Episode #183: Jordan Willis on Recruiting

Episode #183: Jordan Willis on Recruiting

🎧 There Is a Place for You | Jordan Willis on Recruiting, Fit & Communication 🏐 Florida Tech Head Volleyball Coach Jordan Willis returns for Part II of his conversation with Matt Rogers, and this time the focus shifts to recruiting. But this isn't a conversation about rankings, stars, or chasing the biggest name on the front of a jersey. Instead, Jordan shares his thoughts on character, authenticity, communication, fit, self-awareness, and why there truly is a place for every student-athlete who wants to continue playing at the next level. Throughout the episode, Coach Willis discusses what he looks for beyond talent, why culture matters in recruiting, how coaches identify red flags, why recruits should never ghost college coaches, and how honest communication can open doors rather than close them. The conversation also explores one of the biggest challenges facing recruits today: understanding who they are, what they want, and finding the college experience that truly fits their academic, athletic, social, and financial goals. Whether you're a recruit, parent, club coach, high school coach, or college coach, this episode offers practical advice and valuable perspective on navigating the recruiting process. Topics Include: ✅ Finding the Right College Fit ✅ What College Coaches Look For Beyond Talent ✅ Character, Culture & Recruiting ✅ Why Recruits Should Never Ghost Coaches ✅ Communication During the Recruiting Process ✅ Self-Awareness & Decision Making ✅ Transfer Portal & Modern Recruiting ✅ There Is a Place for You 🎧 Listen to all episodes at coachmattrogers.com/podcast 📺 Watch at YouTube.com/@CoachMattRogers Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/support] 📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Did you like what you heard and want more? New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show! 📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here:  https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers [https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers] 📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes 👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S [https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S] Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions): ⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX [https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX] 🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S [https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S] 🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ [https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ] ⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ [https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ] ...

Episode #182: Jordan Willis

🏐 Building Winners Without Losing Yourself | Jordan Willis, Florida Tech Volleyball  Jordan Willis, Head Volleyball Coach at NCAA Division II Florida Tech, joins Matt Rogers for one of the most enjoyable and insightful conversations of the year. After leading the Panthers from a 9-win season in 2023 to a 20-win campaign and one of the best conference records in program history in 2024, Willis shares the leadership principles, culture-building strategies, and people-first philosophy that are helping transform Florida Tech Volleyball into one of the Sunshine State Conference's rising programs. In Part I, Coach Willis discusses rebuilding programs, developing All-Americans, creating sustainable success, navigating adversity, and why authentic leadership matters more than ever in college athletics. Whether you're a coach, athletic director, teacher, parent, or leader in any profession, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on building teams and developing people. ✅ Program Building  ✅ Leadership & Culture  ✅ Developing All-Americans  ✅ Team Standards & Accountability  ✅ Sustainable Success  ✅ College Athletics Leadership Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/support] 📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Did you like what you heard and want more? New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show! 📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here:  https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers [https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers] 📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes 👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S [https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S] Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions): ⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX [https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX] 🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S [https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S] 🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ [https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ] ⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ [https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ] ...

Episode #181: April Elsbernd on Recruiting

🏐🎧 Why Recruits Should Visit Colleges More Than Once | April Elsbernd  How many college visits should a recruit take before making a commitment?  According to Coe College Head Volleyball Coach April Elsbernd, probably more than one.  In Part II of our conversation, Coach Elsbernd shares her recruiting philosophy and explains why finding the right college fit requires more than a quick visit and a fast decision. We discuss culture fit, evaluating potential teammates, communicating with college coaches, the realities of club volleyball, and the important role parents and high school coaches play throughout the recruiting process.  Coach Elsbernd also provides practical advice for recruits on how to stand out in their communication with college coaches and why authenticity matters far more than mass-produced recruiting emails.  Topics Discussed:   ✅ Why recruits should visit colleges multiple times  ✅ The importance of meeting current players  ✅ What college coaches look for beyond athletic ability  ✅ How to write better emails to college coaches  ✅ Club volleyball myths and realities  ✅ Advice for parents navigating recruiting  ✅ The role of high school coaches in recruiting  ✅ Why culture fit matters  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/support] 📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Did you like what you heard and want more? New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show! 📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here:  https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers [https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers] 📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes 👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S [https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S] Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions): ⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX [https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX] 🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S [https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S] 🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ [https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ] ⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ [https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ] ...

Episode #180: April Elsbernd

🏐 Returning Home: April Elsbernd on Leading Coe College VB In Part I of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with Coe College Head Volleyball Coach April Elsbernd to discuss her journey from growing up in small-town Iowa to becoming one of the most respected coaches in NCAA Division III volleyball. The two fellow Coe College alumni explore the unique impact of a liberal arts education, the importance of diversity and perspective, international travel experiences with student-athletes, and why coaching is ultimately about helping young people become the best versions of themselves. Coach Elsbernd also shares her path from the University of Dubuque to Augsburg University and ultimately back home to Coe College, where she now leads the Kohawk volleyball program. 🏐 In this episode:  ✅ Returning home to Coe College  ✅ Why coaching is a calling  ✅ Building culture through relationships  ✅ The impact of international travel on student-athletes  ✅ Leadership lessons learned over 15+ years as a head coach  ✅ Helping athletes grow beyond the game 🎧 Listen to the Significant Coaching Podcast:  https://coachmattrogers.com/podcast [https://coachmattrogers.com/podcast] 📚 Subscribe for full access to weekly blogs, newsletters, recruiting resources, coaching tools, and leadership content:  https://coachmattrogers.com [https://coachmattrogers.com] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/support] 📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Did you like what you heard and want more? New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show! 📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here:  https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers [https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers] 📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes 👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S [https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S] Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions): ⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX [https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX] 🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S [https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S] 🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ [https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ] ⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ [https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ] ...

Episode #179: Kevin Clifford on Recruiting

🏀 Kevin Clifford’s 6 Rules of Recruiting | Significant Recruiting Ep. 179  On Part II of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Kevin Clifford to break down the realities of college basketball recruiting, NCAA Division II athletics, scholarships, player development, and what recruits and families truly need to understand during the recruiting process. Coach Clifford shares honest insight from years of coaching and rebuilding collegiate programs, including leading Roberts Wesleyan University to its first NCAA Division II Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Topics include: *  What college coaches really evaluate  *  NCAA Division II vs Division I vs Division III  *  Scholarship realities  *  Leadership and culture  *  Mental health and player support  *  What recruits misunderstand about recruiting  *  The importance of fit over labels  *  How families should approach the recruiting process  *  Player development in today’s game  If you’re a recruit, parent, coach, or athletic director, this episode provides outstanding perspective on navigating modern college athletics. 🎧 Listen to the podcast:  coachmattrogers.com/podcast [https://coachmattrogers.com/podcast?utm_source=chatgpt.com] ▶️ Watch more episodes:  Coach Matt Rogers YouTube Channel Suggested Chapters 00:00 Introduction  01:45 What Coaches Really Look For in Recruits  06:20 NCAA D1 vs D2 vs D3 Basketball  11:15 Scholarship Realities Explained  16:10 Recruiting Mistakes Families Make  21:30 Player Development in College Basketball  26:00 Mental Health & Athlete Support  31:40 Why Fit Matters More Than Labels  36:10 Leadership & Team Culture  41:00 Final Recruiting Advice Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375026/support] 📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Did you like what you heard and want more? New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show! 📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here:  https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers [https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers] 📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes 👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S [https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S] Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions): ⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX [https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX] 🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S [https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S] 🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ [https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ] ⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal 👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ [https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ] ...