A Different Perspective on College Athletics Recruiting.
I’ve also seen what happens when the athletic fit looks great, but the institutional, academic, financial, cultural or personal fit doesn’t.
That’s why my approach is different.
Getting your athlete recruited is exciting. But it’s only part of the equation.
After spending more than 10 years working inside college athletics at 3 Indiana colleges—as a NCAA compliance professional, academic advisor and administrator—I saw firsthand how families can make major college and life decisions based almost entirely on the sport-specific athletic opportunity in front of them.
I’ve helped recruit hundreds of student-athletes. I’ve sat across the desk from families and explained why our institution was the right place for their son or daughter. I’ve worked with hundreds of college coaches and thousands of student-athletes.
I help Indiana families step back from the recruiting process and ask a bigger question:
What college is actually the right fit for your athlete?
Together, we’ll identify your family’s values, non-negotiables and preferences and use them to build a college list that goes beyond athletic division, scholarship amount or the name on the front of the jersey.
I’ll help you understand:
- The differences between NCAA/NAIA divisions and types of institutions
- Academic fit and eligibility requirements
- Your athlete’s academic/career goals and how schools align with that
- The financial health and stability of a college
- Coaching stability and the possibility that your coach may not be there for four years
- How to do your own college town tour on the official/unofficial visits
- What factors families often overlook when evaluating schools
- The college town and community your athlete will actually call home
- Opportunities to find a church and become connected to a community of faith
This Is Indiana Town Athletics
A big part of this business is my love for Indiana.
National recruiting services are sport-specific and work with families from everywhere, and there’s certainly a place for that. But Indiana Town Athletics is called that for a reason.
I’ve lived in Indiana my entire life, and I love visiting the towns and communities that make this state unique. I don’t just want to tell you about a college from a website. I want to help you understand what it actually feels like to live there.
That’s why I created IN Town Athletics, an interview show where I visit the college campuses across Indiana and sit down with athletic directors and coaches. I want to give families an inside look at the institution, the athletic department and the town—and let you see the personality of the coaches who could eventually be recruiting your athlete.
And the concept of “IN Town” isn’t just a play on state abbreviations, but it’s this idea that face-to-face conversations are so much better than remote calls.
When possible, I’ll meet with your family at a coffee shop, diner or other local spot in your Indiana town—even if that means I have to drive two hours to get there. I’m the son of a truck driver and I love taking county roads instead of the interstate. Coming to you all is no problem.
I hope the right fit for your athlete is an Indiana college. There are incredible institutions throughout this state, and I know them from the inside of college athletics. But I’m not going to push you toward Indiana simply because I love Indiana.
There are great colleges and athletic programs all over the country. If the right fit is somewhere else, we’ll evaluate those opportunities with the same framework. And I run a college athletics consulting business with athletic directors called Higher Ed Athletics, so I know these colleges nationally, too.
My Perspective Goes Beyond Recruiting
My experience isn’t limited to knowing Indiana colleges.
I study college athletics nationally through my doctoral work in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University.
That gives me a perspective that is different from a traditional recruiting consultant. I’m not simply looking at whether your athlete can play there.
I’m asking:
Will this institution be a good place for your athlete to learn, grow, compete and live?
Transfer Guidance
Sometimes the right answer isn’t staying.
Because I worked inside the transfer portal at IU athletics when it was created and have completed hundreds of transfer evaluations, I also offer families a transfer consultation before they make the decision to enter the portal.
A transfer can solve a problem—or create a new one. Before making that decision, I’ll help you evaluate the academic, athletic, institutional and personal factors so you can determine whether transferring is actually the right move. And I know it’s a sensitive topic that you don’t necessarily want to share with your advisor or coach at the college.
A Family-First Approach
I don’t believe the goal is to get your athlete the biggest offer, the highest division or the most recognizable school.
The goal is to help your family make a wise decision about the next four years of your athlete’s life.
You should know that my faith in Jesus Christ is part of how I approach that responsibility. Before each family conversation, I pray for the right words, patience and grace, knowing this is a high-stress situation for many families right now.
I want to approach every family the way I would if you were my own.
Don’t just chase the offer. Find the fit.
IN Town Athletics 