Hi all. As the subject line suggests, I'm looking for D2 colleges whose coaches I can approach as a distance runner coming from the UK. Would need a pretty generous scholarship - I have a really limited running/endurance sport background but I've already got my times down a significant amount (I'm told at least enough for good D2 schools) so just looking for a good program where I can develop and get my times down and then I'll see where I go from there. Thanks very much in advance
It's a scholarship, not welfare charity. It's for those who clearly indicate that they will be contributors. Go look at schools where your current times would, at a bare minimum, score big points at conference track championships if not routinely qualify for nationals. This is all information you can find for yourself online, just look at performance lists for the past couple years. Then start emailing those coaches, any and all of them. D2 programs don't usually have massive budgets to just take a flier on potential. Realistically, since you are keeping your marks a secret, you might be needing to secure academic scholarship to make yourself a more appealing recruit. Either that or you might want to consider NAIA programs, at least to start.
Look at the NCAA D2 national championship results for XC and track (distance races), and that will give you an idea of schools that are strong distance schools. This will also give you an idea of "national class" D2 race times in the distance events. You could filter down to schools on the East Coast since you are from Europe. (I doubt you want to go to school in Alaska.) Look at the athlete bios to get an idea of international students on the teams. Most teams have good web pages with information on recruiting/walk-on standards or how to contact the coaches. In general there's more scholarship money for females than males. Make sure a college degree from the US will help with your career prospects after college (especially if you plan to return to Europe).
Western Colorado University formerly Western State College of Colorado and Adams State, both D2 powerhouses were known to recruit foreigners. Adams recruits more athletes from Mexico and Western, more from European countries and New Zealand. It depends on your times now, because they want someone that can make an immediate impact. Foreigners are more expensive to keep on scholarship so you'd get maybe four years instead of five with a redshirt year because of the expense. Also, what do you plan on studying? If it's something like business, finance or accounting that opens up your choices even more.
Unless you have run 3:48/14:10, you won't get a large scholarship.
There are no partial scholarships for international athletes.
Sure there are. No rule says internationals have to be on fulls. Traditionally it took fulls to get them interested (especially since socialized education is free).
More and more are now coming on partials, these days.
Wingate is certainly one of the strongest for high performance marks/results while being very international friendly. Look at the progression of their runners. It is pretty impressive to see how much they have improved.
Western Colorado University formerly Western State College of Colorado and Adams State, both D2 powerhouses were known to recruit foreigners. Adams recruits more athletes from Mexico and Western, more from European countries and New Zealand. It depends on your times now, because they want someone that can make an immediate impact. Foreigners are more expensive to keep on scholarship so you'd get maybe four years instead of five with a redshirt year because of the expense. Also, what do you plan on studying? If it's something like business, finance or accounting that opens up your choices even more.
I'm not sure how much Adams recruits foreigners, as much as decades of tradition and success recruits for them. Looking at the roster, definitely more foreign influence on the women's side right now. Nothing wrong with recruits from Mexico, but I don't see a single athlete on their roster from south of the border, unless you're thinking El Paso, New Mexico, and southern CA = Mexico. :)
dude, if your dream is to run D2, all costs, do your legwork. spend this weekend. go down every TFRRS and look for teams that could use your times. all you have to do is get admitted academically. you will probably make the team walking on.
D2 is a small division so it won't take you forever.
your "foreign" concern is like you want a scholarship which you are late to the party for, though, what do i know. i mean, do try, but it's possible they have given out a lot of their commitments, and even if not, you'd be better off knowing who "could use you" before you start emailing. if you are window shopping this late the worst strategy, unless your times are amazing, is go nosing around the best D2s in the country. not even sure it's that bright to shop schools with a bunch of foreign runners already unless they have a bunch of european/british runners. and if you're walking on, they likely don't care where you come from.
if you still want to sort out the "foreign legion" question, they should almost all have online rosters. personally i'd be researching schools -- including if you have missed admissions deadlines -- develop a long list, and throw a lot of mud on the wall. my experience only so much sticks. you're better served to start wide and narrow later.