Introduction
We caught up with Emerson College Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Matt Colombini for a discussion about the Emerson lacrosse program and what he looks for when recruiting student-athletes.
You can find our conversation below.
Thanks to Matt for taking the time to educate those interested in Emerson College!
Emerson will be in attendance at the D3 Winter Lacrosse Showcase this January. Click Here To Learn More and Register to the D3 Winter Lacrosse Showcase.
The Conversation
What are you most excited about with regards to your program?
I am most excited for the opportunity our program has to grow and improve this season with the addition of a really strong recruiting class. Being located in the heart of downtown Boston and offering some of the best communication and arts programs in the country, Emerson has a ton to offer on and off of the field. It is an exciting time on campus with new construction going on everywhere and the continual support of the college toward our athletic department.
What jumps out at you when recruiting? What do you look for in a player?
In recruiting, I am looking for highly skilled players first and foremost, but we are also looking for intangibles. I love seeing guys play with a tremendous amount of energy and effort, who are communicating and look like they enjoy playing with their teammates.
What are your “pet peeves” when recruiting?
When players show negative body language and frustration it definitely stands out to me. Any time someone complains to a ref or has a confrontation with a coach or teammate in a negative way we have to note it.
What is the best way interested student-athletes should get in touch with you?
Interested student-athletes should reach out to me directly by email or call our office number. I love hearing from student-athletes that have done their homework and know Emerson is a school that fits their academic and athletic interests. A personal touch always goes a long way in showing your interest.
What should student-athletes avoid in their messaging to college coaches?
Understanding that student-athletes need to reach out to so many coaches it is easy to cut corners and send mass emails or copy and paste the same message to each of us. Just make sure to always proofread and review your messages before you send them out, nothing is worse than getting an email intended for another coach or college.
How would you describe your coaching style?
My coaching style is a combination of high energy and high expectations. As a program we outline a clear set of high standards that we expect all of our players to reach and maintain, and then work with them throughout the year to make sure they are where they need to be. At the end of the day, it really comes down to having a strong relationship with our players so that we can create the best team possible.
Walk us through your timeline when recruiting a student athlete?
At Emerson, our recruiting timeline is based entirely on the student-athlete. I want you to decide Emerson is the right school for you to attend and play lacrosse when you are comfortable. Generally, in the fall of a student-athlete’s junior year we will begin to focus on their class. We try and get out to as many fall events as possible while we finish our upcoming recruiting class. Over the spring and summer we continue to get out and see games, go to tournaments, and camps while we start to have recruits on campus for visits. By the time the fall comes around, we have had a student-athlete to campus a few times and talked enough that they can begin to decide Emerson is the place for them.
What kind of players succeed at your program?
The best players here are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to maximize their talent. We ask a lot of our student-athletes, with how they act off the field, getting into the weight room, and the time commitments of practice. The ones that embrace the work and put their whole effort into it usually end up having great careers.
What’s your recruiting strategy going into an event? After an event?
Going into a recruiting event I try and map out which games we are going to watch the best we can. We always highlight games featuring student-athletes that have already reached out to us and expressed interest or that we’d seen in the past. We really try to maximize our day at an event to see as many talented players as possible. After an event we work to quickly reach out to any student-athletes we noted and are sure to follow up with anyone who contacted us beforehand.
Once again, thanks to Matt for his time, and best of luck to Emerson this season!
Emerson will be in attendance at the D3 Winter Lacrosse Showcase on January 15th (MLK Day). Join Coach Colombini and other college coaches at D3 Winter Showcase.
Coach Colombini is one of the many coaches to recruit at our premier showcases. Click below to see the full list of coaches attending our events. Register today!
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