St. Andrews University Women’s Soccer – Coach Andre Roberts
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Roberts from the St. Andrews Women’s Program in North Carolina. We talk about reloading their roster with a new head coach. He describes the school’s small, but active community. Lastly, we discuss how they focus on the culture within the team. Learn more about St. Andrews University Women’s Soccer.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer. Today I’m lucky enough to be joined by Coach Andre Roberts from St. Andrews University in North Carolina. Welcome
Coach: coach. Hello. How you doing? Uh, everything’s good. It’s good to be here. I can’t wait to speak to you some more about the program and uh, just, just inform people on on what’s going on at St. Andrews.
Matt: Yeah, looking forward to it. Cuz I, it’s funny cuz I honestly, I’m, I pride myself on knowing a lot of schools. My wife thinks I’m crazy cuz I’ll mention a school in, in the city and she’ll be like, how do you even know that place exists? I don’t know. It’s just one of my, one of my, my crazy ticks like, uh, eighties movie quotes and things like that.
But anyway, um, but, but St. Andrews is not actually one that I’m very familiar with. And then I find it interesting. You guys are a branch of Weber International, which is just a couple hours down the road for me, which I do know. Um, so we’ll talk about that later. But let, but let’s, uh, let’s talk about the recruiting side of things.
You know, we are, uh, Exactly, I think four weeks away from the, the June 15th date that most kids are, are always worried about, uh, when it comes to their recruiting process. But, so obviously that doesn’t affect you guys as an AI school, but, um, what has been your, your kind of recruiting process so far for the.
The kids graduating here in 23. Are you guys looking at 20 fours? I know you just, you guys just appointed a new head coach. So what has the Spring really looked like from a recruiting perspective for you guys? I. [00:01:30]
Coach: From a recruiting standpoint, the spring has been absolutely bad. It has been, it’s been so crazy.
Um, it’s been tough. This is, so this is my first year coaching. Um, so this is, I just graduated last year. I played at St. Andrews last year and going from. A player to being a coach in recruiting has been definitely a difficult transition. One thing I’ve definitely learned, uh, one word that I’ve learned a lot is no.
Um, Lot, a lot of rejection, a lot, a lot of rejection. Um, and, you know, it’s, it’s made me a better recruiter. We’ve, what I’ve tried to do is before the head coach was appointed, there was kind of a period where our old head coach laughed and she was coming in. So it was just me. Um, what I was doing is basically hit and field level every day, hitting N C S A every day.
Um, you know, some agencies that were emailing me. You know, from Germany, Spain, um, just trying to really email players as much as I could, um, and, and try to get them. This year we lost four seniors. Um, so, so we’re trying to, you know, gain, w two of them were probably our best players. Um, but we’re trying to regain that kind of, that.
That quality that we lost. Um, and we’re, [00:03:00] we’re looking for a lot of that, um, in terms of, you know, international players who can come in who are pretty technical. Um, and, and, and, yeah. But this year we’re graduating 11 seniors. Um, so it’s, it’s been pretty difficult finding. A lot of freshmen that are gonna come in this year.
That’s, that’s kind of what we’re trying to do is get in those freshmen this year so those seniors can kind of, you know, help them out, get them, help them understand the game, get that experience. So then next year we can have at least some sophomores with some experience. Um, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to find a huge class yet.
Um, It’s, it’s late in the game, but it’s also still kinda. You know, there’s, there’s still some stragglers that you can pick up here and there. Um, so that’s kind of what we’re looking for. Um, right now we’re relying a lot on, on some transfers, uh, some JUCO transfers to come in and, and, and really be helpful at our four year school.
So I think definitely the biggest theme that I’ve had for recruiting this year is, is rejection.
Matt: Honestly. Well, you know what? It’s funny. I mean, one of, one of the main reasons I started this podcast was I was a division two. College coach and, and kind of in a similar situation where I got hired late, had to beg, plead, borrow and steal just to try to get enough on the roster.
[00:04:30] Uh, but because part of the reason was nobody knew. About my school, right. We weren’t big, a big name in, in college soccer. And, and so I kind of started this podcast to hopefully be a platform for people to learn about schools that may not exist. So, uh, hopefully people will hear this and, and you might get a few more phone calls, but, uh, but in terms of, of recruiting, you mentioned a lot on the, on the JUCO transfer, you know, international route, which makes a lot of sense.
But if we’re looking at those, those freshmen, those those high school kids that are coming up, um, you know, Are you guys focused on specific, attending specific events that, that you definitely want to hit? Are you focused, you know, really hard on North Carolina or just the region? Are you looking national?
What, what is, what kind of makes those decisions for you?
Coach: Right, so our domestic students, we do love to hit North Carolina, so we’re about two hours from Raleigh. We’re two hours from Charlotte. Two hours from Wilmington and two hours from Myrtle Beach. So we’re kind of like in the middle of, of all that.
Um, so we look at, at players, especially from like a Wilmington, a Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, that’s where we’re looking. Um, obviously when, when you talk about. Also a big part of recruiting, you gotta talk about price, right? So when you get those North Carolina students, they get a little bit more fafsa, you know, there, there there’s a little bit more money for them there to come to our school.[00:06:00]
Um, you know, so we’re, we’re, we’re looking in those areas first. So we hit North Carolina pretty hard. Um, I would say for me, I love to hit North Carolina, Florida. South Carolina and Virginia, just because those states are just right on that, uh, eastern seaboard right there. Um, so that’s kind of where what we do a lot.
Um, in terms of, of events. I also coach, uh, A public high school team. I’m a volunteers coach for a public high school team in South Carolina called Marlboro County High School. Um, and you know, luckily I’ve been able to see all of the girls that their girls teams play. I coach the boys team. Um, but I’m able to see some of the girls that they play.
Um, so I do a lot of recruiting like that as well, going out to those away games, seeing girls like that. Um, and then also just, um, you know, just. Field level. Honestly, I haven’t been to too many events this spring. Um, we went to the, the state tournament of the, well, the U S Y S, um, tournament where they had, they played like two games, the under 18 girls.
Um, so we were able to check out some girls there. Um, but in terms of, of getting out and recruiting, I haven’t been on the road that much. It’s been a lot more online because I haven’t, I’ve been trying to find every event that I can go to, and I just haven’t, [00:07:30] I haven’t been able to yet. All right.
Matt: Well put, put on your calendar.
June, uh, 16, 17, and 18 in Greensboro. That’ll be the E C N L R regionals.
Coach: Uh, and so I played in those. That is one, that’s one tournament. I know about it. And I was telling my, I was telling Ebony about it. I was like, yeah, I know they play in Burlington on these days. Um, and then that’s when you’ll see some, some real quality, um, come through.
Matt: Yeah. Well, I’ll be there with my oh eight girls, so we can hang out there. Um, um, well, in terms of, you know, All those things. And I know you, you gotta change over in, in coaches and all this kind of thing, but do you guys ever hold ID camps as a way to bring players in? Are those important or you, or your, or, or Coach Ebony working at any ID camps.
How does, how do camps fit in?
Coach: So, yes, coach Ebony is actually, um, she’s gonna be doing some ID camps up north this summer. Um, she, she has some coaching that she does up there and they’re having some ID camps up in like, Main. Um, New York, upper New York, Connecticut, those kind of places. Um, so she’ll be attending some up there.
Um, and I’m also having a clinic down here in The Bahamas, uh, for some Bahamian girls to try and teach ’em about the college experience. And then obviously, you know, scout, recruit. For some girls for us already. So yeah, [00:09:00] that’s, that’s kind of what, what we’re doing this summer. As it pertains to next year, we’re definitely gonna be doing a lot more ID camps in the spring of 2024.
We plan to have at least two, um, you know, in kind of like February and late March, you know, kind of like. Maybe right after a spring break or just before spring break for some people. Um, just to kind of get some people to know about our school more. Um, and then next year also we’ll be having some camps, um, in the United States, like some summer camps, um, that people can come to, um, hopefully live in the dorms and maybe do like a, like a, like a weak ID camp that way.
Matt: Okay, great. Well, let’s switch gears. Talk a little bit more about the school. Uh, you just graduated from there, so, so you got the, the, the perfect insight into, uh, to helping people understand. So besides what I’m gonna learn just by clicking through the website, kind of gimme, what do you think are, are things that, that make the school pretty cool?
Coach: Um, well, I think the biggest thing about our school is, is for me, what I enjoyed is it’s a small school, excuse me. Um, it’s a small school and we have a teacher to student ra uh, professor student ratio of 12 to one. Um, so you’re really gonna be, uh, sorry, student to professor ratio 12 to one. Um, you’re really gonna get that.
Feel with your professors, [00:10:30] um, you’re gonna be able to get to know them. You’re gonna be able to email them, um, at 10 o’clock at night, and they most likely will answer, um, depending on the kind of student you are sometimes. Um, but you know, you will, you will be able to. Get that communication from your professors for sure.
Um, I also think another part about it is we’re close to the beach. We’re close to the city, um, but we’re also in a small town, so it’s not too many distractions, um, as an athlete. So you can kind of like hone in, get in the zone and like be, you know, Focused on soccer. Um, I think that’s, that’s a pretty, that’s a pretty good part as well.
Um, another thing about the school is we offer a variety of, of specialized majors such as, you know, growing majors such as sports performance, sports management. I know a lot of, um, there’s been, at our school at least, there’s been about, I think a 17 or 18% increase of. Women alone that are doing sports management and sports performance.
Um, so, you know, we’re really moving forward in, in that aspect. Um, we also have communications. We have nursing education, so we have, you know, a well-rounded, well-rounded variety of majors that someone can come to our school. Um, And learn on the residential side of it. I think, um, being at a [00:12:00] small school and being able to, you know, know everyone and being able to be paired up with, with a soccer teammate in the dorms, um, and not being far away from like the dining hall or, you know, it, it’s a big campus, but like the residential side is kind of like, Compact.
So you’re pretty close to the dining hall. Um, you’re pretty close to the gym. Um, and athletes are obviously allowed to go into the gym anytime. They just have to let me know, let the coach know. So I think in terms of, you know, A school in general, we’re super diverse. We have people from over 36 countries at our school, um, considering we’re a very small school.
Um, so I think that, you know, we, we have a lot to offer with diversity and academics and the residential side of things. Okay. Awesome.
Matt: Well, For a lot of students, making the transition from high school to college can be a little tough just with the, the balance of the demands of playing a sport and, and the academics that are upon them.
What are the ways that your student athletes really balance their sport and studies and, and what kind of support systems does the school have to help them with that?
Coach: So we, this year actually our, our women’s soccer team is actually very good about this. And if they, if they watch this, I know they’ll be very happy when I say this.
They have a great team, g p a, we had a team, g p a of 3.4, um, the [00:13:30] last, uh, cumulative this whole year. Um, so the girls really hit the books hard. Um, and, and I love that we, we are in a position where we, you know, our girls are, We trust our girls enough to do the, the work on their own. Now, other teams, um, you know, they have like our men’s team, like for freshmen, they have a mandatory study hall.
Um, for our girls. We don’t have a mandatory study hall. Um, because you know, like we’ve been able to have that. You know, rapport with them and knowing that they’re gonna get their work done. Um, but I think the way our girls are able to manage it is, and some of our girls are really good. Um, so we have girls who are playing soccer 4.0 g p a, and then they are the head of Christian Club, or we have girls who are on our soccer team.
3.9 GPA and they’re the head of the Knights for Health Club, which is our club that gets people outside doing activities. Um, like they will have like a 5K run from our school to Dunking Donuts, and then you get free donuts and then you go back. Um, so those are the kind of things that the girls on our team are, are doing.
Um, they’re involved in student life. Um, and our girls, I think our girls are really. Good about that. We have girls who are RAs. We have girls who, like I say, you know, Knight for Health, Christian Club. Um, and we just, we just have, I think [00:15:00] a lot of girls who are committed to not only being athletes and students, um, but also being involved in their St.
Andrew’s community.
Matt: Okay. Well, can you walk me through, like, let’s fast forward. Few months it’s gonna be fall. What’s a typical week gonna look like for a girl on the team with regards to when it’s class, winter meals, when his training, what’s the game cadence kind of look like? Just just an average week during the season.
Coach: What’s that gonna be? Right. So, so if we’re in season, um, you know, you wake up on a Monday morning, um, you know, depending on, on your times you have class, you, you have class from about eight to three. Um, and then in between those times, obviously you can go to the training room. Um, we have trainers in there who are gonna treat you.
Um, you can make a, an appointment to go in there or schedule a time to go in there, get fixed up. Um, we usually start training at about half three, um, three 30. Um, so you’re required to be the training, you know, 3, 15, 15 minutes early. Um, get your boots on, shin guards, whatever, get ready to go. Um, we start training at about half three.
We usually end at about five, five, half five. Um, And then dinner starts at five, so you can go to dinner. Um, and then once, you know, once you go to [00:16:30] dinner, um, dinner ends at about seven 30. So you can shower, you can go back to your room, shower, then go to dinner. Um, and then, we’ll, usually this season we’re gonna have, you know, tactical sessions in the evening.
Um, you know, that’s a Monday, Tuesday. Usually we have, we’ll have, um, an away game maybe on a Wednesday. So, you know, we’ll travel on a, we’ll wake up, go to class, and then that Tuesday we’ll travel probably at around 11, 12:00 PM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM depending on where we’re going. So if we have an away game at Rein Art, That’s in Atlanta, five and a half hours away.
Travel there. Um, get some lunch before you get on the bus. Travel there. Eat dinner. You know, team meeting, um, making sure everyone’s drinking water. Hydrating play on a Wednesday. Thursday’s a recovery day. Um, you know, Thursday we’re, it’s a light session, probably rolling out, little bit of possession, some passing patterns, um, going through the motions Friday, you know, we play on Saturdays as well, usually, um, as probably like a home game.
Um, so Friday, you know, we use that as like set pieces, um, you know, pattern play, um, formation, tactical session. And then you play on a Saturday and then usually you get Sunday off. Okay.
Matt: Makes sense. Well, let’s talk more about, about the soccer side of, of things like, [00:18:00] well, we were talking about the roster.
Is there a roster size you guys are, are trying to hit that you think is an ideal size?
Coach: There is, right. Right now we’re trying to hit 25, um, in, in Coach Ebony’s first season, um, first couple months. Um, we’re trying to hit 25, which I am very hopeful for. We have, uh, about 23 on the roster right now, um, on the upcoming roster that’s, that’s gonna be there.
So we are looking to hopefully, if. You know, 25 and if we’re lucky enough, get to 28. Um, you know, if we get to 28, um, you can play 11 v 11 every day. Sometimes people will have a lab during, during training, so you know, they may have to miss training for lab. And you know, unfortunately the reality of it is people get injured.
So, you know, you got a couple injuries in there. Um, I would love to have a completely healthy team, but unfortunately people get injured. So that 28 helps you account for, okay. We, we may have three injured, we may have two in class, um, but you know, at least at the end of the day, that’s five. We still got 23 here.
Um, you know, so we can still play 11 B 11. Um, so, you know, that’s, that’s, that’s the biggest part is, you know, can we play 11 B 11, you know, almost every day so we can work out that pattern play, um, we can work out those set pieces, counter attacks, um, and, and just trying to get, get stuff, [00:19:30] um, right. Cuz you know, you want to train the way you play.
So, you know, if, if you can have a 11 v 11 most days in training, that’s, that’s a bonus. For sure,
Matt: for sure. Well, can you talk about the, kind of the, the team style of play, the culture of the team? And I know it’s a little early to say what Coach Ebony’s style of coaching is at this point, but, but just kind of gimme a, what it, what it’s like in that regard.
Coach: Um, so the style of play, obviously we haven’t established much of style of play, um, yet. Culture with Coach Ebony. Um, I think she is so, no, I think, I know she’s huge on culture. Um, she is a lot for the girls being close. She’s a lot for team bonding. Um, she is a really good coach in all aspects, but particularly strong in the aspect of culture because she wants the team to all be on one page, which sounds.
Easy to do. But as you know, as a former college coach, it is not easy to do. Um, and sometimes, you know, it, it can be, it can be pretty hard. You know, these girls are from, and honestly, girls isn’t even for these women. They are from different walks of life. Um, so, you know, you gotta get ’em. Especially in college, you gotta get ’em to be able to understand one another.
Um, wanna be around one another, even if they’re not friends. Um, wanna be around around one another [00:21:00] enough that they wanna, they want to be together cuz they wanna win. They have this common goal to win. Um, and I think she’s huge on that. And, and we’re gonna be doing a lot of that this year, um, in terms of a lot more team meetings, um, a lot more team bonding, um, a lot more, you know, just, just being together.
I think, you know, season starts in, in for us, August 8th. Um, so when it ends hopefully in November, right after nationals. Um, You want the girls to be sick of one another, um, but also be like, wow, I’m glad, I’m glad I, I’m glad I got to know you better. I’m glad I got to know who you are. I didn’t know who you were in August, but now I know your dad’s in the military.
Now I know that your mom’s a. You know, teacher now. I know. You know, so they get to know each other and I think she’s huge on that. Um, and, and, and so am I, I love the way that she’s leading the team in that direction. Um, because you know, at the end of the day, you look at the two top 25 teams in the nation that are in our conference, which are true at McConnell and Reinhardt.
You know, you can kind of tell when you play these teams. They are together. These girls hang out, these girls know one another. These girls are on the same page. That’s why they’re in the national tournament every year. Um, so yeah, I think we’re, we’re, we’re [00:22:30] striving to, to be like similar to those teams, but better.
Um, and I definitely think culture in terms of what Coach Ebony is, is putting forth, is gonna be a positive step in that direction.
Matt: All right. Well, You’ve been really generous with your time. I don’t want to take up too much more of it. I’ve got one last question for you and, and it’s, if you could let parents, players, whoever’s listening to this, know one thing about the recruiting process and, and finding a college and, and playing in college, what would that one thing be?
Coach: I would, I would definitely say this is a lesson I learned when I was coming, um, and a lesson I know even more now as a coach. Um, two things. One, it’s great to play Division one, but division one is not the end all be all. Um, playing Division one soccer is great and it is fun. I’m sure it is, and it is competitive.
But you have to know when you get there, as in all levels, that there’s a certain level of, of competitiveness and there’s a certain level of mental strength that you have to have to play at that level. Um, and definitely I would say, um, you know, NCAA is a great division, but so is N A I A. We’re super competitive.
Um, and I think that that’s why I say division one is [00:24:00] not the end all, be all N A I a can also be a great alternative. Um, it’s also there are schools that are super affordable in N A I A, um, that I think girls and guys alike will, will definitely enjoy. Um, the second thing I’ll say about the recruiting process is go with your gut.
Seriously, go with your gut. Choose a school that you know, and I know your parent, your parents probably say it, your coach probably says it, but it’s true, man. If you tear your a c L, God forbid you get injured, are you really gonna be like, okay, I’m vibing with this place. I like it. I wanna be here. Um, and, and you know, you gotta find a place that you can call home, find a place that you, that you want to be at, regardless of the football, regardless of.
You know, if the coach makes you angry, regardless of, you know, if you don’t always get along with your teammates, can you find some solace in a place where you’re like, well, you know, everything’s not working out, but it’s a good place because of this. Um, so, yeah. All right.
Matt: Awesome. Well, coach, really appreciate the time.
Wish you the best of luck in the fall and in all your recruiting. And, if you guys are in Greensboro, uh, maybe we’ll catch up.
Coach: All right. All right. For sure, for sure. Thank you so much. Thank you.
