Recruitment QUESTION

I would reach out to some of the other coaches on each team. While the head coach might not get back to you, if an email is sent to some of the other coaches, they almost always get back - especially if one of the coach's responsibilities is "Recruiting Coordinator" as listed on the school's athletics website.

Most of you just don't get it. Many coaches don't respond. They do a bit of recruiting but refuse to respond to athletes who initiate contact because they assume that those kids are spamming every coach.

All 1:47 kids are committed. Maybe that's his relay time, but I can't see why a 1:48 high / 1:49 low athlete wouldn't get any support, especially with his ACT score. Or maybe he was lazy in school but tested well?

1:47 open. Yes he signed but told his recruitment story which more than confirms every post on this site. When a top 3 guy in the country who is also a genius, can be blown off by coaches, every good runner can.

UPenn is a solid program. If they are talking to you, then definitely talk to them. Continue to reach out to those you are interested in and perseverance does count. The academics are solid and you may get an offer that is academic aid heavy, or at least a walk on.

Real talk: you are not going to get a lot of interest. Your 1600 is in the 450-500 range out of rising seniors and 3200 is in the 200-250 range from 2022 outdoor season results. That is what college coaches are looking at. There are ~350 NCAA Div. I T&F programs, which means you are at the bottom end of your peer class. Sure, they have a standard that you beat, so did several hundred other of your peers. Your peers are national wide now when it comes to college.

College coaches, especially at the higher level programs, have a bonus structure, and are more attuned to those that are going to get the program Conference and National appearances. Also, their jobs depend on continuing to build a quality program.

This is why they have not responded. If you can improve your times, it is not too late. If you want to get more notice, work on getting to a regional or national level meet after your regular school season ends.

Keep in mind, kids have gone from a bottom third to state champ and national contenders in their senior year, and the go on to be recruited for college.

Every athlete in the ivies is a walk on, as there are no athletic scholarships. The coaches are just implying that you could be admitted on your own and still join the team without them using 'coaches help' to get you in. If you qualify for financial aid, or your parents are happy to pay full price at an ivy, they are great places to run.

And yet they blow off a 1:47 800 meter guy. Sort of blows off your theory. The reality is that coaches reach out to a few kids on their own and then blow off those who initiate contact. Drew Bosley wasn't recruited by Wisconsin.

1:47 is great. The future for a 36 ACT at any non-elite academic school is insufficient.

He really only ought to look at 5 or so places that are the right fit for him and either top ranked or top ranked in his major.

name some names (school names please) otherwise this is just another "big fish" story

OP you need to expand your list and then stay persistent.

Your times are sort of on the bubble for top D1. A few might let you walk on but you probably won’t get much if any recruiting attention. They figure you’ll get in touch once admitted if you decide to attend.

You need to be looking at mid-majors and D3s where your times would fit better. Expand the list, fill out the recruiting forms, and follow up with an email to the distance coach. Give it a week and try again, CCing the recruiting coordinator.

Honestly your list doesn’t make a lot of sense from a running perspective. Maryland doesn’t even field an XC team, for example. Look outside of the P5 schools and at schools that emphasize distance. Think Colorado state or Colorado mines, not Colorado; Santa Clara not Stanford; Macalester not Minnesota, etc.

Ivies might work out but you won’t be a top recruit. That just means you might have to be persistent and wait for things to fall just right. It’s a little late in the year and some of them probably have finalized recruiting plans. But if the finances would work I’d keep reaching out to all those programs. Just don’t expect much response from Harvard, Princeton. Maybe a program like Dartmouth or Brown though. The fact that Penn and Columbia are interested is a good sign.

I disagree with the HS coach complaining about college coaches not responding or being too lazy or whatever. Hasn’t been my experience, and I’ve been at this awhile too. The transfer portal has made a big impact on how sone programs recruit and some HS coaches don’t seem to get it. I’ve seen pretty normal replies when emails are properly targeted.

Good luck and keep at it. Not everyone decides this early so if things don’t work out this fall you’ll still have time (just not at the selective schools). Even if you don’t get formally recruited you’re likely good enough to walk on most places, so you’ll have options.

Well, there are only about 3 guys meeting the criteria. He took visits to ISU, Kentucky, and Alabama. Every fan knows. But so many former D3 guys keep believing that scholarships are plentiful for Mid D and distance runners.

How many D1 athletes have you had since Covid? I have had about 25 boys and girls. Betting you haven't been close enough to what is happening if you only have a few D1 kids and they weren't the initiators.

I retired from coaching college about four years ago, but I was a head coach for more than 10 years, but at a lower level. I responded to 100% of the emails sent to me. Obviously, if they were a talented runner, I put a lot of response into the email if they were not (11:30 guy) I still responded with a kind email just in case they had a brother or teammate that I might be interested in and they could at least say I responded back kindly.

Most coaches are poor recruiters, sorry that is the fact. They typically lack a plan, charisma or something. It only takes 30 sec to respond to an athlete who does not meet your standards. On the other hand, and I am certain non D1 college coaches will back me up on this, for every 100 HS coach I emailed about an athlete, I was lucky to get 35% of them to respond. It works both ways …

Good to hear but most upper level D1 coaches have changed since Covid.

OP let me tell you the truth. Those times are D2 times or Ivy league. The rest of the schools have no need to respond to you with any urgency because you are not a high level recruit for them. This is not a knock, but a rare glimpse into reality. When meets like Oxy and Azusa and Arcadia have double digit sub 9 minute runners, you can see where 9:19 is not making a coach rush to respond. Also, do not poo poo the responses you did receive, it is disrespectful and foolhardy. Those are 2 schools families wish would call them, take advantage and pursue them vigorously! So many kids pass us their blessings with unrealistic D1 dreams that it is tragic. Be realistic, use that gpa to your advantage and stop waiting for responses you have not received while ignoring the ones that you have.

This is a lie by omission. What is the rest of the story? 1:47 is not getting blown off, you are not telling us the whole truth.

The transfer portal is the new hotness. Instead of getting a high school kid that might leave homesick in the first month, lose interest in running after discovering booze and sex, or can't hack being the #11 guy on the XC depth chart, coaches can now select more mature athletes with collegiate academic and athletic experience. These athletes can also jump in and contribute right away - no more redshirt freshmen or trying to build up a 25 miles/week kid for a year or two while they eat budget.

It's less work and less of a financial gamble for the coach. Sadly, it hits the borderline high school distance kids (outside of the top 100 prospects) pretty hard.

No.

It is true. Coaches are morons. The kid had run 47 and 1:51 before his visits. Coaches offer a walk-on spot. You obviously don't all of the real life stories here. My daughter ran 5:01/10:55 junior year and got no interest. She ran 4:53 and 10:37 April of her senior year and was able to walk-on at our state school but 18 out of 20 schools did not respond to her.