High School Coach also a Paid Private Recruiting Consultant

Agreed.

A HS coach charging his own players to help them get recruited?   Sorry, I can't post what I think....I'd probably get banned from the site.

I guess I don't have an issue with him using it as a "side business".   I for one don't believe that paying someone helps you get recruited....especially paying a HS coach doing it as a part time business, but if someone wants to pay him, that's their perogative.....but again, charging his own guys is beyond classless if you ask me.

WestCoastPapa posted:

Cutting right to the chase.....

High School head coach also has a side business where he charges players/families for his consulting/assistance through the recruiting process. The issue is that 3-4 of his clients are also players on his high school team. Am I off base by thinking that this probably not a good set up? Compounding the issue, all of the "clients" are starters while those "client" parents also have a line of communication that other "non-client" parents don't have. 

If nothing else the perception is awful. 

 

Unlike Button <———- Pressed!

I’ve heard of a few of these examples and, all too often, it seems like nothing more than “pay to play.”

Coach or Criminal?  Part Deux?

What he's doing is so wrong.

Totally unethical, in my book.  Part of his job as a High School coach is to communicate with next level coaches and scouts and advocate for his players... truthfully.

Are the starters “starters” because they are his clients or because they truly are better.

Stinks to high heaven regardless...

Folks, the word I'm looking for .........Integrity. In this case, lack of integrity.

The actions of your HS coach has been happening in Travel ball for years..................Wealthy dad sends coach on private flights to tournament destinations........player gets to start, seldom sits, gets his ticket punched for AC. Just one of many examples I've witness over the years.

Doesn't make it right but favors and connections are present in everyday business.

It's sorta funny.  I generally disagree with the overall sentiment here at HSBBW that a HS coach shouldn't be able to somehow earn some money with something he spends so much time with and has some (varying) degree of expertise in.   Many times, they have to.  They typically sacrifice crazy hours to basically volunteer to the HS program, in turn, making it very difficult to make other extra income, often even sacrificing some of their normal income and vacation time.  But, there has to be a reasonable degree of separation.  And this isn't remotely close.  Ridiculous.

I am set up to give lessons on my property.  My intent when I set everything up was to make a little on the side while helping youth players.  I end up working extra a lot with some kids in my program, usually at the school after normal practice and on weekends, and of course would never charge a kid in the program.  Then, with the youth, I find out they live in the community and, for some reason, I mentally assign association to the program and I can't bring myself to  charging the kid.   Then I get youth from neighboring communities and I can't rationalize in my mind to charge them when I don't charge the other kids.  I haven't done a very good job of constructing a profitable business model.  I hope the retirement plan is good.  

I think it's fine for the coach to have a side business, but in order to avoid even a perceived conflict of interest, he clearly should not take on clients who play on his high school team. 

While it all seems unethical, seamy and even slimy, that's what contracts are put in place.  Conflicts of interests in the legal sense are primarily related to representation in times of disputes or disciplinary proceedings (in other words you can't play for both teams in a competition legally). It does not apply in this case.

High school coaches are typically not called upon to provide expert baseball analysis when it comes to college recruiting. A majority of high schools have employees who are teachers first and coaches as their secondary jobs. My son does not even list his high school coach as a contact unless a college coach requests his info (funny thing is when they do, if they have recruited kids from his school before, they just toss the number and say "No need to talk to him anyway. He either never calls back or his information does match up with what they have seen."

Maybe this guy in question here is legit.and has earned, through time and effort, respect in the industry. With that, he has generated several contacts along the way. In business, we call those "soft assets". Assets, soft or hard, are meant to generate revenue. From my view, this coach is using his soft assets, his contacts or his ability to help with the recruiting process (AS LONG AS HE IS LEGIT - because their all phonies out there. I know a few). 

I guess my suggestion would be, rather than speculate, investigate. Ask him for some time to discuss some things not related to playing time, wins/losses, etc. Get his perspective. Maybe he would be willing to provide some transparency. If he comes across more cryptic or shady, you may have a bigger problem on your hands.

While I agree that there may not be a contractual conflict of interest, there is certainly a potential ethical conflict of interest.  The coach risks his decisions on who to play (or not) being interpreted through the lens of who is a paying customer. That doesn't really have a place in high school sports in my opinion.

IMO, the biggest issue is how do you sell your services to a parent of a non-starter on your team?  That’s a slippery slope. 

BBMomAZ posted:

While I agree that there may not be a contractual conflict of interest, there is certainly a potential ethical conflict of interest.  The coach risks his decisions on who to play (or not) being interpreted through the lens of who is a paying customer. That doesn't really have a place in high school sports in my opinion.

I agree with you 100%. It doesn't belong. But confronting it head on, with and vengeance and without a village of support behind you will make the problem get worse. If this guy is doing this honestly and simply trying to make a living using a skill/experience he as acquired while having no sinister or evil plan to give kids starting positions as an additional kickback then he will have no problem explaining his assessment process, how he determines his best 9 or 10 for each game and be fully transparent with his team. I have learned the hard way to give the benefit of the doubt first. There have been times I have just though the worst things about someone to the point where I had them locked up and already thrown away the key.  I have also learned that some of these baseball guys have not learned proper ethics because they have not been exposed to them via family or their career was unexpectedly cut short and they are just trying to make a buck doing what they know with what they have.

That being said, if this guy is a bad dude and his plan all along was generate additional income via the position while providing kickbacks in return , chances are (like the coach in the booster club example) he has his tracks covered. Better to approach this with the slow drip approach rather than going in with a gangbusters mentality. Just my two pennies

I agree the perception is awful, but I guess I have questions:

ALL??? of the "clients" are starters while those "client" parents also have a line of communication that other "non-client" parents don't have. 

So is that true that all of his clients are starters? What if you wanted to be a client? How much is he charging and what does he provide? It's possible that these services are available to anyone who is willing to pay for them, and the people who are willing to pay for them are people whose kids have the ability to play college baseball, and, may be the best players on the team, and therefore are starters.

I think we all have a tendency to assume that someone is doing something wrong, rather than that they are simply doing something stupid.

Why not go in and ask about his business? I'm assuming you are on this site because you have a kid interested in being recruited. Seems legitimate to go in and ask how we might help with that, beyond coaching your kid.

Iowamom23 posted:

I agree the perception is awful, but I guess I have questions:

ALL??? of the "clients" are starters while those "client" parents also have a line of communication that other "non-client" parents don't have. 

So is that true that all of his clients are starters?

What if you wanted to be a client? How much is he charging and what does he provide? It's possible that these services are available to anyone who is willing to pay for them, and the people who are willing to pay for them are people whose kids have the ability to play college baseball, and, may be the best players on the team, and therefore are starters.

 

So is that true that all of his clients are starters? 

Yes - all 4...including a 10th grade client who is now starting over a solid returning senior (who is a non client) that was a .300+ BA starter last season.

What if you wanted to be a client? How much is he charging and what does he provide?

It starts at $1,500. So far, he has helped a handful of kids get NAIA and JuCo offers. What it includes I have no idea. 

Furthermore, a player who is a plus defender that led the team in batting average and slugging during the fall season (non client) is not starting and getting little playing time.

Also, a dad "client" very recently asked the head coach to place his client son at another (more glamorous) position on defense. 

As far as talking to the high school coach. Only time I have done it is to let him know I got some things donated to the program. My son can and should talk to the coach about baseball related stuff. Not me.....or any other parent for that matter. But that's just me.

This coach should not be in this business, period.

He can't take on clients from his own team without the perception of favoritism and undue influence. If he takes on clients from other schools, the perception can be that he is focusing his recruiting assistance to his clients and not his players. Furthermore, what happens when someone he's helping is playing against his team? Is the client going to have an unreasonable expectation that he'll get some favorable matchups? If the client plays well, is the question going to arise about the coach tanking against him?

We had a similar issue in MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL.  Coach was a paid trainer (not a scout or anything like that) and was allowed to advertise his "pre-tryout  camps" on the school website.  15 player team.  5 or 6 made it simply because of lessons and 2 started because of heavy lessons. My son was told you should be a starter but I need someone to provide 'leadership' on the second team.   Our team went 15-0 and there were no close games. My son led the team in scoring, assists etc. etc. but never started a single game.  He played with the first team whenever the game got close or we needed scoring.  

Here is the funny part: there was a well know assistant coach from a prominent HS  at the game to watch my son and "show support".  They want him for baseball.  After the game he apparently approached the coach and let him have it and said I know the parents would never tell you how they feel but what you are doing is wrong and you should be ashamed of yourself. He made sure he said this in front of the players, other coaches, and school AD. I didn't even know this guy was going to be at the game.  We did not put him up to it.  Nothing to lose I guess.   At the end of the season it was announced that this coach would not be back.  Justice served. 

WestCoastPapa, there would obviously be some risk in this approach, but what about contacting the HS Athletic Director, Principal, or the School Board to see if any district policies are being violated?

To stay anonymous, you may want somebody like myself or a local attorney in your area to call the school with that inquiry.  I know this may seem like taking things too far, but I'm just suggesting it as a possible option for consideration.  

Going up the ladder so to speak has definitely been considered. Several parents taking a wait and see approach to see how this unfolds. If anything, based on third party feedback here at HSBBW, several parent's (non clients) concerns have been vaildated. Also, your willingness to help as well as the advice is appreciated.