University of Wisconsin Men’s Soccer – Coach Aaron Hohlbein
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Aaron Hohlbein from the University of Wisconsin Men’s Program. We talk about what their recruitment schedule looks like. He describes how you get both a campus and city feel at Wisconsin. Lastly, we discuss how they will look to play with a new head coach. Learn more about the University of Wisconsin Men’s Soccer.
[00:00:00] Matt: Hi, everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Aaron Hohlbein from Wisconsin coach.
[00:00:08] Coach: Thanks for having me.
[00:00:09] Matt: Thanks for being here. Uh, the university of Wisconsin, men’s soccer badgers, uh, guys have a, have had a pretty good, uh, run of things. At least I know, uh, last season, a lot of big, big 10 wins there.
[00:00:24] Um, but you got a new coach. Uh, coming in. So that makes things a little bit interesting. But before we dive into the soccer side of things, let’s talk a little bit more about the recruiting process. Um, you know, a lot of kids out there that they’ve got those division one ambitions, um, but aren’t maybe quite sure how to best go about it.
[00:00:42] So when do you guys. Start really looking and evaluating it. Players, you know, obviously two days from now is a big, big day for you guys to be able to start talking. But when are you starting to look at players?
[00:00:53] Coach: Essentially? We, uh, so generally for us, we’ll, we’ll have a. A list of names that we’ve kind of gathered from, uh, from coaching colleagues and club coaches, academy, coach ECNL, um, whatever it might be.
[00:01:06] So we’ll, we’ll have a, a list of a list of prospects, um, to kind of keep our eye on as, as freshmen and sophomores. Um, as, as, uh, players kind of move into their sophomore year of high school, uh, we really start evaluating them on the field and their performance on the field, um, and getting background about them, uh, from their coaching staff.
[00:01:28] Um, from, from other other folks who, who may know the family or may know the kids. Um, so we, we can pilot a list then, and as you said, uh, June 15th coming up here is when we can start contacting those rising juniors. Um, so we’ll have a pretty good idea of, of the type of, um, prospects that, that we’re interested in, um, by, by the end of that sophomore year, um, as kind of an initial database now, As, as players enter their junior junior year, um, you know, everybody develops at a different time.
[00:02:01] So we, we certainly go out and, and we, we watch a lot of soccer. We, we talked to a lot of coaches and, and figure out the right fits for us here at Wisconsin.
[00:02:14] Matt: Okay. So in terms of, you know, where you’re going to see players kind of, what are some of the can’t-miss events that you guys go to? Uh,
[00:02:24] Coach: Yeah. Um, kind of, we’re kind of a across the board in, in a lot of different places.
[00:02:29] Um, we’ll for sure, for sure. Get out and see, uh, the MLS next playoffs, MLS next showcase, uh, ECNL showcase, and ECNL playoffs. Um, we were up at the Wisconsin state cup a couple of weeks ago. Um, we, we go to various showcases whether it’s the crossroads in, in Indiana. Um, blue chip, um, we’ll, we’ll, we’ll, we’ll watch all sorts of soccer and, um, um, another good way that, that we’re able to identify players is, is our camps.
[00:02:58] Um, we, we have a couple ID camps that we run throughout the year. Um, we also spend some time at, at other other universities ID camps, looking to identify players and, um, You know, various, various other ways, but, but really the favorite thing that I like to do is when possible is to get out and watch, watch guys train.
[00:03:18] Um, so we’ll, we’ll take trips and we’ll make trips, uh, specific trips to see guys or see clubs and, and watch their training as well.
[00:03:26] Matt: Oh, that’s awesome. No, you, you, uh, you actually answered my next question around camps, but one thing I noticed you do have a handful of international guys on your roster. So how does international recruiting kind of fit into the whole scheme of things?
[00:03:37] Coach: Yeah. International recruiting has become a lot more popular these last few years. Um, that there’s no question about. At UC, a lot more international players, um, in, in college soccer and that’s division one through a NAI, um, every division, it seems there’s, there’s more and more internationals coming over to the states.
[00:03:55] And generally through the, the way that we are connected with players, um, from Europe or other parts of the world is through either a recruiting agency, um, or, um, individuals will send us their, their own information, their own CV highlight videos. Um, and we’ll see them that way. Uh, we’re also fortunate enough to, to be able to travel overseas, uh, and see different showcase events.
[00:04:21] Um, whether that’s Canada, Iceland, Germany, Spain, um, England. So we’re, we’re fortunate enough to, to go and, and watch players live as well. But, but really it’s through it’s through email and, and guys sending us, sending us their, their academic info as well as a, a highlight package.
[00:04:38] Matt: Okay. Well, when it comes to just evaluating players on, on any of those fronts, kind of for you guys that Wisconsin, what’s your, what’s your hierarchy of things you want to make sure this player has, does whether it’s on the field or off the field?
[00:04:53] Coach: Sure. Yeah. Uh, it starts off the field. Um, it starts off the field and number one academically, um, is Wisconsin the right fit for them. Um, is it a place where they can have success? Uh, in the classroom and walk out of here with the degree that they want. So academically they have to check that box. Um, the next thing that we look at right away is personality.
[00:05:16] And are they, are they somebody who, when, when we see them train, when we meet them, when we watch them in games, um, do they have a determination, do they have a work rate, a work ethic? Um, are they willing to. To take coaching. Are they willing to coach their teammates? Um, so we look for it. We look for leaders, uh, we look for leaders and, and that’s, that’s very important.
[00:05:41] Um, and then of course the next thing is the soccer piece. And, and that is, um, obviously in the big 10 conference, a lot of quality opponents, a lot of quality teams that we play year in, year out. Um, with, with very good athletes. So we, we need to find guys who are athletic, who have the, the right athleticism, the speed, strength, and power.
[00:06:01] Um, and then we’re really looking at. The, the technical tactical piece of, of, you know, is a guy technical enough to, to get the job done. Whether, you know, each position has their specific skillset, um, that, that we look for, but technically and tactically, do they understand the game? Do, do they have a clear path or a clear way that they’re instructed to play and are they following that?
[00:06:25] Um, but the biggest thing you can tell right away has got the guys that work.
[00:06:29] Matt: Okay. Now the one question that’s never fun to talk about, but it’s always the first one on everybody’s mind is money. Um, so can you, and I’m not looking for specifics obviously, but just kind of give folks an idea of what does the overall financial aid picture look like for most.
[00:06:49] Or an average, or at least a Wisconsin, uh, men’s soccer player in terms of how academic money fits in athletic money fits in and everything else to just kind of give a, uh, a big picture. Cause you know, I don’t want anybody thinking that you guys are just handing out full rides left and right. Cause we both know that’s not true.
[00:07:07] Coach: Correct. Um, so we have 9.9, uh, full scholarships, uh, for a roster of 28 players, um, at any given time. We have roughly 15, 16, maybe 17 guys, um, on some sort of scholarship. Um, we don’t have any players who are on a full scholarship. Um, that that money is, is 9.9. Doesn’t go very far when you’re talking about 26, 28 players.
[00:07:36] Um, so we’ve got, we’ve got a number of scholarship players and then we’ve got a number of walk-on players as well. Um, The cool thing that is just coming out here at Wisconsin is being rolled out. Um, as part of, um, the Austin, the Austin suit, um, the university is going to, uh, Cut a check for student athletes once they graduate, uh, upwards of $20,000.
[00:08:04] Um, so if, if a student athlete comes in and they, they are on the roster at the time of graduation, they’ve performed well in the classroom. Um, At the end of there, as soon as the graduation, they walk across the stage and, and get that degree, um, the school’s going to going to pay them, um, for their academic performance, which, which is pretty special.
[00:08:28] Um, and then on top of that, each student athlete, whether their scholarship or not, uh, will get, um, $500 per semester towards, towards living. Um, so the, the university here is coming up with ways to, to help take. Student athletes and, and reward them for their academic, their academic, uh, personal.
[00:08:50] Matt: No. That’s fantastic.
[00:08:51] All right. Well, let’s shift gears a little bit. Talk a little bit more about the school itself. Um, you know, I think folks are probably, uh, familiar with the Wisconsin badgers and, and probably more for Saturday afternoons in the fall. Um, but you know, folks who’ve never been to Madison or the, or the campus.
[00:09:10] Can you give me a little bit of insight, maybe something that we wouldn’t find just by clicking through the website or watching college football.
[00:09:16] Coach: Yeah. Yeah. Um, I mean, Wisconsin’s been been ranked as, as one of the top, if not the top college athletic towns, um, in the country. Um, one thing that you maybe wouldn’t see as you’re, you’re just kind of scrolling through and looking at the university, um, that’s, that’s really unique about Madison and, and, uh, Wisconsin.
[00:09:38] Um, the university sits, sits on an isthmus between two lakes here in Madison. Um, and also Madison is the state Capitol. So there’s a really unique mix of, uh, city life and, and a big 10 university life as well. Um, so it’s a perfect blend of. You know, it’s not, not a small campus that is in the middle of a big city and it’s not a big campus.
[00:10:05] That’s kind of, you know, just out, out in the middle of nowhere, um, which can be great universities like that as well. But the unique thing about Madison is that the university and the city are one and the same, and it’s a big enough city where there’s always something to do. There’s always something going on.
[00:10:21] Um, but at the end of the day, it’s a college town.
[00:10:25] Matt: No, it’s one of those places. I’ve never been that, that I keep, uh, keeps being on the list, but hopefully one day we’ll get up. We’ll get up there, but for sure. Well, so in terms of the academic side of things, you know, how do, uh, how do the student athletes really balance that, you know, life between academics and athletics, kind of what support systems are there to help them on their journey?
[00:10:48] Coach: Yeah, we’re, we’re, again, we’re very fortunate in that. The university of Wisconsin they’re there. Their whole goal is to get every single student athlete that degree, um, and, and they’ll provide endless resources to, to help them on that path. So we have, uh, we have a whole unit, um, that is devoted to two academics.
[00:11:11] Um, our team has an academic advisor who sits down with each player and helps them map out their entire college. Course career basically, um, from the day that they say, yeah, I want to be a Badger to the day they’re walking across the stage to getting that diploma. They’re helping pick classes, they’re helping, um, figure out the classes around training times.
[00:11:32] They’re there helping set up tutors, which are all paid for by the university. Um, so they, they really don’t leave any stone unturned in terms of what they’re able to offer academically to, to help guys figure out ways to manage their time. To help them, um, maybe improve a grade in a class by, by helping set up a tutor, um, to, to helping guys find ways to take the classes that they’re interested in.
[00:11:58] And that, that puts them on the path to get there, to. Okay.
[00:12:04] Matt: Well, you know, a lot of people don’t really, uh, unless you’ve done it don’t necessarily know what a typical day looks like in, in the eyes of a, of a college athlete. So let’s, if we were in season, what would a quote-unquote typical week look like in terms of, uh, you know, through the whole week?
[00:12:25] Practice classes, games, whatever. Uh, what, what would that look like that Wisconsin? Sure.
[00:12:29] Coach: So a typical day for, for our student athletes, they they’ll get up and, um, we don’t practice until the afternoon. So, um, most, most guys have classes scheduled in the morning. Uh, so they’ll get up. They might. Two classes, maybe three classes.
[00:12:46] Um, they’ll, they’ll go out of class in the morning. They might come over to, um, to our facility to, to get their free lunch, uh, which the university provides. So they’ll, they’ll get a free lunch or the nutrition, the nutrition, a room where, where they have free smoothies. Um, so they might do that in between classes.
[00:13:05] Maybe go finish class. Um, and then our training block starts at one o’clock. So, uh, the guys will after class they’ll, they’ll come, they’ll go to the locker room. They’ll get their gear on. If they need to get treatment in the training room, that’s right down the hall. They’ll walk down there, uh, get treatment.
[00:13:23] Um, then we’ll watch probably 30 minutes of film. Um, and then we get out to training probably around 2, 1 45, 2 o’clock, uh, train train for an hour, 15 minutes hour. And now. And then, uh, if we have any strength and conditioning, we may add that on the end of training. Um, in season we don’t do a lot of that.
[00:13:44] Um, and then the guys are free for the night. So, um, that’s when they get the majority of their studying done. Some guys maybe have an evening class a couple of days a week. Um, and that’s kind of, kind of the typical day. And, um, now game days and travel days of course are a little bit different, but we like to get our.
[00:14:04] Get the classes guys have their classes done in the morning, so they can fully focus on training in the afternoon yet, still have time in the evenings to meet with tutors or get their studies. Okay.
[00:14:15] Matt: Now I think most PR most people probably familiar with, with what schools are in the big 10. And so therefore you do have a, a bit of traveling there.
[00:14:23] Um, so what does, what does that kind of look like in terms of traveling for games across the season?
[00:14:29] Coach: Yeah, the big 10, uh, obviously has grown in, in recent years with, with the addition of, uh, some programs. So, uh, Most it’s about. So every year we play home in a way. So, um, this fall we’ll host four teams will go on the road to four teams and then it flips the, the following year.
[00:14:47] So, um, for example, this fall, we will play at Maryland. Um, so we will, we’ll wake up that, uh, on the Friday, let’s say we play a Maryland on Friday. We’ll we’ll get up Thursday. Um, head to the airport. We’ll jump on a plane. Um, sometimes we’re fortunate enough to be able to fly charter other times where we’re flying commercial.
[00:15:08] Um, we’ll fly out to Maryland. We’ll train there in the afternoon. Um, game days, the next day we’ll stay overnight and then wake up, fly back home and maybe do a region training session or that next day’s off. Um, otherwise we’re, we’re on the bus. Uh, we’ll bus down to Northwestern, a couple hours down the road.
[00:15:26] Um, we’ll we’ll bus over to, to east Lansing and into, um, Ann Arbor. Um, this year we’re actually looking at flying charter over there. Um, so we get around, we get around through bus and air and the travel, you know, it can be long, but really the type of athletes and, and prospects that were. That are joining us here.
[00:15:45] They’ve they’ve already been doing this as, as youth players with, with all the travel and, and school that they have to do anyway. So it’s a, it’s a pretty good, easy adjustment for them.
[00:15:55] Matt: Yeah. It’s the travel and new sports is nuts these days. That’s for sure. Well, let’s shift gears and talk a little bit more on the soccer side.
[00:16:04] Um, you know, Just when you go on the website, obviously coach Jones is brand new. Uh, you’ve you’re an alum, but have been there for a while as assistant, you got a new assistant. So what, what, uh, what does the soccer staff kind of look like as a whole kind of what role does everybody play? Uh, on the shirt?
[00:16:20] Coach: Yeah. Yeah. It’s obviously a, I’ve been here a while now. This’ll be my eighth season coming up. Um, Neil Jones, the head coach was just appointed this, this last January. Uh, after a very successful stint at Loyola Chicago. Um, and then Andrew borderline, uh, has joined us from, from Northern Illinois university who, who won the double in the Mac last year.
[00:16:42] So, um, Really strong coaching staff. I think, you know, what coach Jones brings, um, is a new energy, a new excitement, um, to, to the program and Andrew as well. Um, so Andrew is the recruiting coordinator. He kind of sets the recruiting schedule. Um, maybe makes the initial contacts, the most recruits. Um, and then coach Jones obviously is he runs the whole show.
[00:17:10] He plans trainings, uh, with our assistants. Um, he, he sets, sets the schedule for the week. Um, he’s on the recruiting trail quite a bit. He he’s on the phone quite a bit with recruits. Um, and then he, he’s the one who sets the vision for the program. So, um, myself, I also do am involved in the recruiting process.
[00:17:33] Um, we all share time on the road, uh, um, scouting players. We, we all spend time here on campus, um, hosting, hosting student athletes here. Um, but that, that usually, uh, that usually falls on me to show, show guys around town. Um, Cause, uh, I’ve been here a while and I kind of know it inside and out. So, um, that’s, that’s where I get my biggest joy is, is showing shown prospects around town.
[00:17:58] I bet. I bet.
[00:17:59] Matt: Well, in terms of, you know, it’s, it’s, I guess it’s a little early to say, right? Cause you got a new coach, but, but what would you say based on just the spring season? Uh, what, what the kind of style plays going to be that. Style of coaching the culture of the team at this point with coach.
[00:18:19] Coach: Sure, sure.
[00:18:20] Yeah. Um, and I think the current group of guys has done a really good job of acclimating and, and adjusting to a new style and a new system of play. Um, you know, uh, coach Jones brings a, a very high intensity, um, hardworking mentality to the group and the team has really bought into. Um, so we’re, we’re a team that is going to be very organized defensively.
[00:18:45] We’re going to be hard to, hard to break down. Um, we are going to work to put teams under pressure and to, to force turnovers, uh, In, in good parts of the field where we can get to goal quickly. Um, and then we, we give our players in the final third. We give them freedom to, to make, make, make choices and, and kind of express themselves.
[00:19:08] Um, but where are you going to be? Very hard working team. We’re going to, we’re going to have a group of guys who are willing to, to battle for each other, um, who are going to do the little things right. That are going to be disciplined, um, and, and be incredibly hard to, to play.
[00:19:25] Matt: Okay. In terms of. You know, the off season we just mentioned, you know, can you just give me a quick snippet of what the, what does an off season look like for, for a team?
[00:19:37] Coach: Yeah, it’s, it’s interesting. Cause uh, the, the last date of our spring season was April 30th. Um, and then. Get to work with the guys until pre-season starts in August. Um, so a lot of our players will we’ll go and play USL league too. Uh, so PDL, um, they’ll, they’ll find various men’s league teams, uh, ups sell there.
[00:20:01] There’s a lot of really strong amateur leagues. So, so our players we’ll, we’ll usually pair that up with an internship somewhere. Um, so we’ve got guys in Chicago, we we’ve got guys who are back home in Milwaukee who are playing for men’s teams. Um, and then we, we also have a few guys here on campus who voluntarily do some work with the strength and conditioning coach, um, or maybe getting treatment for an injury.
[00:20:26] Um, so yeah, we, we we’re hands off until they come back in in August and, uh, but they, they find the highest level possible to, to play and train over the summer.
[00:20:36] Matt: Okay. Um, One question that kind of pops up that, that people are interested in is, is kind of the use of technology these days. Right? So with trace, you know, can Vios and everybody’s got their cameras and other things come up.
[00:20:54] What kind of technology, if any, do you guys employ on a regular basis? Whether there’s training games or anything like that?
[00:21:01] Coach: Yeah. So we, we, uh, we dabble in the technology side as well. And, um, it, uh, it can be very helpful. So we, we utilize GPS and heart rate monitors, um, through VX sport. Um, so our players wear those in training.
[00:21:15] They’ll wear them in games. Uh, we get the data on distance covered, uh, sprints, uh, sprints completed. High intensity movements. Um, I mean, you name it. They have, they have a category for it. And our, along with our strength and conditioning coach, uh, we’re able to kind of get, uh, an analysis on that data and figure out where we can help make guys better.
[00:21:36] Um, other piece that will be added this, this coming year is, uh, a video platform called video where they’re, they’re fixed cameras, uh, that we’ll have on our, our game field. And, um, Um, a transportable, uh, camera that we’ll have in our training field. And it maps every single movement a player makes, uh, in training or, or in a game.
[00:21:57] Uh, it’ll also monitor, um, um, distance covered, um, all the kind of sport science things, as well as, um, breaks down technical and, and, um, passing, passing percentages, all, all sorts of different data. We’ll be able to utilize with that.
[00:22:16] Matt: Oh, that’s pretty cool. All right. Well, coach, you’ve given us a lot of info, really appreciate the time.
[00:22:21] I always like to end on the same thing, which is what didn’t we talk about? What did we miss? What do you want folks to know that maybe we didn’t talk about?
[00:22:29] Coach: Yeah, we could, we covered an awful lot and, uh, you know, the, the main thing that I would say for, for players who are looking at pursuing a career in college soccer is.
[00:22:41] Don’t forget that the at the end of the day, um, it’s gotta be fun and you, you have to keep improving as a player. Um, that’s that’s the key is you gotta have a drive into determination to, to get better as a player. Um, it’s very, very difficult to compete at the division one level. Um, but you get to experience some pretty cool things, uh, along the way, if you’re able to put the work in and are fortunate enough to have that opportunity.
[00:23:10] So, um, and Wisconsin is, uh, as a really unique place to do it. Obviously I’m pretty biased because I grew up here and have been a Badger and now coach here. Um, but it’s a, it’s a pretty special place to be a student athlete.
[00:23:24] Matt: That’s great. Well, coach, I really do appreciate the time. Wish you the best of luck in the fall season.
[00:23:29] And, uh, we’ll have to keep an eye and see how you and the new staff does and, and wish you nothing
[00:23:34] Coach: but the best. I appreciate it, Matt. Thanks for having me on. Thank you.
