University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Women’s Soccer – Coach Erik Solberg

On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Erik Solberg from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Women’s Program. We talk about how he looks at recruiting as a new coach to the program. He describes what it’s like being part of an HBCU and the diversity it offers. Lastly, we discuss their ideal roster size and how they will look to play this fall. Learn more about the team.

[00:00:00] Matt: Hi, everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Eric from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Welcome

[00:00:08] Coach: coach. Thanks for having me, Matt. I really appreciate you having me on and, um, making a time and doing this for college.

[00:00:15] Matt: Yeah, no, I appreciate you. Uh, you take at the time as well.

[00:00:18] I know your schedule is busy, hopefully a less busy as we roll into the, uh, into the may timeframe.

[00:00:24] Coach: Um,

[00:00:25] Matt: well, let’s talk a little bit about, uh, the recruiting side of things. You know, I think most people, uh, you know, are always, you know, all the kids are hoping to go D one, whenever they’re there, they’re, they’re looking at schools.

[00:00:38] So. More specifically for you as division one institution. When are you really looking at players? When do you start looking at them? In terms of what year in high school, when that.

[00:00:51] Coach: Yeah. So we’re a little bit different probably than some others. Um, you know, we are definitely in the mid to low major category.

[00:00:57] Um, and so we did definitely do some recruiting lights. Uh, I would say, you know where we are right now, we’re wrapped up, wrapped up our 20, 22 class. You know, hard at work on our 2023 class. Um, we’ve definitely identified some 2020 fours that when June 15th hits, we’re gonna send a hit, send on some emails and make some calls and, and reach out to some people.

[00:01:19] Um, and then, you know, really, we’re going to focus on trying to get our 20, 23 class done by, you know, about signing day early November, and then really roll into 2024. Um, you know, obviously COVID has thrown everything for a loop. So there’s going to be some kids that maybe have a year left to decide to stay and that we want to stay.

[00:01:37] And there may be some kids that don’t, um, you know, the transfer portal has changed everything. I mean, almost every team has somebody leaving that’s unexpected at some point. And so there’s definitely still work to do in November, December, January, trying to put a bow on, on the recruiting side of things for the next class.

[00:01:55] You know, we really started the recruiting process as early as sophomore year in terms of identifying players, I would say that’s really the spring of their sophomore year. We start spending time on that because. You know, most of the showcases that the roll around in November through February, let’s say, uh, we’re spending the predominant, uh, the most of our time working on the unite teens and the U seventeens, kind of, those are the games we’re sitting down to, which are going to be mostly juniors and seniors.

[00:02:21] It’s really in spring where we sit down and we first kind of identify some sophomores, Hey, who’s a good camp. Um, who’s somebody that we want to get familiar with then. And then obviously if there’s somebody exceptional that we think fits our school and what we’re looking for, uh, those are kids that, Hey, we write the hay, June 15th, they’re on our short list of kids.

[00:02:37] We want to reach out to gauge their interest. Um, you know, we kind of, I come from the division two background. We kind of wait sometimes for the, the major schools, the bigger schools to kind of make their picks, um, and, and try not to waste too much time on kids that we think may be way above our level.

[00:02:53] And sometimes waiting until. You know, junior year is the best way to do that for us, because it kind of says, well, who’s, who’s here on the table because at that point, you know, they’re probably interested in anybody if they’re still, you know, kind of floating around in that timeframe.

[00:03:08] Matt: Yeah. It makes sense.

[00:03:09] Um, what are some of the. Can’t miss tournament’s that you make sure you’re at every year you mentioned sitting and watching games. Where is it that you guys like to go and look at players?

[00:03:19] Coach: Yeah, so we’re last year we had 13 different states represented on our team and three different countries. Uh, we do try to recruit mostly domestically in Canada.

[00:03:28] Um, so most of the showcases I go to are really from coast to coast. Um, this past year I really did the CNL and GA circuit. You know, we’re gonna hit two or three of those major showcases. The second season ends. There’s the showcase. Uh, there was this year in California. You CNL, uh, we hit the one in Nashville frisee now.

[00:03:44] Cause it was right here. Um, we also went to Florida for now. We went to GA out in California. We recruit a lot of players from, from out west. So we definitely find going west generally has a higher yield for us then. Then, uh, you know, maybe going east, um, just because those, those kids may be a little bit more open-minded to come into Arkansas.

[00:04:06] And, um, that’s something that we look at. I would also say, you know, we’re not a school that can just rely on going and watching the top east and LNJ teams or whatever that looks like. So we do hit the CRL events. We do hit DPL. And then we hit all the regional showcases. We recruit heavily out of Texas.

[00:04:22] So, uh, we were just there, uh, at Dallas cup. Um, we will go down there again, uh, for Texas shootouts the first week of June. Um, we did not go to players showcase in Las Vegas this year though. I have been there and that’s a good place as well as, you know, surf cup, things like that. Um, so we, we do hit. The major tournaments in region hit a couple of east LJ, DPL, ECRs level events.

[00:04:47] And then, you know, a couple other big showcases where we can, you know, we’re limited with our budget or we can kind of get the biggest bang for our block and identify a top slate of players. But we’re always looking for new things that, that work and, um, you know, kind of where we can find, uh, the biggest, um, collection of talents and, and cause they might fit what we’re looking for.

[00:05:05] And we also hit the camp circuit quite a bit and we can pull kids that way as well.

[00:05:10] Matt: You kind of lead me to my next question was, was camps. So how, how do camps fit in whether they’re your own camps or other schools, camps, or anything else?

[00:05:19] Coach: I think camps, uh, are huge. Um, I’ve, I’ve been ahead. I’ve been in college soccer for 10 years, been a head coach, the last seven.

[00:05:26] Um, and I think camps are huge because. You know, whether it’s your camp or somebody else’s camp, chances are, you’re going to get to engage with them. One-on-one and build a relationship. They’re going to get to see a piece of your coaching style, um, and see, you know, what you’re about and what energy you bring and what are kind of your non-negotiables.

[00:05:44] You’re going to get to see their training habits. You’re going to get a chance to kind of see, Hey, How are they not in a game setting all the time? How are they at? How are they technically, how are they dozing off or looking into space when you’re talking to them? Are they engaging with you? I mean, those are things we look for.

[00:05:58] So I love that. And then of course your whole, your own camps, um, are great because you get to have players on your campus. They get to see the facilities, they get to see. You get to see if they’re a fit as a player coach, but also they get to see if the university is a fit for them, which is really important for us.

[00:06:13] Um, so camps are a huge part of us. We, we try to host two ID camps, maybe three a year, just one day events, try to keep them at about 30 people. So I know everybody’s name so I can properly evaluate. So when somebody writes me an email, they can say, Hey coach, you know, what did you think? And I don’t have to struggle to remember who it is.

[00:06:31] Um, and, and I think that’s just our philosophy. We’d rather have more small camps than one big camp. Um, but then in the summer, you know, I’ll work some of the big national camps that are organized by, you may have 30 to 50 college coaches I’ll work some of the bigger colleges, um, camps, and then I’ll also work.

[00:06:49] Um, some of the clubs that, that throw camps as well. So I definitely get around and, um, it’s a way, not only for us to, you know, see players, but it’s a good way to keep those relationships with other colleagues, but also club. And really gets to meet players and, and build that rapport because it’s so important that you build that relationship with a player before they step on campus and make sure that they’re bought into what your vision is for the program and brought into the school as well.

[00:07:13] Ah, I love that.

[00:07:15] Matt: So, you know, whether it’s at one of these tournaments or at a camp, kind of, what’s your specific hierarchy of things that the check, the boxes for you as a coach of a players that you want to bring into the

[00:07:27] Coach: program? That’s a great question. We get asked that a lot, you know, what are you looking for in a player?

[00:07:33] And I think it’s multifaceted, you know, I try, you know, when I took over this program, they had not made the conference tournament the year before I was the fifth head coach in five years. So we were ninth in the conference, I think, roughly right. Ninth or 10th. And our goal, you know, my first spring here, we were picked dead last in the conference, finished seven.

[00:07:51] So my goal is immediately when I recruit a players, how does this player help me move up the table and in the conference? I mean, that’s the first thing I look at. What is it about them that makes them potential recruit? That’s going to not have be somebody that I already have is going to help us keep the status quo.

[00:08:07] It’s going to drive us forward. Now that could. Insane athleticism. It could be crazy speed. It could be there a great finisher. It could be. They’re great at set pieces. Um, I’ve, I’ve signed a kid this year because she’s a fantastic leader and I know she’s going to grow into a captain on our team and she a good soccer player a hundred percent.

[00:08:22] But if you say about this player, what’s their defining quality. What, why are they going to help us? I’m not going to. It’s because of the best soccer player. It’s because they’re an outstanding leader. That is a great culture fit. Um, so the first thing I do when I sit down is like, what is this? Person’s it factor?

[00:08:37] Um, after that, obviously like our, our we’re in the SWAT conference, it’s very athletic. Uh, it’s fairly direct at times you have to have athleticism doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be able to pass the beep test or, uh, get this, this level or. This time and the mile, or run a 40 in this time or whatever.

[00:08:56] Um, but it is about having athleticism to compete at this level, you know, not only in our conference, but we play a division one schedule against some very, very good national tournament teams every year. And so in our non-conference portion. So we, you know, we want to compete well. Uh, we want to get good results from those games and, and show and play with pride and so, and have chances to win.

[00:09:17] Ultimately. Uh, you know, athleticism is a huge part of what I recruit more. So, you know, I probably, when I was in division, I’m kind of in the unique position. I’ve, I’ve been a head coach at all, three levels of NCAA soccer and, you know, division three level. I probably looked a lot more at skill and first touch in technicality than I do now.

[00:09:34] That’s still important to me. And I would say, that’s my next step is like, Hey, what is, you know, first touch? Can they, we, we do try to keep the ball at least a little bit, right. Are you going to kill a passing pattern or do you have good first touch? You have purposeful first touch. Are you receiving on the right foot?

[00:09:49] Are you passing to the correct foot? Um, when you strike a ball, how’s your technique? Um, you know, then, uh, then soccer IQ is the next part. And then the last thing is, you know, as you get to know them, do they check the box in terms of a fit? Are they a kid that you’re worried about in six months, finding something on their social media?

[00:10:06] A red flag. Are you worried that, um, you know, there are bad teammates or, uh, anything like that? So those are things, sorry, I don’t know if that, um, yeah, those are the things I look for. So I would say first, like, what is the defining characteristic about them? Are they a great ball winner? Are they a great score?

[00:10:23] Are they fast? So they thought, what is it about them that helps us and helps me believe that they’re going to take us up the table in the. Uh, then second, you know, it comes back to, I think at our level athletics is a matters. I think thirdly, um, it would come down to, you know, technique and then a soccer IQ and then obviously off the field, making sure there are good students, uh, making sure they fit our culture.

[00:10:43] I think those all are important. I don’t think you can have somebody who doesn’t check at least most of those boxes. Um, however, uh, that’s probably how I would rank them. Although again, like the off the field fit, like if they’re going to be problematic, like they’re probably not. Make it any way, you know what I’m saying?

[00:11:00] Sure. So

[00:11:02] Matt: how does being a NH BCU, uh, does that change your recruiting philosophies or what you guys do or, or, or who you look after? Uh, you know, I mean, some, some folks out there probably aren’t familiar with HBO and that whole thing. So, you know, looking at your roster, it looks like any other roster that did you check around.

[00:11:23] Uh, but you know, I want to make sure folks understand exactly what that means.

[00:11:27] Coach: Yeah. So we are historically black college. We are a land grant institution in the state of Arkansas. The reason we existed was African-American students could not attend the university of Arkansas when it opened, and that’s the reason we, we opened.

[00:11:39] And so we carry that proud tradition with us. I do think it shapes and molds who we are as an institution, who we are, as it seem though, to your point, um, you know, we’re as diverse as any team across the nation, you know, you look at us, uh, we’re diverse socioeconomically. We’re definitely diverse by race, race, and ethnicity.

[00:11:55] We’re diverse by. Uh, you know, every other facet, geographic socioeconomic that you can, you can name. Um, and we take pride in that, but, you know, I would say it does impact our recruiting for a couple of different ways. Um, there are definitely kids that it’s just not the right fit for them. And that’s okay.

[00:12:13] Um, we try to be really honest in the process and sharing who we are. You know, we are a school that is 85, 90% minority. So while our team looks like any other division, one division, two division, three, et cetera, soccer program that you’re going to find in the country at the women’s level, uh, our school doesn’t.

[00:12:31] And so we try to be really upfront about that and honest, and it’s not a fit for everybody. So that does shape a little bit, uh, who we recruit doesn’t mean. You know, every a minority student wants to come to an HBCU either. Um, so we try to just cast a big net. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned here from a recruiting standpoint is you just have to recruit a larger number of people because we are limited resource wise.

[00:12:51] We are limited by our location. We are limited by our scholarship budget and some other things. So you have to cast, you know, a really big net similar to what I did at the division three level in terms of shapes. Um, this roster. And so it does impact us. There’s definitely, I would say, you know, there’s no kid that I wouldn’t try to recruit right.

[00:13:11] Based on level ethnicity, if I thought they were a fit for us, I’m going to try to recruit them regardless of any of those other demographics. However, it just may not be the right fit for them. Um, and that, to be fair, like they may not check all of our boxes, but, um, so it does shape who I recruit. You know, there’s a certain demographic that we don’t get as much.

[00:13:31] In terms of maybe affluence or location. Uh, you know, for example, Arkansas is not a huge soccer state. There’s not, um, you know, we only have one Arkansas player on our roster. You know, we don’t spend a lot of time recruiting Arkansas players because it’s just not usually a good fit. So it doesn’t mean we won’t try.

[00:13:48] Like there’s a player for 20, 23. We’re trying really hard on right now. Um, but that’s kind of who we are as a, as a program. There’s nobody, we’re not going to try to recruit, but it does shape. How we recruit how much we need to recruit to get down to our roster and our incoming class. And, um, just how we, how we shape those conversations.

[00:14:08] We’re very upfront, early on. Hey, here’s the deal. Here’s what it’s like. Uh, we try to get them on campus and let them have that experience on a visit and see if it’s the right fit for them. And we do get. Most players come on campus and say, Hey, this wasn’t what we expected. Like this is actually a really awesome, cool place.

[00:14:23] And I think it’s a really special time to work at an HBCU. I’m really proud to be on staff at an HBCU. And I think there’s a lot of good education that happens here and a lot of good things that happen here, but it’s not for everybody. And we understand that in recruiting and it does shape and mold how we go through that process.

[00:14:39] I wouldn’t say it eliminates anybody up front, if that, and

[00:14:43] Matt: I think that’s just great information, right? I that’s, like I said, I think there’s a lot of people who just aren’t familiar with what that means, or they have a misconception of what that means. So I was like to hear from the school itself, you, you did mention, uh, you know, scholarships.

[00:14:57] W what does the overall financial aid situation look like at your school? Whether that’s athletic money, academic scholarships, grants, whatever, just kind of give a broader picture for folks who are interested in what it might cost them, uh, when it comes to it. Yeah,

[00:15:13] Coach: no. So, so we are. You know, w we’re individual and program division one per NCAA, at least for now are allocated a maximum of the equivalent of 14 scholarships.

[00:15:23] There’s some talk to that may change. Uh, we are not close to fully funded. Uh, we’re about half funded, um, which, which is a struggle from an athletic standpoint, right? And it does change and shape how we recruit. And I kind of left this part out initially because I knew we’d get to the academics. We do have a really strong academic scholarships, but it does shape how we recruit, uh, most of our academic scholarships that are impactful.

[00:15:45] Somewhere between a 21 to 23 act and above, um, or the sat equivalent. Um, so really, like, I don’t want to say we don’t have a single kid on the roster that has, that had a below 21 act. It’s very difficult unless the player is a special player and going to get a lot of athletic money, um, for us to put together a really competitive package.

[00:16:07] Um, If you don’t kind of meet those academic benchmarks, um, that that being said, we have players that are getting almost everything from academics because they’re closer to a 30 act, um, or the equivalent. So that is something that comes up in recruiting. Now I will say when I sit down at a tournament and I have a flyer in front of my hand, I don’t immediately go to the act or sat score.

[00:16:27] I’m still going through the list that I gave you earlier. But I do think it helps when all of the things are. There’s a player. Hey, they have a 23 act or 25 act. They’re going to get, uh, uh, maybe two thirds of their, their, uh, tuition covered based on academics. And I can maybe do the rest and then they’re on the equivalent of a full scholarship and I’m only giving them half of what I’m giving to this other player that has a 19 act.

[00:16:51] So that comes into two accounts. You know, our school. Uh, we’re relatively affordable. Cost of attendance is around 28, but actual tuition fees, room and board, everything, you know, not, that’s not travel personal expenses. It’s right around 23. Most players can get in state tuition, which takes it down to about seven.

[00:17:11] Um, and like I said, if you know, you’re getting five to $12,000 academically that can take you down between five and $12,000, we’re able to hopefully make a good dent in that maybe you get some Pell grants, um, or something like that as well. And all of a sudden you’re looking at paying less than $10,000 a year.

[00:17:28] Maybe even less than that to go to a, you know, a very good academic institution that can take you, uh, far beyond, uh, your four years here. That’s something you want to do. And, and obviously have a division one college soccer playing experience. Um, so that’s kind of a general overview. We don’t have anybody on, uh, an athletic, full scholarship.

[00:17:47] We got, uh, several players though that when all things are considered are getting close to, uh, what would be considered a full scholarship between academics and athletics. So it’s a huge piece for us and recruit. Um, you know, we are not the most expensive school. Um, you know, we’re probably also not on any top 50 best lists as far as programs though, we do have some really good programs and, and like I touched on, I mean, we’re in the university of Arkansas system.

[00:18:10] You can go on and do it. Awesome. Amazing things from our institution. Um, and not be in massive student loan debt, uh, or any student loan debt when you leave. No, that’s, that’s

[00:18:20] Matt: fantastic. Well, let’s talk more about the school. Um, you know, folks might, like I say, are probably, aren’t very familiar with, with pine bluff and, you know, they might know the Razorbacks, but, uh, but you know, Besides what I can go ahead and learn on the website and just clicking around, you know, give me, give me the inside scoop of what’s.

[00:18:40] What’s awesome. About pine bluff and what makes it attractive for a student to come to? Yeah, so I think

[00:18:47] Coach: it’s two or three fold. I think number one, we are in HBCU. So if that’s, uh, if diversity is important to you, if, if being, uh, maybe your parents went to historically black college university, if that’s important to you, we’re certainly a great option.

[00:18:59] In that box. Uh, we’re definitely, it’s a great time to be on H VCU. Um, endowments are growing, our enrollment is up. Um, there’s some really cool things happening, so that’s something special. Yeah. You can learn that, but it is a really cool part. I mean, homecoming around here is like nobody’s business, right?

[00:19:14] I mean, it is very, very cool, uh, to be a part of something that, that is different. Um, unique, I think is really cool. And, uh, the second thing is, you know, we, we have division one athletics, right? I mean, we are in the SWAT conference, we compete at a high level. You’ll have the opportunity to play, you know, on ESPN plus and play some of the very best teams in the nation.

[00:19:33] And we played two NCAA tournament teams this past year. Um, you know, we get a chance to travel and, and do some pretty amazing things. And I think as a school standpoint, right. You know, we’re in the university of Arkansas system, you know, the only thing we’re. We’re almost world renowned for is our, um, in our agricultural department, we have unbelievable, uh, catfish researchers like unbelievable.

[00:19:55] Um, that’s not a huge, uh, thing for a lot of soccer players, but we do have a tremendous. Program, our agriculture science and education. Our pre vet programs are outstanding. We have a couple young ladies in that are graduating without we’ve got one working on a master’s and that degree. So if that’s something you want to do, you know, we have outstanding programs there.

[00:20:15] We’ve got a great nursing department, fully accredited. Um, all of our students, we have a really high end collects pass rate. All of them have jobs before they leave. We had a girl who graduated last year, um, in nursing and she had a job lined up, back home and. Two months before she graduated and she’s killing it and doing awesome.

[00:20:31] Um, so we have that as well. Um, You know, we have everything except engineering, really engineering and Marine biology. We don’t have everything else. You know, we, we are very competitive systems. And again, being in university of Arkansas system, we’re 45 minutes from little rock, little rock has a law school there that’s associated with the university of Arkansas system.

[00:20:50] The university of Arkansas medical system. You AMS is right in little rock. So they have a PT program, a med school program. Um, a dental program. They have all that stuff in little rock being in the university of Arkansas system, you know, a certain number of kids going into those programs are going to come from the system.

[00:21:07] So coming to our school, even though we’re not the Razorbacks, um, you know, we do have kind of a, I don’t want to say preferential admissions, but definitely a connection and the link there. Um, that can be really helpful if you want to go on some more school, whether it’s in the medical field. Or as a lawyer or whatever that looks like for you.

[00:21:23] So, um, those are kind of, I guess, our big selling points that you might not know about, um, you know, just from a quick Google search.

[00:21:31] Matt: So if, if, if I’m a student and I’m in nursing or one of those great programs you talked about, you know, as a soccer player, how do I manage to that? The academics and the athletics and, and make sure I’m successful in both areas.

[00:21:45] What kind of support systems does the school offer to, to kind of help with that?

[00:21:50] Coach: So this is one area I’m really fortunate in. Um, honestly, one of the main reasons I took this job and decided this was the place and the times moved to the division one level, um, are the resources we provide. Uh, we have three full-time staff members in athletics that work in our academic center.

[00:22:05] It’s new within the last seven to 10 years. Um, brand new, it just got to like $300,000 upgrade over the last three years. Uh, in terms of equipment and computers. So there’s an academic center just for student athletes in the same building as our weight room, our training room right next to our football field, so that they handle study hall.

[00:22:22] They have free tutoring. They even have the ability to travel with us at times on the road. If we’re going to be gone for a long time, if we need some extra help, uh, they’re also helping you schedule to make sure you’re missing. You’re not missing classes and missing games and, or sorry, not missing games or practices for classes.

[00:22:39] Um, and so that really helps me. I definitely have very good relationship with the players. And we communicate a lot about grades is all my players know that I care very much about, um, life beyond soccer. Hopefully we, you know, I’ve had players in the past that have gone on to have, you know, pro or semi-pro careers here in Europe or wherever.

[00:22:56] Um, but ultimately my goal is to get players graduated. We have a perfect graduation success rates since I’ve been here for academic progress rate is up. So that’s very important to me, but I’m lucky that. It’s not all on my shoulders. I’ve got three full-time staff members and some graduate assistants that work over in our academic center.

[00:23:13] Um, they run study hall for us. Um, they keep up with grades. They let me know if people are missing class or have, um, you know, grades that are below our standard or their standard. Um, and then we have one that meets specifically with our players a couple of times a semester, make sure we’re on track to graduate.

[00:23:28] Um, And kind of helps with scheduling. So really lucky we’ve got those resources here. You know, those are, you know, we are a mid to low major, but I would say that’s one area that we have a truly division one experience is in our academic department. Um, and that really is a huge asset for our students because we have.

[00:23:45] A really good team of student athletes that, that really get their business done in the classroom that have some really big aspirations and ambitions. Uh post-college and, um, you know, we want to make sure they have every tool they can to be successful while playing in an extremely competitive division one soccer schedule.

[00:24:00] Oh, that’s great.

[00:24:01] Matt: So, you know, you mentioned. Having academic advisors when you travel and stuff, like what, what does your typical

[00:24:08] Coach: travel,

[00:24:09] Matt: uh, look like? You know, how, how often are kids missing classes for games, which kind of your game cadence that sort of.

[00:24:16] Coach: Yeah. So our non-conference schedule, um, you know, a range is know about five weeks and we start August 18th.

[00:24:24] This year. Our first conference game is like September 24th. So it’s four or five weekends. Um, we tend to stay pretty regional. Um, I try for us to fly once a week. Uh, we flew actually just down to Houston this year on 2023, we’re planning to go up to North Dakota. So we try to have that experience once. Um, other than that, our travel is mostly regional.

[00:24:44] However, we do tend to play Thursday, Sunday and our non-conference. So it does result in like if our Thursday and Sunday are both away, we might leave on a Wednesday. We might miss three days of school. Now I try to schedule so that the next weekend we’re home and they’re in class, even on Friday when we’ve got a game that afternoon or.

[00:24:59] Um, but sometimes we do miss a fair amount of class. So that’s why, um, you know, we’re, we’re fortunate. Our, our students to teacher ratio is like 18, 17, 18 to one. Um, you don’t have a ton of big lecture hall classes, despite us being a public state university. We’re relatively small and enrollment around 3000.

[00:25:15] So you’re going to have relationships with your professors. They’re going to know who you are. Um, and so we just try to work things out that way. But again, if there’s the one professor that’s given us a hard time, oh, you’ve missed so much. That’s where academic department comes in, sends the email, keeps us all in the loop if there are problems.

[00:25:32] Um, and so that’s, that’s really nice, but our, our traveling. Out of conference, um, mostly regional, but we try to take one flight and trip a year. And then in conference, you know, our conferences spread out. We’re kind of in the center. We go seven hours away, down to a couple of schools in Houston. Uh, there are two schools in Louisiana, three schools in Mississippi and two more in Alabama.

[00:25:52] So we definitely are on the bus a lot. Um, during season we’re, we’re kind of spread out. We’re a very true division one conference in that regard. Um, and so that’s, that’s kind of where we spend most of our time. We do play Friday, Sunday, and conference, so we miss less class, but we really try to tell our kids, Hey, like Friday afternoon, bad time to have class.

[00:26:10] Right. Um, even Thursday afternoon, if we can avoid having afternoon classes. That’s great. Cause we’ll stay in school more or miss less class, but definitely miss. We miss a fair amount of class in the fall. It’s just kind of the reality of our conference and our level of soccer. And that’s why we have some great resources and tools to help us manage that for sure.

[00:26:28] And I’ve been fortunate that most of the professors, even nursing wise, I’ve been really understanding and accommodating, uh, with our busy travel schedule.

[00:26:36] Matt: So you mentioned not having tried to not have class, there’s a Friday afternoons, which makes us make sense. You know, what, what does a typical week look like for one of your players?

[00:26:45] Is it, is it practice in the afternoons? Try to get classes in the mornings, you know, what is their lifting or other meetings involved? Kind of, what’s a rough idea of what somebody might go through on a typical week during the season.

[00:26:57] Coach: That’s a great question. Yeah. And we get that a lot from recruits as well.

[00:27:00] Um, for us, you know, I always tell when, when they go to make their, so they did this the first week of April, they made their schedule for the fall. Um, you know, I always say no class before nine and no class really after, uh, Ideally two, but absolute latest three, uh, and class at by three. So you could maybe take a two to two 50 if you want, but no, three to three fifties, uh, in the fall, especially, uh, they don’t fight me on the no class before nine, which is good.

[00:27:28] Um, every once in a while we, you know, we are a smaller campus. We will have a random lab on a Tuesday afternoon from four to five 30, and we just have to fight that. But that’s the reason I say no class before nine, that allows us to train either six, eight. Seven to eight 30 in the morning, six 30 to eight 30, um, and allows us to have that flexibility.

[00:27:47] So a normal, a normal week, you know, we play Friday, Sunday or Thursday, Sunday. Let’s just say we’re in conference or playing Friday. Sunday, Monday generally is our off day. Um, Tuesdays generally are hard training day. Um, we usually lift on a Tuesday morning, uh, you know, 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. We’ll come on the field Tuesday afternoon, you know, three 30 to five 30 ish.

[00:28:08] Um, You know, Wednesday we’ll come back and have a. You know, normal training session in the afternoon, Thursday morning, probably up early again, you know, 7:00 AM lift or so very light prehab rehab, flexibility, strength, training, very lights during season. Uh, we’re usually in there twice a week during season three or four times in the spring.

[00:28:30] Uh, and then afternoon practice Thursday, a little bit lighter, probably a team meeting ahead of our match day on Friday, Saturday, light recovery day. Maybe if we’re on the road, we’re traveling, um, you know, on, on that Saturday. And then Sunday, we run it back for our, our last game of the weekends. And then, uh, we get home.

[00:28:46] If, if we’re on the road late on Sunday night, if not, we’re, we’re we’re home. And then Mondays usually are our day off. And I really, you know, unless they’re going to get treatment or training on like our day off as a day off. A lot of times, you know, it’s a mental day off for me as well. Yes. I’m working on a scouting report for the next week, but we really just.

[00:29:03] Stephen tell the kids like don’t come around the facility, like just take the day, you know, you need it. So that’s kind of our philosophy on a, on an in season week. If that makes sense. Usually afternoon training. I’m not a huge early morning person. So a couple of times a week at 7:00 AM lift and that’s about it.

[00:29:17] Yeah. Okay.

[00:29:19] Matt: Well, let’s, let’s talk more about the, the games and the team. Practice side of things. So, you know, well, let’s start first off. What would you say is your, your target roster size, you know, does the school mandate you have a specific number? Is there any sort of JV team, like what is your roster just overall look like?

[00:29:38] Coach: Yeah. So, so we are, um, we’ve been at 20 to 24 since I’ve been here. So I got the job the week, the pandemic hit the week, the world shut down kind of a ideal time to start a job. Right. I was in a dead period for the first 14 months. So that was a challenge. This will be the first class I’ve recruited here, but I got to all see and meet in person and they got to visit, um, and they were allowed to do so.

[00:29:58] So, um, it’s been a challenge from that. Ideally 24 to 26 is where I want to be maybe 27. Um, I have worked at institutions that require 30, 30 plus, um, before and that’s, to me, it’s there, there’s some real positives there. Um, But to me, it’s, it’s not as set up to be successful. Long-term always. Um, so we try to stay at 24 to 26.

[00:30:26] The disadvantages, if you have some injuries, you have too many goalkeepers in that group. You can’t do 11 V 11 all season. That can be problematic. You know, coaches that want to keep bigger rosters, the positives, everybody travels, like it stays in insanely competitive because you’re not playing 24 kids, but I might play 18.

[00:30:43] Um, and there’s not, you know, I will say stays competitive, but there’s not a. Unhappy people. There’s nobody on my roster. I have to look at an end of season meetings and say, unless they’re not performing, or I missed in recruiting, I have to sit down and say, Hey, you’re not going to ever factor in here. It was pretty hard when I worked at a division two and division three school with 30 plus to look at the kid who I knew in my head was 27 to 30 and say, Wow.

[00:31:06] Um, you’re going to be a big part of going forward. It just, it was disingenuous. I felt. And so it’s really, I’m really lucky. My institution doesn’t mandate anything. Uh, I think 24, 26, I’d like to be that 24, 26, 27 range keeps it competitive. Keeps people. Um, part of things, uh, and also, you know, it still allows me to build the depth that I need, you know, with the liberal substitution rules that the NCAA asked for, it allows me to still be able to be 20 deep, um, if we’re healthy and that sort of thing, but also be able to look at every kid and say, Like, you’re a part of what we’re building here, your importance, uh, depending on what your role is, but you still have a role to play.

[00:31:44] And, um, versus the kid that’s maybe further down the roster that maybe they have a big role, but it’s just not manifesting itself on the field cause everybody wants to play for sure. Well, what about,

[00:31:56] Matt: yeah, no, absolutely. Uh, what about staff? Uh, you know, w what is your staff look like? What are the roles do they play.

[00:32:03] Coach: Yeah. So I’m probably the rarest form in division one. Right now. I, I, the first two years I have not had an assistant, so it’s just been me. Um, now I say that I have a staff in terms of, I got a full-time athletic trainer that travels with us. Um, we have three full time people in, uh, in the academic center.

[00:32:21] We’ve got, um, three strength, conditioning people on, on campus. And one that often, if they don’t travel with us, they’ll be on the sideline for home games that works Solum solely with our team. Um, You know, so, so those things kind of, we have a senior women’s administrator that’s able to work with the players.

[00:32:36] I’m happy that we’re going to have a young female on staff this coming year that will really help take us forward. Um, and so that’s, that’s kind of the goal hopefully is to get somebody that will start on July 1st, um, and kind of fill that level week or a month to prepare for the season starting, you know, about August 3rd.

[00:32:53] So, um, kind of finally going through that process right now, finding the right person that can come. And start with me and then help build us forward. So I’m thankful that the university has decided that that’s something that’s important to us. And, um, you know, because certainly not having help has been a challenge.

[00:33:08] Um, it’s been a great way to build relationship with the players and earn their trust, but, um, Definitely I’ve, I’ve always had a staff in the division two and three level, and it’s definitely important and impactful for the players. So that would be, you know, a red flag that we’ve overcome in the past that we don’t have to anymore, which is, which is nice.

[00:33:25] But I also think it says a lot about the players and the university’s trust in myself. Um, not, not to be arrogant, but I think, um, I take it very humbly, uh, that, that I’ve been charged with basically running this program by myself, but I’ll be very glad for the help and assistance, uh, moving forward because I think it’ll help make our program.

[00:33:43] Absolutely.

[00:33:44] Matt: Well, let’s talk about, you know, your, your style of coaching, you know, how would you describe it? How would you describe kind of the team’s style of play and the culture of the team in general?

[00:33:52] Coach: Yeah, so, um, I would always want to recruits estimates all the time and I try to be I’m pretty self-aware person.

[00:33:58] I tried to be, um, Honest and straight forward. But what I will say is it’s always good and this would be a great advice for anybody asks the players, say, what is coach Eric really? Like? What is coach so-and-so really like, because they’re going to tell you, I can give you the best version of myself. Um, and know that some days I probably don’t hit it, hopefully I’m conveying.

[00:34:15] I’m a pretty passionate person. I’m pretty energetic. It’s not hard to get me out of, out of bed every day. I’m an extroverted person. I literally feel the energy I get when I step onto the field with the team and. We, we try to have a lot of fun. You know, my coaching style is like, it’s okay to laugh when it’s time to work hard, we work hard and everybody works hard.

[00:34:32] Laughter is okay. Like we want to celebrate what’s going on in each person’s day, during the day. And, um, you know, grieve when they have to grieve and, but really be excited for players and celebrate things that go on, uh, in our program. Um, but really we try to have fun when we train as well, like soccer should add to the athletic experience or the student athlete experience should add to the collegiate experience.

[00:34:51] Um, so I try to have that in mind, everything that we do, we try to compete at everything that we do. Um, we try to make it all as soccer related and. As we can. There’s very, you know, I don’t, I’m not a, let’s get our shoes on and run three miles. Like that’s not me. We try to get fit through, through playing.

[00:35:06] Um, and, and we try to just be extremely competitive and we have a winner and a loser with everything that we do. And, um, with that being said, like we I’m, I’m, I’m a big believer in the Socratic method and asking you. Or asking questions to get to answers. And that’s really how I try to coach as an extension of, you know, I’ve taught in the classroom at the college level before.

[00:35:26] Um, and I, I really want players to. You know, solve problems together or individually. Uh, but ideally collectively. And, um, so I try to ask a lot of questions to get the answers. And, um, that’s when we’re preparing for another team or when we’re just trying to figure out the best solution to how we want to play, um, how we want to play.

[00:35:45] I think it depends. I think everybody wants to keep the ball. I think our level and some of the talent we have up top probably makes us less likely, um, to be a play out of the back kind of team, especially when we play some of the best teams in the non-conference, we would just get pressed to death if we did that.

[00:36:03] So we do, we do play long a lot of times on a goal, kicks in punts and, and try to win the ball in the midfield with some big, uh, ball winning midfielders. And then we try to get the ball wide and attack, you know, I, I really allow our. Our forwards and our, uh, outside backs and our midfielders to be super creative in the attacking third, there’s not a certain way we want to do things.

[00:36:21] We just want to ask a lot of questions from the other team’s defense, test the keeper a bunch, and hopefully keep the ball on that half of the field as much as possible. Um, so that’s, that’s a big, uh, you know, key in what we’re trying to do. And then we just, you know, we want to pride ourselves in how hard we work.

[00:36:36] You know, that should be the first line in any scouting report. That’s about a UAP, B soccer is regardless of talent, regardless of who’s healthy, who’s injured, whatever the situation is, um, that we’re the hardest working team. And that’s the biggest thing is that we have good energy. We play hard for one another.

[00:36:50] Um, that should be kind of the, the underlying value team culture is great. I was really worried. Uh, you know, like I said, fifth coach in five years, um, I’ve made it longer than all my predecessors, I think going back, like almost 10 years now, seriously. Um, You know, it’s been a process building culture, but I was really worried that it was a bunch of crap kids, you know, and it wasn’t, you know, they’re really good kids that, that now the roster has they’ve graduated and stuff, and there’s not a ton of them left that were here before I got here, but there’s still a few and they’re all really good players that bought in, but took a chance on me during a pandemic state.

[00:37:25] And, uh, that’s why we celebrate when we have three players graduate the other day, and we really celebrate those moments because they’ve been invested a lot to stay here. It’s not the easiest place to be. It’s not always glamorous what some of these players have gone through. I mean, we had a coach that, a player that just graduated that had a different coach, her first three years.

[00:37:44] Um, and she stayed in and through the process, but the culture is really good. Um, you know, we’re in pine bluff, Arkansas, not only to get a degree, but to play soccer. I think that helps. There’s not a ton of distraction here. There are things to do. There is fun to get into. Um, but there’s, there’s not a lot of, you know, you’re, you’re in pine bluff to play soccer, not because of really anything else.

[00:38:03] And I think that. The cohesiveness of our team and our desire to win and our competitiveness. And, um, so that’s, you know, for that reason, I think the culture of our team is pretty good. You know, like whenever you have a collection of 20 to 30 college age women, um, not as a reason to always be best friends.

[00:38:18] Right. But I do think everybody loves each other, respect each other and trust each other. And we work really hard on that in the preseason and try to recruit kids. They’re going to fit into that mold and, uh, believe in my vision for the program. But I really want to give the players as much. Um, in the program as possible.

[00:38:34] And I think we’re, we’re fairly successful at that is, you know, I can want it all, all I want, but it’s gotta be driven by the.

[00:38:41] Matt: I mean, I can relate. I had, I had three coaches in my four years as a college player and there were, and there were only three of us that made it all four years through the, through that, that, that, uh, that cycle.

[00:38:52] So I, it, it is tough, but, but it’s good. That it’s good that they, uh, they got you there on the backside. Well, Hey, we’ve, we’ve covered a lot of ground here. I just want to leave you with one last question. It’s kind of my catch all here. What, what didn’t we cover? What else do you want to tell us? Whether it’s about the school, the team, the program.

[00:39:10] The city, the, anything, anything you want to reiterate? Anything you want to tell recruits at all? Now’s the time.

[00:39:16] Coach: Yeah. I mean, I think that would just be my little sales pitch and my elevator pitch. And that would just be, look like, you know, if, if you want to go to an HBCU, if you’re okay with the diverse experience of it’s a.

[00:39:26] Uh, where if you have good grades and are talented soccer player, you can get a division, one college soccer experience for little to no cost, not leave with big, massive debt. Get a degree that’s meaningful in a field that you care about, um, that will either lead to a very good job by the time you graduate or some more school in the field that you desire.

[00:39:44] I think we’re a great place. Um, it’s not the easiest place. Like, if, if you don’t want to compete every day, if you don’t want to deal with not everything being perfect all the time, it’s probably not the place for you. You know, I think we, we often recruit through non recruiting, you know, we’re very upfront and honest and if you want everything to be fancy and this, like, we travel great.

[00:40:03] We eat well. We have awesome deal with Adidas. Like everything is good, but it’s not the most perfect place. Always. And so if you want that, then maybe you’re not the right fit for this. Um, but if you have a chip on your shoulder, maybe you were passed over by some other division ones. If you’re still looking for that division one fit.

[00:40:19] If you care about diversity, you care about academics. You want to compete and prove every single day that, that you can be a division, one soccer player and help us win a championship. It’s a great place to be. And, um, I’m committed to the program. Uh, and, and leaving it better than I found it. And ultimately winning a championship here at UAB.

[00:40:35] And, um, I’m, I’m just excited for where our program is going to go. We’ve taken some good baby steps forward, and I’m just excited to see, you know, where we’re, where we are in three to five years, because, um, there are some special things happen in here. We’re working on a, a new $3 million soccer track facility that’s supposed to open fall of 2023.

[00:40:53] So there is an investment in our university, uh, in women’s. In women’s athletics. We’ve got a great partnership with Simmons bank here in little rock. That’s given money just to women’s sports and our athletic department. Um, and so there is a, there is a very, you know, it’s where the, the anniversary of title nine, like there’s a huge investment in women’s sports and in women’s soccer here.

[00:41:13] And that’s something that you can come. Um, if you think that that you’re, you have what it takes, you know, and, and so that’s, that’s my sales pitch, I guess, but also, um, just some more honest truth about who we are as a program and, and the future and the things that get me excited and get me out of bed every day, ready to attack the day and, uh, and make golden land.

[00:41:32] That’s awesome. Well,

[00:41:33] Matt: coach, uh, we look forward to, to check in on you in the fall and see, see how that, uh, that quest towards the conference championships going, and we wish you the best of luck and, uh, we’ll just, uh, hopefully check in with you again soon.

[00:41:47] Coach: Awesome, man. I appreciate your time. Thanks for having me, uh, appreciate what you’re doing for college soccer and just exposing more and more schools to, to players that they may not have heard about.

[00:41:56] And I think it’s awesome and needed to be done. So appreciate you filling that void for us and thank you for. I appreciate it, coach.