Best approach to potential new coach

so he's hoping to walk on?   Has he had any contact at all with the coaching staff?   HIs current coach (d3) is aware that he is going to transfer next year?

Does he not have to sit out a year following transfer?  I know there's some exception related to moving from one division to another, but I'm thinking this would not be excepted and the sit-out requirement would apply.  Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

That is also my understanding..need a year in residence before eligible to play.  It is a 4-4 transfer, and it starts on page 20 of the 2013-14 NCAA Transfer Guide. 

http://www.ncaapublications.co...r-guide-2013-14.aspx

This is discussed on another site and a link shared to the NCAA publication.  It is several years old, but not sure anything has changed since then:

http://talk.collegeconfidentia...nsferring-d3-d1.html

A player transferring from any 4 year school to a D1 typically needs to serve a academic year in residence at the D1 before being eligible to compete.  However, if the player was not recruited to his original college and hasn't received any athletic aid, he may be eligible to compete without sitting out.   See 14.5.5.2.10.2 in the D1 manual.  If you search on 14.5.5.2.10.2 at this site, you'll find lots of discussion on how this works.

I've seen a few transfer situations, and the chronology is usually this:

1. Request release or "permission to contact" form from current school

2. Contact schools to let them know the release has been obtained and to discuss opportunities

3. Decide which school to transfer to

If I am reading your post correctly, you are doing the process in the reverse. OK, different strokes, I guess. But practically speaking, no coach will speak to your son, except at the peril of committing an NCAA violation, until he has his release.

Also, by just asking for a release, a player is typically separating himself from the current program