Welcome to the first episode of The Recruiting Closet Podcast. In this podcast, we will interview thought leaders in the club sports space to cover and discuss topics relevant to the recruiting process.

Our hope is that everyone involved in the process – from club staff members to student-athletes to parents – will find value in hearing the insights of those who know it best.

In Episode I, we sit down with Patty Costlow from Munciana Volleyball. Patty has over 25 years of experience in the club sports space, and is well-versed as both a coach and administrator on what it takes to be recruited. In this discussion, Patty touches on why communication is so vital to the recruiting process, why relationships are paramount and much more.

Thanks to Patty for making the time!

Show Notes

  • On developing an elite recruiting program with all 240 recruitable athletes at Munciana Volleyball Club [5:00]
  • Managing communication between parents, student-athletes, college coaches, and club staff without losing the thread. [5:30]
  • On the importance of building relationships in recruiting, both for clubs and players. [11:45]
  • The biggest misconception in recruiting [13:18]
  • Lessons about going from rejection to perseverance to success. [17:55]
  • On clubs creating the best recruiting program: Where to Start and what to think about? [24:09]

Selected Links from the Episode | For Club Staff

Selected Links from the Episode | For Players and Families

Selected Quotes from Patty Costlow

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the top player in the country or you’re the player at the bottom. The process is the same.”

“There are a lot of talented athletes, and that’s the thing. A college coach has a big base to shoot from, but I hear from college coaches and they tell me, ‘You’ve got 3 athletes that are all the same athletic ability, but were going to give the offer to the one that we know is the most interested.’”

“You’re an athlete, that’s really not who you are. Without communication, that college coach doesn’t know who you really are.”

“Be honest about the level you can play at, understanding what your strengths and weaknesses are, and then building a target list of schools and trying to communicate with those coaches.”

“I want kids to understand that there’s always someone around that can help them determine those things. If you’re at a club and you don’t really have a recruiting coordinator, your club coach can help you. Your club director, your high school coach […] There’s always some type of resource.”

“You always need to be learning.”

“I would challenge club directors. You have to take a look at what you can offer your club participants much more seriously. The way that recruiting is now, college coaches recruit from clubs. It is, I think, our duty as owners of clubs, as staff of clubs, as coaches of clubs to be a part of the process. It takes being all in.”

“When our ownership and our club directors went all in, they knew we’re not going back from here. This is where we change things. You have to have someone who is passionate about it, who’s dedicated to it.”