Simpson College Women’s Soccer – Coach Jeremy Reinert
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Jeremy from the Simpson Women’s Program in Iowa. We talk about how he is still searching for the best recruiting events to attend. He describes what it’s like for his players to balance school and sports. Lastly, we discuss their very deep coaching staff. Learn more about Simpson College Women’s Soccer.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Jeremy from Simpson college out in Iowa. Welcome coach. Yeah. Awesome. Thanks for having me. Yeah. Thanks for being here. Uh, you know, we’re talking mid November. You just wrapped up a very successful season to get making it to, to the second round of the NCAAs.
So congrats on that.
Coach: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. It was a. Yeah, I’ve got a Costa Rica soccer shirt on because I haven’t caught up from laundry from the weekend. So it was pretty really, really awesome experience.
Matt: Well, we’ll, we’ll, we’ll be just fine with that Costa Rica soccer shirt. Although I don’t, I’m not sure you got any Costa Ricans on that roster of yours, uh, at the moment.
Yeah, I’ve got one, uh, but none here. Okay. Well, speaking of roster and recruiting, you know, in terms of being a D three women’s program, are you, is it now just full bore on the class of 24? Uh, what’s that kind of timeline looking like for you now as you move into recruitment for the next year?
Coach: Yeah, we’re, uh, we’re pretty close to being done with 24, um, and have probably had 10, uh, 15, 25 is on campus so far.
Um, so we’re at this stage for 2024, um, closing on a few that we know about, um, and, and looking at some transfers, um, you know, whether it’s junior college or, or division one or division two, um, or division three transfers. Um, you know, that’s an area [00:01:30] that I think we’ll start to become more appealing to after a couple of years of succeeding.
Um, and so we’re hoping to start to bring in that population a little bit more than we have. Okay.
Matt: Well, you mentioned 25. So, you know, what? When do you really start talking to players? I know you and I were just chatting my dollars at 26, but, uh, division three, you don’t have the restrictions. So kind of build out for me what your, your typical calendar timeline is.
And when you’re looking at and talking to folks,
Coach: you know, we, we like to kind of wrap up the class or be pretty close to done with the class before we start into our, our fall season. So the goal is to get September 1 August 1 kind of be at 60 70 percent of that of the following year committed. Um, the way I lay it out for our recruits is that you want to choose to be here so I can give you all my attention when we’re in season, so I, there’s never no recruiting, but I do really like to compartmentalize and try and just live in the moment through, uh, through September, October and November.
Um, and, uh, and if we’re fortunate enough to be in a spot where we can, then that’s great. Uh, if not, then we’ll, we’ll have to recruit through season, but. Uh, and then now is really when we really truly start to kick on to 2025. Uh, so the junior class, um, the ones that we’ve had on so far, you know, our program, maybe been to some camps, um.
Uh, are are local in the area, and so it’s girls that we’ve known about [00:03:00] seen several times as we’ve recruited their teammates, but now it’s now we’re in kind of the exposure to 2025 mode where we’re getting out to some different events and showcases to try and really evaluate that class and then bring them on, um, all spring and, uh, get them closer to feeling ready to choose Simpson over the summer.
Matt: Okay. Well, you mentioned, uh, events and tournaments and whatnot. So what are some of your kind of must hit events, uh, and places you like to go to see players play?
Coach: Yeah. Um, that’s that, you know, and I’ve heard you ask other coaches that question. Um, that’s always, uh, something that I’m deciding between. And I think with the real shift in landscape between ECNL, ECNL RL, and the GA landscape over the last really two years, Um, it’s changed some of the tournaments I’d regularly gone to.
Um, some of the, uh, some of the top level teams aren’t at those events. And, uh, and so there’s still a lot of good players at those events, but, um, uh, you know, I think we’re trying to look at how to use our dollars, our recruiting dollars, uh, in the, in the most impactful way. And I still think I’m figuring that out.
Um, I don’t know. Um, and so we’re, we’re going to go to a lot of events here regionally. Uh, Kansas City and St. Louis will get our attention in the next, uh, in the next two or three weeks here. We’ll be in both those communities. Um, but, uh, then when the Midwest, we start to get snow and go inside. Uh, so then it’s places that have the ability to host us indoors that we’re trying to find.[00:04:30]
Okay.
Matt: Well, you mentioned also earlier, uh, getting people on campus and camp. So do you guys do ID camps? Do you and your staff work other ID camps? How, how do camps fit in?
Coach: Yeah. Um, we try and be active in a lot of different ways. I think it’s a really, uh, uh, I think one of our staff strengths is being able to connect and relate to players.
Um, and so being able to just be our authentic selves as coaches and getting in front of them, uh, I think is an important part for our recruiting process. Um, we’ve had, uh, some success and enjoyed working some rush camps. Um, you know, exact sports is a, is a group that I think runs a lot of camps that I haven’t had the chance to just make work yet calendar wise.
We do, we’ve done our own ID camp over the summer. Um, I’m excited this year as we move, uh, we, we hired a full time assistant for the program for the first time. Um, last. She started June one. Uh, and so, uh, we, we went basically right through the summer and then into season, and so I’m excited to sit down with, with coach and figure out what other ways we can expand our, uh, our camp presence that’s now it’s not just me, uh, in the picture and, and she and I can both be in different spots.
Matt: Well, whether it’s at a camp or a tournament or anywhere else, kind of what makes up the, 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, yeah, we always say that we’re looking for four things. Um, [00:06:00] and, uh, you know, first is talent. We’ve got to be able to, we’ve got to be able to attract.
players that we feel like can win on the national stage. We want to be, uh, consider one of the top 25 teams in the country every single year. Um, and so we have to have a baseline of talent. I do think that’s the easiest box to check. I think there’s so many talented soccer players in this country. The next two things are character traits.
We’re looking for really positive and upbeat young women, um, and then really competitive young women, uh, that aren’t afraid to, to be their athletic and competitive selves and have a little bit of an edge. Um, but I can’t just have a team of alphas. Uh, and so we’ve got to, we’ve got to have a team that, um, you know, likes each other are selfless and like to be around each other and, uh, have some personality there.
And then the fourth thing we’ve added in the last two recruiting classes, I thought, uh, and it seems simple, but we want girls that love soccer. Um, you know, if it’s a nice day and their professor canceled class, I want the kid that’s texting me to, to open the door to go get the balls out. Cause that’s what they do when they have free time.
Um, and so with the, with the division three rules and our contact time, there’s a lot of ownership that they have to take in their off season. And, uh, we don’t want the kids that feel like it’s a grind. I want the kids that, uh, that’s what they do for fun. Um, they want to get out there and just enjoy being on the ball.
Matt: Okay. Love it. [00:07:30] In terms of, um, School and cost because parents like me, we always want to know, okay, what’s this going to run? So, you know, not, you don’t have to be super specific, but if you just give me a, a good overview of, uh, tuition room board, what kind of academic packages are available, what, what’s a typical student athlete on your team walking into?
Coach: Yeah. Um, so we, we try and limit. GPA foundationally right away. So I’m really trying to recruit 3. 5 and above. Um, that’s the group that I find, uh, we’re competitive and affordability compared to the state schools in Iowa or, uh, or other division threes or, uh, um, NAIs or division two schools. We end up really, really competitive in those markets with girls above a three, five, um, That group, if they’re from Iowa, ends up kind of paying in the 15, 000 to 18, 000 remaining range.
Um, if they’re out of Iowa, a couple thousand more because there’s just some different state, uh, state grants and aid that come in. Um, Iowa Tuition Grant, um, is a 7, 500 chunk. Um, so that’s, uh, that’s significant, um, for our in staters. And then we have a really cool program that our school rolled out about three, four years ago.
Families making less than 60, 000, it’s full tuition. Um, had a ton of success with that for the first two or three years, and they’ve now elevated that to 100, [00:09:00] 000. Um, so low income families, um, that make under 100, 000, um, their students go to Simpson for full tuition, uh, and just have to pay room and board, which is about 8, 000 or 9, 000.
Um, that’s been huge, uh, and applies to, you know, I think nuanced applies to family, maybe divorced parents, um, single, single parent families. Um, uh, small business owners can find a way to make their tax, do their taxes creatively. Um, and so, uh, you know, I think it’s really done well for our low income families, but there’s also some nuanced pockets that, that are capitalizing on that as well.
Okay.
Matt: Awesome. Well, well, let’s talk a little bit more about the school. Like you got some interesting insight you can give us, cause if I’m not mistaken, you’re an alum as well. Correct?
Coach: Yep. Yep. I’m alum. I’m from Indianola. Um, so I spent a lot of time in this community.
Matt: You’re, you’re, you’re a local, you’re an alum, and now you’re staff.
So, so give us, uh, give us what makes Simpson special, things that folks might not know just by going through the website.
Coach: Yeah, you know, I think, and I’ve coached another a number, a couple of small private schools, um, and experience a couple of small private schools. I think small privates in general have really great people, um, probably underpaid and overworked.
So it’s a lot of people on their campus that love their job, love where they’re at, love their community, Simpsons. Absolutely one of those. And, you know, as a wonderful community that supports our supports, our college and our college, you know, helps make [00:10:30] the town a as vibrant and dynamic. Um, and then I think, you know, really, really special for Simpson that sets us apart is we’re, you know, 20 minutes from Des Moines, Iowa.
Uh, which is. Regularly one of the best cities for, uh, for young professionals in business and, uh, uh, entrepreneurship. And, uh, it’s just a really, it’s a really cool business type city to be able to explore and intern in and experience while being 20 minutes away and have the kind of small town atmosphere.
So I think, I think Simpsons. location. Des Moines is unique.
Matt: Okay. Well, let’s take, take it back a few weeks, you know, before the conference tournament kind of walk me through what would a typical week during season look like for the players in terms of class practice times, game cadence, all those kinds of things.
What can one expect?
Coach: Yeah. Um, so when, when we look at a seven day window, um, We’re we’ve got soccer on six of those days. We get in the rhythm of it’s practice, practice, game, practice, practice, game, day off, um, geographically with our conference, we’re able to play midweek games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Um, and then a Saturday. And so Sunday typically falls for our off day. And so that, that October cadence is really comfortable. Um, September is a little trickier as we’re throwing in more non conference and trying to play a few more games. Um, [00:12:00] but haven’t been in that rhythm for six weeks. So it’s been nice to just be in a real nice pattern here.
Um, you know, class time. Um, the difference between high school and college, I think, is, uh, is you’re in class less and you’re doing work out of class more. Um, And then at the division three level. And for us, we share a field with, uh, with men’s soccer and football. And so the three sports, uh, are all trying to go and train after 4 PM.
Um, and so we typically fit into the six to seven 30 time slot, maybe seven 30 to nine. Full disclosure, I have a three year old, and so if I can be home and try and get to bed to help her with bedtime, um, uh, then, uh, then 730 to 9 has been actually pretty great. Um, but, you know, I think our girls are pretty accommodated, understanding, um, they figure out when to do their homework and classwork.
Um, well, we, we, we get a good energy when we flip on the lights at night too, so I don’t mind that either. Okay.
Matt: Well, you know, it’s, it’s student athlete, right? Especially at the division three level. So right. A year players really balanced the pole of, of the academics and soccer and, and what kind of support services does the school offer to help them succeed?
Coach: Yeah. Yeah. We have a really high achieving group, um, that are, you know, want to be doctors and want to be vets and want to be occupational therapists. And so. The school does a really great job of it. Um, and we missed [00:13:30] quite a bit of class time this year. Uh, this was the hardest, uh, road home split that I’ve ever been a part of.
And, uh, I don’t know who set that schedule up, but we’ve got to have some words. But yeah, we, at the end of the year, we played 21 games, 14 were on the road and seven at home. Um, and so, you know, if our, if our, uh, faculty hadn’t been understanding, I think that could have been a challenge, but, uh, it’s a really supportive group.
We recognize there are, you know, we’re 60 percent student athletes on campus. And so. The reason some students are choosing Simpson is, uh, is academic or athletics first, but then getting a great academic experience. So do you think they go hand in hand? Um, for me as a coach, I think it’s just being understanding and putting it into perspective that if I have a player that’s going to arrive for 15 minutes late to practice, because.
She has to get clinical hours in to go to that school. Um, she’s going to go be a vet. Um, and that’s pretty amazing. Uh, and so I think it’s just kind of contextualizing that and, and, uh, you know, recognizing that soccer is a very important part of these girls lives, but. The next, what we’re setting them up for, what next is the most important part.
We got to, we got to make sure we’re, we’re paying attention to that too.
Matt: Absolutely. Well, let’s shift gears, talk more on the soccer side of things. Well, we, I mean, we spoke about recruiting, but is there a roster size that you guys are looking to be at each year?
Coach: So the school would like us, um, 38 to 41, which is pretty [00:15:00] high.
Um, I, I feel really, I feel really comfortable with a roster size of 32 to 33. Uh, that’s the group I, that’s the group I feel really good about. Um, so we can be creative with how we do that. Uh, we can count managers and we can count student coaches and those types of things. And so. Um, you know, our, our roster online, we’ll, we’ll look that way.
Um, but as we, we go into the nuts and bolts of it, I think, you know, this year we had bid two managers and a student coach and, uh, and then one player out with a season ending injury early, unfortunately. And so, uh, you know, the, uh, we, we were often at 35 or so at practice, uh, which was, which was a fine number.
Uh, we, we played some JV games. Um, would honestly like to play a little bit more, but, um, we don’t get to control the rosters of schools near us, right? And so if they don’t have the numbers to play, then, uh, then, then we’re out, unfortunately. But it would be nice to play, you know, six, seven, uh, JV games. I think we’re, we’re able to handle that load with our roster size.
Um, but any more than that, it’s pretty hard. Um, you know, you want to keep everybody, you’ve got players in the, in those reserve matches that. Our contributors for you as well at the varsity level. And so we don’t want to risk injury or, uh, or, you know, low or recognize the load we’re asking of our players by, by playing in those matches too.
So, um, yeah, I think 38 to 41 is where the school wants me. Um, we’ll be, we’ll be around there. Okay. [00:16:30]
Matt: All right. Well, on, uh, when I’m looking at your roster on the website, it looks like you get a pretty good roster of coaches as well, especially for, especially for a D three program. So talk to me about your, your, your staff and what everybody does and the roles they play.
Coach: Oh, you got the best staff in the country. Um, no, I’m so, so lucky. Um, you know, I don’t hardly get to pay the group. Um, and, uh, and so. They’re, they’re all paid, but basically volunteer from the energy and effort that they put in. And, uh, Katie, uh, Katie Bergland is with us. Um, she’s, uh, our first full-time, uh, assistant coach in program history.
She’s been incredible played in our conference at, at our, at one of the top schools in our league. And, um, through five years of college. Soccer has been a national tournament, um, four times. Um, and so we’re so excited to have her and she, the girls just, uh, have really connected with her in the last year.
Um, the other three coaches on our staff, um, Joe, uh, works with our goalkeepers. He and I started coaching high school together in 2010. Um, and when I moved back to the area and was hired at Simpson, that was my very first phone call. Um, and, uh, knew I, I could trust him, uh, to, to work with that unit. Um, Coach Mac is also an alum.
We actually, uh, she and I just missed each other the year I left. Uh, it was her first year as a college freshman. Um, and, uh, I came back to the community and started coaching at the Indianola High School and, uh, and Mac applied for that [00:18:00] job and I interviewed her and here we are seven years later. Uh, she’s been with me all six at Simpson.
Um, and then Coach Frances Lee, we don’t get her as much. Um, so she’s on our website, um, but she also coaches for Sporting Iowa, a couple, uh, ECNL RL teams. Um, coaches high school in the area as well. And so we get her once, twice a week. Um, we’re really excited to have her, but she’s also a big, uh, eyes on the ground out and about recruiting when she’s at all these club events for us.
And we’re on season, she’s, she’s at games saying, Hey, these are good players for Simpson to keep an eye on. So she’s got a little bit different role for our staff. Less in person, but, uh, she, she’s absolutely bought in.
Matt: Awesome. Yeah. That, that sounds like a tremendous staff, especially at the D three level.
You don’t get a lot of those people.
Coach: Yeah. And they’re just so passionate. You know, I think that’s what our players feel is, uh, loved for and taking advantage or, you know, taking care of and, uh, and that they, they have passion for Simpson too. Um, it’s, it’s a great energy when we get the group sounds like it will coach.
Matt: You’ve been generous with your time. Uh, like to end this with just one last question. And that’s, if you had one piece of advice or nugget, you wish all parents, players, families going through this process new, what would that be?
Coach: Um, yeah, I think enjoy the process. Um, I think there’s a lot of anxiety to it.
Um, I’m making the right decision. I’ve been doing this a while and, um, I just think that there are a lot more right answers than [00:19:30] wrong answers. There’s probably a lot, a lot more right spots than wrong spots. And if you’re a good person and you work hard and invest in the program. Well, you get to take that everywhere.
Doesn’t matter if you choose Simpson or somewhere else. Um, if you’re going to be a good human, then you get to be a good human wherever you are. And so, I think the, I think that’s the bigger indicator of success and happiness is where you choose to, where you choose to be in the attitude you take. So, let the recruiting process be fun, because foundationally, um, people want you to be there, uh, and uh, and that’s a pretty special thing.
Uh, not everybody has that opportunity, so uh, try and reflect on and enjoy those moments. Absolutely.
Matt: Well, coach, really appreciate the time again. Congrats on a great season. Wish you the best of luck next year and getting back to the tourney. And if you, if you venture down to Florida for any of our recruiting events down here, give me a shout.
All right. Yeah. Sounds
Coach: good. Thanks, Matt. Thank you.
