Asking a Power-5 D1 College Coach to Give a Recommendation to Mid Major Coach. Is it OK?

My son (when he was 9) took a batting lesson from a guy who was then a graduate assistant at an NAIA school. That batting lesson led to a friendship/mentoring relationship which lasted throughout - and beyond - my son's baseball playing days. Our family would seek college/baseball advice from him as the coach's career blossomed. (It was a mutual relationship covering advice in many areas, with many discussions occurring on the golf course over the years.)

That coach helped in many baseball areas: invite to AC tryouts, summer collegiate league assistance, recruiting insights and more. Even though S turned down his recruiting offers, the coach's mentoring door was always open. His recommendations to other coaches and organizations opened doors for my son.

If the coach knows your son and is willing to go to bat for him and lay his (coach's) rep on the line, it could be a huge assist.

I would say if you and your son feel comfortable asking in light of the relationship that has developed, go ahead and do it.  My limited experience is that most coaches are in this business for the right reasons, and are willing to help out and spread some good kharma and help a young player find a spot (as long as it is not a rival or in the same conference LOL).  JMO.  If he does ask, please follow up with an update and let us know whether he was willing or able to assist, and if that was a benefit.

I guess I am not sure where it would help in this situation.  Since you stated that the Mid Major coach already knows about your son, and already has a relationship with him, I'm not sure how having a P-5 Coach call him would matter.

If the Mid Major Coach didn't know about your son, than it could definitely help.  At this point, I'm not sure the Mid Major Coach would need an assist from the P-5 Coach.  I'm sure he already has a pretty good idea of what he is looking for, and if he is conversing with your son, he is already interested.

rynoattack posted:

I guess I am not sure where it would help in this situation.  Since you stated that the Mid Major coach already knows about your son, and already has a relationship with him, I'm not sure how having a P-5 Coach call him would matter.

If the Mid Major Coach didn't know about your son, than it could definitely help.  At this point, I'm not sure the Mid Major Coach would need an assist from the P-5 Coach.  I'm sure he already has a pretty good idea of what he is looking for, and if he is conversing with your son, he is already interested.

I think you are spot on. Would it matter? That's what I question too.

The key thing is that Power 5 coach has watched son play 3 times (all times he hit very well). The out-of-state Mid Major coach has not seen son play yet. Communication began 3-4 months ago - primarily through quiet period. 

I don't think it would hurt.....especially based on the fact that the Power 5 guy has seen him play.  Will the mid-major offer without seeing your son play?  Who knows....but it's a lot more likely that he would after hearing from the other guy who has seen him.  I don't think it would hurt....I don't think the P5 guy can realistically expect a kid to wait until after the draft to see if a spot opens up. 

I'm with Buckeye, I don't think it could hurt. A couple years ago my cousin tried to walk on at a P5 as a pitcher (long story, and unfortunately we hadn't found this site). That P5 coach told him he was definitely D1 material, but he didn't need him. He then offered to put him in touch with other D1 programs. So like QHEAD said, most coaches are willing to help talented kids they don't take.

Maybe complete honesty would be the best approach. Your son could ask P5 coach if he can use him as a reference with his 2nd choice school. If P5 coach agrees to that, then son could tell the mid-major coach his program is now his first choice because X School has already said they don't need him. He could explain to mid-major coach that he knows the distance makes it difficult for a live evaluation, but Coach X has seen him 3 times and is willing to tell him what he saw. Good luck to your son!

Coaches offering scholarships value credible references.  It is particularly important in situations like yours where the coach has limited access to seeing the player in person, which they prefer to do multiple times.  I would absolutely look to use this reference if the reference thinks it is a fit.  I would have your son talk to the P5 coach, tell him about the mid-major he is talking to, ask if he thinks it is a good fit and if the answer is yes, ask if it would be OK to list him as a reference when speaking with the mid-major coach.

There is no conflict because the P5 already told you their slots are filled, at least at the present time.  

JMO, unless the mid major coach asks for a reference or who has seen him play, it's not necessary to initiate this on his own.

I'd keep that option in my back pocket if needed, but would not hesitate to use it if the recruiting process requires it.  The coaching network is vast and these guys talk a lot.   From what I've personally experienced and heard, this is not a big deal for a college coach to call another college coach.  Recruiting is a such a small window of opportunity (you're only young once!) that acting on something is usually better than not acting on something. 

Good luck!

Coaches talk yes, but you have to be very careful of how you approach situations. Just because one coach seems to like you, doesn't mean he knows you well enough to give proper recommendation to another coach.

Use people as references who know you well, your HS coach, travel team coach or a scout, etc.

You're not making any sense.

Why would you want to tell the P5 coach that you want to go somewhere else?

Why would you want to tell the midmajor coach that you are also considering the P5 school?

You are in the middle of a negotiation.  These coaches need to feel like they are the only one.

SultanofSwat posted:

You're not making any sense.

Why would you want to tell the P5 coach that you want to go somewhere else?

Why would you want to tell the midmajor coach that you are also considering the P5 school?

You are in the middle of a negotiation.  These coaches need to feel like they are the only one.

Exactly.

TPM posted:

SultanofSwat posted:

You're not making any sense.

 

Why would you want to tell the midmajor coach that you are also considering the P5 school?

You are in the middle of a negotiation.  These coaches need to feel like they are the only one.

Exactly.

Why would you want to tell the P5 coach that you want to go somewhere else?

As stated in the OP, the P5 coach, who has seen son play and play well, has indicated very clearly that their 2019 slots are full and that there is no more room to take on another player from that class at this time. Thanking the P5 coach and telling him that you will move on for an opportunity at another school that is still looking for 2019's equates to not making any sense?

You are in the middle of a negotiation.  These coaches need to feel like they are the only one.

The mid major came into the picture a couple of months ago and is very interested but is out of state and it may take some time before son gets in front of him. Telling a mid major coach that a P5 program was taking a serious look before he came into the picture equates to not making sense?

As far as making the coaches feel like they are the only one, I've heard more advice on HSBBWeb indicating that when multiple coaches are interested, that is when offers become more eminent. If the coach thinks his program is the only one, isn't that counterproductive? To me, it seems coaches don't make a move on most recruits unless they absolutely have to. 

WestCoastPapa posted:

TPM posted:

SultanofSwat posted:

You're not making any sense.

 

Why would you want to tell the midmajor coach that you are also considering the P5 school?

You are in the middle of a negotiation.  These coaches need to feel like they are the only one.

Exactly.

Why would you want to tell the P5 coach that you want to go somewhere else?

As stated in the OP, the P5 coach, who has seen son play and play well, has indicated very clearly that their 2019 slots are full and that there is no more room to take on another player from that class at this time. Thanking the P5 coach and telling him that you will move on for an opportunity at another school that is still looking for 2019's equates to not making any sense?

You are in the middle of a negotiation.  These coaches need to feel like they are the only one.

The mid major came into the picture a couple of months ago and is very interested but is out of state and it may take some time before son gets in front of him. Telling a mid major coach that a P5 program was taking a serious look before he came into the picture equates to not making sense?

As far as making the coaches feel like they are the only one, I've heard more advice on HSBBWeb indicating that when multiple coaches are interested, that is when offers become more eminent. If the coach thinks his program is the only one, isn't that counterproductive? To me, it seems coaches don't make a move on most recruits unless they absolutely have to. 

Sorry about the misunderstanding on my part.

Let's leave out being in negotiation part.

First of all, are you assuming that if perhaps the P5 had a spot filled he might get a chance, or was this a very kind way of letting your son know that the program wasn't for him. So you don't REALLY know how he felt about your son. Maybe your son did well in front of him, however most people really don't know what a coach needs in a player, or how he really feels about the player. You see most people think that because you hit the ball or strike out the side, you will turn heads.

Think about this...what makes your son different than the rest of the players in his grade year. That turns heads. That creates interest. 

If the mid major coach really liked your son, he would find a way to find out about your son, more than likely by getting in touch with a scout, coach, etc. from your area. ? for you. Does this out of state take out of state players? If he was seriously considering he would have asked who has seen him play?  That's how it works, usually. 

But your son is a 2019, he has time. Let him go out this summer and be seen where he would be interested in playing.  I am in no way being negative about your son, just want others to know that recruiting a player has a lot of moving parts to it and realistically no coach should really offer a player without watching him multiple times.

By all means if you and he feels that it's appropriate have your son ask if he wants to talk to someone who has seen him play.

Being a 2019 I’m like TPM and even with a call from the other coach, unless they have actually worked with each other at some point, I’m betting coach 2 wouldn’t pull the trigger until someone from his staff sees your son play which most likely is somewhere this summer.  

Lots of time left for 2019s.   Even at power 5 schools for the right player, fit, etc