Joe Herren

Here’s a hard pill to swallow… the connections your travel coach has DO make a difference. Sorry, coaches… this might step on a few toes, but families deserve to hear it. And this is coming from conversations I’ve had with multiple college coaches across all levels. College coaches build relationships with travel coaches they know and trust. When those coaches consistently send them athletes who can compete, work hard, and contribute to their program, they have a reason to keep coming back. That trust carries weight. Does that mean you’re cooked if your coach doesn’t have those connections? Absolutely not. Your own outreach, camps, and relationship building can still open doors. And a well-connected coach still can’t do your part for you. But pretending connections don’t help isn’t doing families any favors. When choosing a travel team, ask about more than the schedule and the name on the jersey. Ask how the coach actually helps athletes find their college fit.