playing and be able to handle their grades. So, um, I don’t necessarily look at the GPA as like, oh, we can get a money. I look at it more. So from like, am I going to have to worry about them in college? Um, so it doesn’t mean we don’t take risks on kids, but, um, I would say for the most part.
[00:09:16] I think it helps my conversations with recruits, um, and, and why either they’re struggling. Um, and you know, if they have a great GPA, I don’t even have to worry about it, but yeah, I mean the higher their GPA, the more likely they are to get academic money. Um, you know, we’ve got a provost scholarship. Um, we’ve got a couple other academic scholarships where, when they apply to Penn state Harrisburg, they just get.
[00:09:38] In, in that pool, if they qualify for it, um, you know, and then there’s other scholarships that they can apply for to online. But, you know, that could be like a leadership scholarship and, you know, they have to go in and actually research those scholarships and see if they qualify. So, um, I would say there’s four main academic scholarship.
[00:09:55] The first is the discover award, which is for out-of-state touching Pennsylvania. Then there’s a provost, which is only for instance, Uh, Pennsylvania, uh, students, and then there’s two additional academic scholarships, um, where it doesn’t matter where you’re from. If you’ve got a GPA, um, you know, right now with COVID, a lot of schools are test optional.
[00:10:15] We currently are. Um, so if you’ve got the GPA to qualify for that, you get put sort of in that pool and then hopefully you get chosen. Okay. Awesome.
[00:10:25] Matt: So with all the recruiting you’re doing, how many typical in a typical year, how many players are you trying to bring in? What’s your ideal recruiting class
[00:10:36] Coach: size, whatever.
[00:10:39] Um, so I look at, okay, who am I graduating? What spots do I need to fill based on graduation? And that’s what I feel. So like this year we lost 10 players. We’re going to bring in, sorry, 11 players. We’re probably going to bring in 11 to 12 players. Um, you know, the next year, uh, You know, we’re, we’re graduating a smaller class, so it’s going to be a smaller class.
[00:11:02] Um, so, uh, obviously we want to bring in more talent, but like our culture and environment is really important. So I’m not interested in having a 35 person roster just to bring in as many talented people as possible. Um, and they have to fit and I, and they have to be a good fit for how we desire to play.
[00:11:19] Um, so just because somebody is a good player, doesn’t mean they necessarily fit how we want to play. And so we also take that into account.
[00:11:29] Matt: So let’s, let’s talk a little bit more about that. Which, what is it that you value the most from a soccer perspective? When, when you’re evaluating town, is it their technical ability, their soccer IQ?
[00:11:41] What, what, like, what is, what is it that you’re putting the most value on? Uh, from a playing
[00:11:46] Coach: perspective, I would say their athleticism. Um, I mean, We desire to be a team that has the ball and imposes our will on the game. Um, but anybody that watches college soccer, like I think the most important moments in the game is, is how you handle transition, um, offensively and defensively.
[00:12:07] And so, um, you know, you need to have athletes that can cover the ground and cover the space. And we also are, we want to be a very high pressing team. And so that requires. Players that can close spaces quickly. Um, which means you have to have a very high fitness level, but you also have to have, uh, a certain pace to be able to, to play.
[00:12:28] Um, so I would say that’s probably the first thing we look for, um, is their, their athleticism. And then obviously yeah, basic technical ability. Like they don’t need to be a world beater, but like, yeah. Like, can you do simple things? Well, and that looks different within position. You know, center, back’s gotta be good in 1v1 defense win head balls and be able to make good decisions passing out of the back.
[00:12:49] Whereas, you know, a left midfielder, right-winger like they need to be able to run 1v1 and create service and scoring opportunities. So, um, we’re not looking for a complete player, but we’re looking for players that are fast work hard. Um, you know, uh, a. Can do their job and would fit into what we desire to do really, really well.
[00:13:15] Um, you know, and then there’s the intangible pieces. Like I do look at how do players respond to COVID. How do they respond to their teammates in times of adversity? Because typically the kid that I see mouth off to their coach or mouth off to their parent or mouth off to their teammates, like that’s a problem I’m inherited.
[00:13:32] Um, and so we look at that piece too, and that, that piece is just as important. You know, because again, ideally I don’t want to have to deal with a lot of those problems. And so we, we look at that in the recruiting process. And if we see that in a player, like we have conversation about why that is, um, because if players can’t take coaching, like there’s no way for them to be able to grow as, as a player going into college.
[00:14:01] Matt: Amen. Uh, I’ve been preaching that sermon a lot
[00:14:05] Coach: recently.
[00:14:08] Matt: Uh, Awesome. Well, last question on the recruiting, uh, topic here, how, how to transfers and walk ons kind of fit into your school’s mix of recruiting?
[00:14:20] Coach: Well, yeah, I mean the transport portals like opened everything up, right. Like, and I think you’re seeing it more in college football, maybe then D3 women’s soccer, but, um, you know, I think, um, we certainly look at the transfer portal, um, you know, uh, You know, our, our, our goalkeeper from this past year, um, was unbelievable transfer portal, like from a division two school, um, you know, and did great for us.
[00:14:47] Uh, you know, I think the transfer portal, um, there’s many reasons why kid goes into the transfer portal. And so for us, I, I think we, I make sure I vet that process very carefully. So like, I typically will not talk to a recruiter. Until I talk with the college coach and why they’re in the portal. Um, you know, because sometimes it’s their grad transfer and their school doesn’t have their program.
[00:15:13] And so they got a transfer to, by their last year of eligibility. Sometimes it it’s, they were a cancer to the team. And so I don’t care how good you are. Like that’s not something I want. And so, um, you know, I, I want to first know why they’re in the portal. If we’re going to take a transfer, um, Then the second piece is obviously like, what type of impact did they have in their program?
[00:15:35] Right. Um, you know, was it, they were, uh, coming off the bench and, and want a more increased role. And then maybe they can do that here. Did they not play at all? And so, you know, do I see them playing for me? Um, you know, so that it’s watching getting college film and watching them play, um, you know, uh, I’ll be honest if they don’t have college film, um, Um, I’m a, I’m a little hesitant because that means they probably didn’t play much in college.
[00:16:01] And so I’m like maybe it changes at my program, right? Like, you know, if it’s a . They didn’t play like yeah. Like you probably come and play here. Um, you know, uh, so yeah, I look at, you know, I obviously want to see them play. I won’t just recruit a transfer blindly, but, but it is something that, that, that we look at.
[00:16:22] I do look at it, um, you know, uh, And we had two transfers this past year that were unbelievable for us impact players, great kids. One’s actually the goalkeeper stayed on our staff. Like she valued the experience and you know, the other ones that incredible leader on our team and was our leading goalscorer.
[00:16:40] So the transfer portal is can, can be great. I mean, you never want to see a kid go into the transfer portal, but, um, it is, it is a tool to, I think. Recruit our prospective student athletes maybe find a better home. Um, you know, and so yeah, we use it. Um, but again, we’re, in some years, we’ll get one other years.
[00:17:03] We won’t. Um, so,
[00:17:06] Matt: okay, well let’s shift gears a little bit. Talk about the school itself. Um, so what is it like being a. You’re you’re Penn state Harrisburg. You’re not Penn state main campus. So, so what’s that dynamic like, uh, just in terms of being a standalone branch campus? Yeah.
[00:17:31] Coach: So there’s a bunch of different branch campuses through Penn state and they’re all different sizes offer different things.
[00:17:37] So, you know, there’s some branch campuses that are only two plus two, where like you go two years to a branch campus and you go. To main campus after that, um, we’re not, we offer four year degrees. We offer a bunch of undergrad majors, master’s doctoral, um, associates we offer at all. Um, you know, I would say where right now, I think we’re the biggest branch campus between us and another.
[00:18:00] Uh, we’ve got 5,000 students and so there’s a variety. I mean, like you’ve got main campuses. A lot. And then you’ve got us and I think Baron who have around 5,000 and then I think more standard numbers for, for division three, which is, you know, anywhere between 3000 to, you know, that 1500 mark. And you got some less than that.
[00:18:23] Uh, even though we are Penn State Harrisburg, all of my, all of the students that come. Their degree, doesn’t say Penn State Harrisburg on it says Penn State. And so they get the same resources that a kid at main campus gets. You know, we get the big 10 library network. Um, our kids get a Penn State degree, um, and, and all the benefits with that, you know, Penn State’s the biggest alumni network in the world.
[00:18:48] Um, so they get that added benefit. Um, you know, so, uh, we can pretty much sell in our recruiting process. And this is sort of, I guess, sort of my tagline, like our kids are going to get a big 10 education and gets to play division three soccer. Right. And continue their playing career. Um, because right. You know, to be able to say like, yeah, I graduated from Penn State.
[00:19:12] You know is different than maybe with, with that degree, seeing hairs for that, that decreasing Harrisburg underneath it. And so, and, and our, our school, like we’ve got, we’ve got main campus kids coming down here doing research. For whatever reason, the major that we offer has better facilities than what’s up at main campus.
[00:19:30] So like, you know, and that’s, that’s across all the branch campuses. So, um, it’s, it’s a unique relationship. Um, you know, being able to have the Penn state name and have a national name and our kids get the same benefits that a normal student at main campus would be. Um, but be able to continue their act, the, you know, their athletic career.
[00:19:54] Um, so, uh, you know, there are some differences, obviously smaller campus. Um, you know, I think you’re going to get a division three field, but in terms of your education, like you’re going to get a big tent education. Um, you know, and you’re going to have the big 10 resources and our kids. Access to the football games.
[00:20:11] Like they get tickets to the football games, you know, they get access to the basketball games, all that type of stuff. So like, again, they get pretty sick. They pretty much get the same access to Penn state sporting events and all that stuff. That that a normal student at main campus would get how far is main
[00:20:30] Matt: campus
[00:20:32] Coach: hour, hour, and 15 from us pre pre COVID.
[00:20:36] We were actually having free shuttle services going up to, to main campus for, for athletic events on all those different types of things. So, um, yeah, it’s pretty, pretty cool. So
[00:20:49] Matt: what is. That’s a great description besides that, uh, that kind of thing. What’s, what’s some of the things your school is. The specific the Harrisburg campus is known for what are some awesome things about the school that, that somebody’s not going to find just by clicking on the web?
[00:21:06] Coach: Yeah. Um, you know, I think our main majors here, I mean, we’ve got an incredible engineering department, um, with brand new facility, like a brand new facility, basically. Um, so like state-of-the-art equip. Um, and then our sciences are also really big. So whether that be Kinesio, bio, um, you know, uh, we’ve got state-of-the-art labs, we’ve got professors doing research here.
[00:21:32] Um, you know, and so that we have all those opportunities and obviously being near, uh, you know, the college of medicine, uh, which is in Hershey, like we’re 15 minutes away from that. Like, it’s, it’s unbelievable. So like for our students in the science field, Yeah, they get opportunities, um, that are right in their backyard.
[00:21:53] Um, and then obviously business, like we’re in the capital. So like there are opportunities to, you know, get internships in Harrisburg, um, you know, to hop on an Amtrak train, which we have right across the street and go to Philly, um, you know, and, and do internships in, in big cities, um, is, is, is all. You know, and, um, you know, I would say, uh, it would take you coming on campus to see, but like we’re heavily invest.
[00:22:24] Like we want to grow. Um, you know, we’re trying to grow to 7,000 students right now. Um, you know, so right now we’ve gotten the worst. You know, a new academic building, um, you know, our turf fields, brand new, uh, we’re we’re looking to build, you know, a permanent, like a thousand seat Bleacher, um, facility at the turf field.
[00:22:46] Um, You know, so what we’re investing both academically and into athletics for a division three program, I think is really is, is, is really unique. Um, you know, uh, we get to provide our kids awesome experiences, go on overnight trips. You know, we’re, we’re, we’re really well supported by our athletic department and, and our ability to be, uh, Athletically competitive.
[00:23:09] Um, I think on a national scale and, um, but also make sure we’re we’re our, our student athletes are, have all the resources available to them to be successful. And that’s big 10 library network. We’ve got free tutoring services. Um, you know, and I think the other unique thing about, you know, Good bad. It’s it’s I think it’s just different.
[00:23:32] Um, you know, I think a division three experience, you, you get the, the face-to-face relationship with your professor, right? And, and that’s something unique where. Um, you might not get that at main campus, just being in bigger lecture classes. Right. Um, and that’s something we get here. Um, so, you know, uh, our professors are unbelievable working with, with our student athletes because they actually have relationships with them.
[00:23:57] Um, and so there there’s a name to the face. Um, you know, and, and so, but I mean, in terms of what we have to offer, uh, You know, I think just with what we’re investing to give our student athletes just an unbelievable experience on the field. Um, and off, uh, I think is unique in terms of, like I said, free tutoring services, big 10 library network.
[00:24:21] We actually have, um, uh, a faculty athletic, like mentor for our program alone, um, where our kids can go with any types of issues. Um, you know, it could be like, Hey, I’m struggling in this class. Like how, how could I, what, what would help me prepare for this? What resources do do we have that I don’t know about that I can go use?
[00:24:43] Um, You know, um, or, you know, like professors giving them extra work because they have to miss class for an away game. Like he would step into that. Um, and so that’s something unique. And then I think our housing situation is, is awesome. Um, so Penn state Harrisburg, like if you go on the website, you’re like, they only offer 900 dorms and you’re like, 5,900 dorms.
[00:25:08] How does that work? Um, we have two off-campus apartment complexes, literally right next to campus. Um, and so. No more than a 10, 15 minute walks to their furthest class. Um, the reason why they’re called off campuses because it’s not owned by Penn State. Only Penn state students can live in it, but our freshmen are living in three bedroom apartments, um, fully furnished kitchen, their own bedroom.
[00:25:33] Like it is not a standard. Uh, dorm
[00:25:38] Matt: way different than
[00:25:39] Coach: what I had. Yeah, me too. Me too. I mean, uh, you know, so like when I did like, uh, an apartment tour with, with one of our recruits, like the first time, you know, one of our players shows the apartment. Wow. You got a lot of nice stuff in here and she’s like, yeah, this is all given to us.
[00:25:55] I mean, they get a couch, they get full sized bed. I mean, there was, they provide like 52 inch plasma screen TV, you know, laundry’s in their apartment. Um, you know, and it’s, and, and, and it’s less expensive than living on campus. So most of our students live. Off-campus. Um, but when I say off campus again, I would say it is campus adjacent to Jason.
[00:26:21] That’s the best way to put it. I mean like our practice field is basically like in the middle or our grass practice field, um, is like literally right next to one of the apartment complexes. Like it’s like spitting distance is like close. It is so that’s awesome. Yeah. That’s
[00:26:39] Matt: great. Well, so thanks. That was, that was awesome information.
[00:26:44] So how specifically, how do your student athletes kind of balance their school and sport commitments together in terms of practice time in terms of working with professors, all that kind of stuff?
[00:26:57] Coach: Yeah. Um, So we, uh, so the first thing our student athletes do get priority signup. So like, if you’re an athlete, like you get to sign up for your classes beforehand.
[00:27:09] So I tell them to try and block out a certain time. It doesn’t always work, but we figured we figured out, so our kids aren’t missing class for practice. So my job is to work, my practice schedule around our, our, our kids in the program. Um, so. Uh, the other thing we have is common hour, which is Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, which is there’s no class from 1130 to basically 130.
[00:27:33] So we can practice those days in the middle of the day, which I is, is really nice, um, in terms of how they balance it. I think it’s different for, for, for each, uh, for each player, um, you know, depending on the major, but I mean, you know, for. For example, like when we go on the road, uh, you know, we’ll, I’ll, I’ll make sure that they S you know, if it’s a four hour trip, like one of those hours, like, it’s just study time.
[00:28:03] Like, there’s no talking, like they got to do work. And if they, for whatever reason don’t have work, then, then they got to read a book or something like, but they’re like, that’s just your time to do your work. Um, so we schedule that into too our way trips, um, you know, I think I’m different in terms of our philosophy of like training.
[00:28:25] Like we don’t train for like two, three hours, uh, you know, we train for an hour and a half and we do two scouting reports a week. So like it’s not asking a ton of them. Um, but they have their schedule ahead of time. Like when they come into preseason, they know exactly what their day looks like. And, um, and, and normally I’ll have an individual meeting with them, like, okay, what classes are you taking?
[00:28:52] You know, what are going to be the classes that you’re going to start like that you could potentially struggle through? Do we need to get a tutor set up now? And so I have those meetings with them to make sure that they’re doing well with their time management, which I think is the biggest thing. Our kids have done a great job in the classroom.
[00:29:09] So I haven’t had to do like a mandatory team study hall other than when we’re on the road. Um, and, uh, that’s credit to them. Um, again, I think it goes back to the recruiting philosophy of like, yeah, for the most part, we’re recruiting high level students, um, in, in the classroom. Uh, and I talk with them straightforward in the recruiting process.
[00:29:30] I’m like we have all the resources available to them to be successful. Um, But I don’t want this food spoonfeed them. Cause I think that does them a disservice for life after school. Um, and so we, if they need help, like they come to me or they go to a professor and that’s, that’s the way I encourage them to, to go about it.
[00:29:54] Cause that’s what they’re going to have to do in life afterwards. Like there’s not going to be a code. Holding their hand, walking them through it. I’ve also like you’re paying a pretty penny to get an education. And right now education costs just keep climbing. Um, and so I’m like, if you don’t want to go to class and you want to waste this opportunity, I’m like, that’s your $25,000 down the tube.
[00:30:15] And so I try and paint that realistic picture of. But I would say just through meeting with them pretty regularly throughout the semester. And then we do have progress reports twice, twice a semester, where they actually take a handwritten copy into a professor and it’s not giving me their grade, but it’s like, basically, how are they doing attending class?
[00:30:36] How are they doing with their homework assignments? How are they doing with tests? And basically they can check satisfactory on satisfactory. And then they have a column. They have a section where they can put notes. And so. You know, a third of the way through the year. I know where they all stand two thirds of the way through the year.
[00:30:52] I know where they all stand. So I feel like I can at least help them guide them if they are having, having struggles. I think, I
[00:31:01] Matt: think that’s great. I, I, when I was at D two coach, I did the same thing just to stay on top of them. And it really, the accountability is always a good thing to do. So we. Been having great conversation.
[00:31:14] I don’t want it to end, but you know, we get, we let’s move on to the last segment, so I don’t keep it too long here. Um, and let’s talk about a little bit more about soccer specific the team and that sort of thing. So if I’m an incoming freshmen, uh, w should I expect. To not play to fight for a spot. Do you guys have like a, a reserve team or anything like that?
[00:31:36] Or how does that work? If I’m a new player coming
[00:31:38] Coach: in, we don’t have a reserve team. Um, you know, so, like I said, who I bring in, like you’re on the team, you’re a part of the team. There’s only a varsity squad. I don’t want to have a JV squad. Um, you know, we’re going to carry any where between 26 to 29. And that’s typically it, I mean, the COVID year obviously has messed that up a little bit.
[00:31:58] So maybe in a year we might go over, but that’s not out of intent. Um, so, uh, freshmen coming in. Every opportunity to play. It’s not a, I, I don’t really see graduation class. Um, when I’m deciding my lineup, I I’m going to pick the players that I feel have the best chance to give us an opportunity to win the game.
[00:32:22] Um, and so, I mean, this past, this past season, you know, we had the most successful season in program history and there were seven first-year players. You know, um, somewhere true freshmen summit was just, they’re really their first college season. Cause they didn’t have one cause of COVID. So, I mean, all in all, we had seven first year players, you know, on a team that once the NCAA tournament won the conference title one 12 games, you know, we’ve basically broke every record in program history.
[00:32:50] Also for me, I don’t see, I don’t see. Graduation class as, as a determiner for, yeah. You start, you play or you get this many minutes. I think you have to earn it. Um, you know, my, my relationship with the individual player doesn’t have weight in deciding who I play and who, uh, And how many minutes somebody gets like you earn that on the practice field.
[00:33:16] And so freshmen coming in has every opportunity, um, you know, a senior that started four years of her career. I think she naturally has an advantage because you know what you’re going to get, but you know, the freshmen coming in comes in and is better, they’re going to play. Um, so,
[00:33:32] Matt: okay. Makes sense. Um, So besides yourself, how, how big is your soccer staff and what roles each of the staff kind of play?
[00:33:42] Coach: Yeah. Uh, so, um, I have, uh, two associate head coaches that just got promoted to associate head coaches. This past winter. So, uh, w w really excited about that for them. Um, so, uh, my first assistant, uh, or my first associate head coach, her name is Alondra Gorton. Um, she actually played for me when I was a head coach at Eastern university, which is down in Philly.
[00:34:06] Um, so she’s living in the area. Um, she, her main responsibilities, I mean, she does a lot, uh, She does a lot of investing in the players off the field. Um, you know, obviously being a male head coach, there’s, there’s a barrier between female athletes. That’s just natural. And so, uh, she’s the sounding board, I think, for, for them when they’re struggling with stuff, um, that they wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing to me, um, or maybe two of my other male assistants, um, you know, She was an all region midfield player.
[00:34:38] So she handles a lot of what’s going on in our midfield, offensively defensively. Um, you know, uh, that’s that’s her primary focus is, is what’s going on with our central midfield. Um, in, in training, uh, and then she runs a lot of like our warmups and, you know, cool downs and all that type of stuff. And then she’s on, she’s on the recruiting trail with me.
[00:34:59] She, she goes to quite a few events. Um, sometimes as both of us together, sometimes me just sending her out by herself. So she does that too. Uh, And then Ryan Sipes, my other associate head coach. So he primarily works with our goalkeepers and back for, um, you know, he played professionally, uh, played at the D two level.
[00:35:20] Um, he’s got his own goalkeeper academy in the central PA area and as a, as a goalkeeper coordinator for a couple of clubs. Um, so, uh, yeah, we’re SU he’s done, he’s done an awesome job. Um, you know, uh, just sharing. Us defensively, uh, how our backs move, the communication between our goalkeeper at our backs.
[00:35:43] Um, and he does a lot of like scouting set pieces for us. Um, so teams set pieces, um, and he helps me with overall scouting report too. Um, but I mean that’s, his primary focuses is his scouting reports. And then, uh, he’s also on the recruiting trail too. So, I mean, he’ll be at some things by. Or he’ll, uh, he’ll, he’ll be with me at some, some bigger events.
[00:36:05] So, um, yeah, they do a lot. And then I’ve got a volunteer assistant, uh, his, uh, his name’s Rudy, um, you know, uh, he’s, he’s actually been in the program longer than any of us, three coaches. Like he was here with the old head coach. I actually worked with, with Rudy when, uh, when I got out of school and was, uh, a technical director at a local club.
[00:36:26] Um, so we work together. So we had prior. Prior experiences together. And, um, you know, he, he helps a lot with, uh, like our subbing patterns and games, uh, you know, and, and, uh, just overall running of the session. So sometimes he’s helping set up sessions, tear down sessions, uh, you know, and it’s just sort of, uh, there to help with whatever’s with whatever’s going on.
[00:36:52] Um, So, uh, obviously he’s more of a volunteer role, so not required to be on the recruiting trail. He does do some things, but, um, you know, uh, he, again, volunteer role. It’s hard to be like, you got to do Z, but he does. I mean, he does a lot, like far, like, I mean, he was great in my transition to being a head, uh, coming here, like, um, you know, so, uh, yeah, I mean, it’s been great kind of having him, having him here and, um, Kind of keeping some familiarity, you know, within, within the program.
[00:37:27] Cause it was just a lot of new for the players. I mean, new assistants, new head coach two weeks before the season. So he was at least the one familiar like person there. No, it sounds like
[00:37:39] Matt: you’ve got a great staff. That’s that’s that’s impressive. Uh, for, for, you know, a lot of D three programs don’t have that much, uh, Help for the head coach.
[00:37:49] I mean, heck even when I was a D two coach, I didn’t have anywhere near that kind of help. That’s so that’s that’s awesome. Well, so one last final question. This is kind of the catchall. Um, what else would you like anybody to know about your, your, your program, your school that maybe you haven’t said already, this is kind of your, your last chance to get it out there?
[00:38:12] Coach: Yeah, I think with our, with our program, like. We desire to have the best, best environment, you know, we want to just be the best place to play division three soccer and, and, um, you know, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to win a certain amount of games. Like we just want the best environment we want to.
[00:38:34] We want to provide the best training environment where players can grow. Uh, we want to maximize their four-year careers, um, as much as we can and maximize their potential individually and collectively as a group. Um, you know, but we’re also a program that, that that’s aspiring, I think, to do big things.
[00:38:52] Like we want to be nationally relevant. We want to hopefully get to a place where, yeah, it’s, it’s, uh, we want to compete for national championships and like, we don’t. Talk about those things. Um, you know, I’ll never set expectations of like, oh, we have to win this or we have to win that. But like, you know, we, we want to risk our heart and what we do.
[00:39:13] And, um, but we also want to love the people we do it with. And so we invest a lot in, in, in our team culture, our environment players are living together, spending time together, off the field. And so, you know, I think for any, any student athlete or potential student athlete that wants to come and play here, um, You know, uh, my, my hope is that your four year experience leaves an unspeakable impact on your life.
[00:39:39] Um, and so, you know, the point of soccer and I think college soccer is to win. Um, but, but my purpose is to make sure that when they leave and they graduate, like they’re taking what they learned from the program to impact the world in a positive way. Um, and I’ve, I’ve always told our players. I won’t know.
[00:39:59] And are my assistants won’t know if we’ve done a good job until five years after they’ve graduated and we get to see them come back for an alumni game and see what they’re doing with life. Um, you know, so, uh, you know, it’s a program there. I love it. I love it. Yeah. It’s a program where I think you’re going to love what you do.
[00:40:17] It’s gotta be hard. It’s gotta be rewarding. Um, you know, um, but. You’re going to love the people you do it with, and you’re going to grow, grow as a person, as a player. And, um, yeah, you’re going to maximize, you know, the, the gifts that you’ve been given and have worked so hard to get. So.
[00:40:36] Matt: Awesome. Well, Brandon, Hey, I appreciate it.
[00:40:39] Uh, it was awesome. Uh, really do appreciate you taking the time and, and, you know, from a, you and I, the fellow D three, uh, players, you know, ha ha. I know I have an affinity in my heart for those D3 programs. Um, so it’s awesome. I love what you guys are doing. Um, and hopefully we’ll, we’ll get a bunch of kids watching this and sending you a.
[00:41:03] Very specific emails with highlight clips and nothing but good grades and making sure that they want to be, uh, you know, be better people when they leave than when they started. Cause that’s, that’s always the goal. So, uh, thanks again.
