My son is a 2026 TF (not XC) athlete, and there is no consistency at all from school to school, coach to coach. My son has talked to a dozen schools/coaches from NAIA, D2, and low/mid D1. Some wanted him to commit on an unofficial visit over the summer, some offered after an official visit this month, some have verbally committed to an offer once we submit our FAFSA. Some want a decision by a certain date, some are more flexible and will wait. One coach said he was putting his recruiting plan together as of September 8th this year (but I suspect he was just blowing smoke).
Long story short, every school and coach are different.
I had a coach reach out this week, a couple of months after I reached out to them.
Appreciative of the recruiting efforts from the team, but a little confused.
Is it common for a coach to respond back with interest two months later?
Also, is it common for coaches to start recruiting this late in the recruiting cycle(I’ve already completed a couple of official visits)?
Im thinking maybe they thought they would have a better recruiting pool, then reached out when it wasn’t what they expected.
I am aware that none of this actually matters in the context of what’s happening NOW. Just genuinely curious.
This is common in some cases. Are you a junior or senior? Coaches are being spammed by AI recruiting services like "preferred recruit". Very difficult for coaches to respond to all inquiries. Unless there is something that shows you might be seriously interested in that school specifically, they might respond to more fruitful looking inquiries.
I had a coach reach out this week, a couple of months after I reached out to them.
Appreciative of the recruiting efforts from the team, but a little confused.
Is it common for a coach to respond back with interest two months later?
Also, is it common for coaches to start recruiting this late in the recruiting cycle(I’ve already completed a couple of official visits)?
Im thinking maybe they thought they would have a better recruiting pool, then reached out when it wasn’t what they expected.
I am aware that none of this actually matters in the context of what’s happening NOW. Just genuinely curious.
This is common in some cases. Are you a junior or senior? Coaches are being spammed by AI recruiting services like "preferred recruit". Very difficult for coaches to respond to all inquiries. Unless there is something that shows you might be seriously interested in that school specifically, they might respond to more fruitful looking inquiries.
I had a coach reach out this week, a couple of months after I reached out to them.
Appreciative of the recruiting efforts from the team, but a little confused.
Is it common for a coach to respond back with interest two months later?
Also, is it common for coaches to start recruiting this late in the recruiting cycle(I’ve already completed a couple of official visits)?
Im thinking maybe they thought they would have a better recruiting pool, then reached out when it wasn’t what they expected.
I am aware that none of this actually matters in the context of what’s happening NOW. Just genuinely curious.
There are a few variables in play but if it’s a smaller school with few or no assistant coaches, you may have e simply slipped through the recruiting crack. If he/she isn’t organized, this happens often and I am not condoning it.
The university may have increased roster expectations. They may have unexpected scholarship money available due to early graduation/transfer/attrition as well.
If this school was an option for you and it appears that it was, ask. If the coach gives an honest answer, give them the benefit of the doubt. If it sounds like they are backpedaling or lying, move on.
I speak to probably 150-175 potential recruits each year. There are some I simply miss, a few that get forgotten amongst the 100 other tasks that need my attention and some that we pour time into that choose elsewhere. There is no perfect method but some do it better than others. And organized coaches with a support staff should be great at it!
Should have been more specific, as I recruit for sprints, hurdles and distance but at least half of those were distance, and the large numbers were initial contacts. I am still speaking to 25-30 distance and only want to sign 3-6 per gender . We are not a destination program, so hard work and due diligence is necessary