Jared here. Today’s podcast tackles a very popular niche in college sports - High Academic D3. I’m joined by Mahogany Green, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Hamilton College. Together, we explore some of the key challenges and strategies involved in recruiting at a high academic D3 school. From the recruiting process to the admissions process to academic support and financial aid, there is no stone left unturned in this interview.

Coach Green also shares her personal journey as an athlete, including the incredible story of how she was recruited to Cleveland State after tearing both of her ACLs. Despite facing major setbacks, she was shown unwavering support from her coaches, which not only shaped her college experience but also taught her lifelong lessons about resilience and the value of a strong support system. You’ll love learning how she passes those lessons on to her players.

We also dive into the realities of being a high-academic D3 athlete, and the pressures that come with balancing academics, athletics and a higher than average fear of failure. Coach Green’s candid, no-nonsense approach provides valuable insight into how recruits can find the right fit for their future, whether it’s on the court or in the classroom.

This episode is packed with practical advice, powerful stories, and a wealth of knowledge. Don’t miss it!

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Have a question that you’d like answered by me or a guest? Have an idea for an episode topic? Have no suggestions but just want to say hello? Email me at RecruitingGEAR@gmail.com

To obtain more information about my coaching services or to check out the book, visit www.nailtherecruitingprocess.com

Follow me on social media!

Instagram - @NailTheRecruitingProcess
X (Twitter) / TikTok - @JaredTheCoach

Jared here, and you’re in for a treat, because my good buddy Joe Rutigliano is this week’s guest. In addition to being a great friend, Joe is a GREAT coach, who is now an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire after spending the past three seasons at St. Johns.

A cool byproduct of having a friend on the show is that the conversation tends to be more informal. That said, you’re about to get some great insight into how college coaches behave “behind the scenes” as they recruit. And you’re going to hear it as if you were in a coaches’ meeting going over a recruiting big board.

Joe provides great perspective on what coaches are thinking during phone calls, campus visits, workouts, evals, and everything in between. You’ll also really love to hear Joe’s perspective on risk taking. After all, Joe achieved his current status after taking on 3 separate volunteer jobs so that he could “learn by doing.”

If you thought I was extroverted, I can’t wait for you to hear from the man who will prove you sorely mistaken. Joe is the people person to end all people people, and his episode drops first thing tomorrow morning.

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Have a question that you’d like answered by me or a guest? Have an idea for an episode topic? Have no suggestions but just want to say hello? Email me at RecruitingGEAR@gmail.com

To obtain more information about my coaching services or to check out the book, visit www.nailtherecruitingprocess.com

Follow me on social media!

Instagram - @NailTheRecruitingProcess
X (Twitter) / TikTok - @JaredTheCoach

Jared here, and I’ll be honest, this is a special one.

More than a decade ago, I decided to change careers, leave a lot of money on the table, take a huge pay cut and pursue a career in college basketball coaching. A lot of people thought I was nuts.

But at that time, I obtained some supporting evidence in the form of a New York Times article about Marc Mitchell. Coach Mitchell had ZERO college coaching experience until he was 40 years-old, and went on to win a D3 National championship with FDU Florham. His story was all the proof I needed to believe that any risk would pay off if I worked hard enough.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Coach Mitchell, who is now Head Coach at Indiana State. Coach Mitchell is known for his incredible ability to turn programs around, and we dive into everything it takes to build a program, including (as you can probably imagine) recruiting.

We also dive deep into Mitchell’s personal journey, even discussing (and this is 100% true) the time he told FDU Florham’s administrative team - while on his job interview - that he would win a national championship there. He won the D3 National championship there four years later.

Coach Mitchell shares the behind-the-scenes stories of his recruiting strategies, including the relentless pursuit of top talent and the importance of outworking other coaches when building a program. Tune in to hear insights from a coach who not only talks the talk but has proven time and again that he's willing to walk the walk, all while staying true to his values and vision. If you're passionate about coaching, leadership, or simply love a great story, this episode is for you!

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Have a question that you’d like answered by me or a guest? Have an idea for an episode topic? Have no suggestions but just want to say hello? Email me at RecruitingGEAR@gmail.com

To obtain more information about my coaching services or to check out the book, visit www.nailtherecruitingprocess.com

Follow me on social media!

Instagram - @NailTheRecruitingProcess
X (Twitter) / TikTok - @JaredTheCoach