Honey Badger Recruiting: Recent Episodes
Dan Tudor
Insights, strategies and conversations for college coaches and athletic departments who want to take a fresh, strategic approach to recruiting the best athletes for their programs.
dantudor.substack.com
The five questions (and possible answers) for coaches to ask themselves as they head into their off-season:
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What is the role of our head coach?
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What needs to change about the timeline and deadline for our prospects?
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What three things can we do to make our campus visit experience different from our competition?
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How can we be faster?
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What don’t we know?
Watch the video, and use it as a discussion for your staff before the next competition year begins.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dantudor.substack.com
We’ve been getting a flurry of questions from coaches at all levels about walk-on prospects, and with good reason:
Lots of stories we’ve heard over the past few years have outlined the fact that walk-on athletes can sometimes grow into team leaders and All-American athletes. And at most levels, they are a crucial part of roster development for coaching s…
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
Want more detail on how to effectively add this component to your recruiting strategy? Watch this short video answering some questions that your fellow coaches asked as a follow-up.
Didn’t read our original article? Shame on you. Here it is,
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
We posted a really popular podcast episode on how to tell an athlete who you’re not interested in recruiting “no”.
If you haven’t listened to it yet, take a few minutes to hear our live conversation with one of your fellow coaches who is trying to figure out the right way to tell her prospect “no”, and end the process:
This video is a follow-up to that podcast, but we flip it around:
How can you find out which prospect (or prospects) are eventually going to tell you “no”, and what should you do with that information? Watch the video to find out.
And, read this article that also dives into reading the signs of when your prospect is leaning away from youand your program. It will provide additional context to this important recruiting topic for you as a coach.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
For those of you who are enrolled in Tudor University, this new section of training is really going to make a difference in the way you target recruits, and focus on moving them through the process efficiently while also assessing the wrong fits for you and your program, and getting them off your recruiting board sooner.
The biggest reason this topic is important is because of the feedback we get from coaches who come to us after things have gone wrong in their programs due to misplaced recruiting focuses. One big area of struggle centers around recruiting athletes who just aren’t the right fit for themselves as a coach, their program, or their college.
And yet, the fixes are easy. If, that is, a coach makes the adjustments on the front end of the recruiting process.
This is the introductory course overview video included at the start of the training module on this topic, and we wanted to share it with you so that you can begin to assess where you might need to refocus as you head into identifying and recruiting a new group of prospects for your program. To access all of the training modules, and to be the first to see the latest training on new topics when they premier, enroll in Tudor University.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dantudor.substack.com
So many of you commented that you loved the College Recruiting Weekly Podcast episode we did with Matt Doherty, former national champion and head coach at the University of North Carolina - as well as other colleges in his long and successful college coaching career - that we wanted to let you see the full video interview, in case you aren’t also part of Tudor University where it is also posted as a part of our new Coach to Coach series, along with the second part of our conversation with Coach Doherty.
As a follow-up to the video above, here are several fantastic articles and training on how to do some of the important things we just told you:
Your First Contact Quick Start Guide
Creating the Perfect First Contact with Recruits
Top 5 Post-Contact Questions You and Your Staff Should Be Asking
The Case for Contacting Your Recruit’s Parents First
Five Consequences of Inconsistent Communication
Use the search icon to look for more article topics that you want to find out more about as you lead into a new class of recruits you’re preparing to contact.
Or, if you want us in your ear, listen to our popular College Recruiting Weekly Podcast on all your favorite platforms!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dantudor.substack.com
After watching the video training, there are several in-depth articles and resources that will help you construct the right approach, based on your goals.
As always, we’re here to help dig in deeper and address any specific individual situations. Just email dan@dantudor.com, Coach.
Here are the articles and resources that go along with the video:
Four great questions from coaches, and the answers from four great recruiting experts and consultants.
We’re also airing this same episode on our popular College Recruiting Weekly podcast.
You can listen to it here:
Topics covered in this conversation include how to best organize your staff for a successful recruiting effort, the right approach for a coach at a small school to stay organized in recruiting, how to communicate to recruits when you don’t have a lot to brag about, and more.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
Why should you start a YouTube channel for yourself and your program?
Because your audience - teenage recruits - are living there. Here’s the latest survey results from Pew Research:
Honey Badger Recruiting sends regular training every few days to coaches who subscribe. Want to join them?
How are college coaches creating the best creative approaches in recruiting?
Here are five training articles that have helped coaches:
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How Are You Reaching Your Teenage Prospects on YouTube?
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How NOT to Use Social Media to Recruit
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Don’t Tell Me You’re Too Old to Master TikTok, Coach
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How to Get Your Show on Every Channel
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Heard of ‘Hobert’s Funnies’? It’s an Approach You May Want to Take in Your Recruiting
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
The other day, we sent out a message to our *text message coaching group that got a lot of coaches talking, because they’ve heard it’s a growing trend (no pun intended - well, maybe a little bit).
The coach tried what we’re suggesting, and it worked. Here’s what he reported:
Isn’t that cool?
For a coach wanting to change things up and engage with their recruits in a way they say they like, try it.
Want to know how? Listen to the 12-minute overview above.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
How should coaches and athletic departments approach the growing number of economic warning signs that are impacting their budgets - and their campuses?...
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
A lot of coaches had some big questions when it came to the data we shared in our previous article.
Why are your prospects wanting something different in their college visit experience?
And, what are some of the beneficial takeaways from a different campus recruiting look and feel compared to what they’re getting now?
Watch the video.
And, if you want us to work with you on redesigning your campus visit using research directly from your athletes, whether it’s in-person on campus or by Zoom, email us at dan@dantudor.com so we can explain the options, how we do it, and why it’ll be so impactful.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dantudor.substack.com
Some of those fundamentals that we talk about in the video include:
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Developing the right story, with the right details, early in the process.
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Building a strong relationship with the parents.
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Measuring the ‘recruiting momentum’ that’s occurring, or missing, in that individual’s decision making process.
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Making sure you have defined the timeline for the proces…
We’re simulcasting this talk, which means you can also hear it on our College Recruiting Weekly podcast (make sure you subscribe and listen!)
Want the book we talk about on reformulating your campus recruiting visits? Click here
Want more articles on campus visits, the right (and wrong) strategies, and more in-depth research and training? Click here.
And if you’re new to this special Honey Badger Recruiting page, pull up some of our past next-level training articles and videos! If you like them, try becoming a subscriber…lots of college coaches around the country are using this to become much more effective recruiters and communicators.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
What is the ‘second screen’ phenomenon sweeping Hollywood, and changing the way script writers do their jobs?
Here are a few background stories:
Streamers Want You to Dumb Down Your Film and TV Ideas
What the Second Screen Trend Means for Your Marketing Efforts
So what does this mean for you as a college coach and recruiter?
Watch the 15-minute video, and let us know what you think and what questions we can answer.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
When the FAFSA rollout delay was announced for this class of 2024, we published an article that ended up being one of our most read pieces of the fall. In it, we focused on how to make the best of an inconvenient situation by strategically talking about money and the process with your prospect, and it all still holds true.
However, now we just learned of an additional delay, pushing it back to the end of December 2023 instead of the start of December. Hopefully that sticks. Oh and by the way, the prime reason for the delay? The Department of Education and their crack staff of programmers forgot to update qualification deadlines in the new calculator (oopsie).
The result was a lot of phone calls and emails to our staff from college coaches about what to do now.
Watch the 10-minute video message at the top of the post, and let me know if you have any questions at dan@dantudor.com.
Aren’t a full subscriber yet? Invest a few cents a day into your coaching career by learning next level recruiting skills, delivered to your inbox throughout the week + access to our vast library of past articles.
A few other key pieces of advice when it comes to communicating with recruits about this delay, your college, having the money conversation, and more:
FAFSA and Money Hurdles: What to Do With the New Timelines and Deadlines
The 2023-2024 FAFSA is Going to Be a Nightmare, Coach. Here’s What To Do…
* Note: We wrote that one in August 2023…looks like we nailed it, unfortunately
For the Coach Who is Uncomfortable Talking to Prospects About Money & Costs
You Aren’t Using Your College’s Net Price Calculator Like You Should Be
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
We had a follow-up question from a previous popular article about one of the big recruiting rules we encourage every college coach to follow.
Watch the video to hear my answer...
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantudor.substack.com/subscribe
How did your recruiting year go, Coach?
I’m asking because this is the time of year when you look back and smile, or start sweating a little bit. What you did right, and what you did wrong, are about to be put on full display for your entire department to see.
If you’re not happy with this past year’s results, it’s time to assess and make changes.
In this short 13-minute podcast message, I want to outline the three areas you’ll want to look at carefully in the way you’ve been recruiting, and consider changing your approach in order to get better results. It’s all based on what we’ve seen working for other coaches and programs.
If you’re not a subscriber to this Honey Badger Recruiting site, consider signing-up today so we can get you our latest, best information delivered straight to your Inbox. Plus, you’ll have instant access to our entire library of past training and research that will change the way you recruit - and, get better results!
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A quick overview on what the recruiting curve is, how it’s hurting you, and how to fix it.
It’s a special 15-minute podcast for you today, Coach. Hope it helps!
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This past week of posts has been amazing.
Not because they are especially well-written, or anything to do with me, but because of what naturally transpired with several of our clients (which all of our clients and subscribers saw unfold, day after day).
This weekend, we wanted to try to give you a practical, real-world application for how to implement this in your program:
We had a conversation with a track and field coach over the phone yesterday, and he was kind enough to let all of you learn from his experiences. We had worked with his athletic department through one of our on-campus recruiting workshops we do around the country, and he needed some help implementing one of the big things we focus on when we get the chance to work closely with coaches in that setting:
Establishing a realistic, beneficial timeline and setting a fair but firm deadline.
Click the player at the top of this post and spend 29 minutes this weekend listening to his questions, our suggested solutions, and if any of it could apply to you (spoiler alert: it will).
Like the podcast conversation we had with this coach? then you’ll love our expanded College Recruiting Weekly podcast, available on iTunes, Google Play and streamed on Stitcher. Subscribe this weekend, we think you’ll love it.
It was a good week to be one of our Honey Badger Recruiting subscribers.
One of our newer readers, who coaches a Division II program on the west coast, sent an email saying, “honestly, I’ve learned more about how to define a timeline for my prospects in the last few days than I have in the past nine years of college coaching.”
That’s what this is all about.
Here were the most popular articles you may have missed;
“Warning to Coaches: This is What Happens When You Hold Firm” - one of our clients put these strategies to work. Here’s what happened...
“What to Do When Your Prospect Flip-Flops” - that client had a twist in the plot develop. But she kept her cool, and owned the situation like a boss. You gotta read what happened...
“How to Communicate Your Recruiting Timeline” - in case you missed it, here’s what a coach should do to make sure their recruit understands how the process is going to unfold.
Plus, all this.
If you subscribe now, you can go back and get all the strategies we’ve been going over these last few weeks - and, you’ll get your daily dose of recruiting awesomeness from now on. All for 95 cents a day.
We’d love to have you join us for the ride, Coach.
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We’re in the middle of a series that’s discussing strategies for college coaches who want to avoid having their program suffer by settling into a recruiting and development ‘plateau’.
In the previous post, we asked some vital questions that a coaching staff has to buy into if they’re truly going to make fundamental changes that can get their program back on an upward trend.
Another big part of the equation?
Attitude.
Take a listen (above) to one coach we talked to who has used our strategies from a workshop we lead at his college a few years ago to ignite some pretty exciting changes in his program. They’ve left the plateau, and are headed up quickly.
What makes a honey badger so fierce and relentless is attitude. It’s innate in them, and we want you to develop that same willingness to take risks and through caution to the wind when it comes to a can-do attitude.
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This is a special training series for college coaches from Tudor Collegiate Strategies, “First Contact Strategies That Create Unfair Advantages.” It’s free for coaches through the end of August 2019, and is a part of our new Honey Badger Recruiting subscriber package: A daily training message focused on one key training and teaching point for coaches who want an edge in their approach to strategic recruiting against their competition.
Got five minutes?
Listen to what we have to say about keeping your first contact phone calls short and to the point. It’s crucial if you want your prospects that you’re beginning to contact to interact with you over the long term.
Long phone calls are like long emails: They’re hard to stay focused on for recruits, and they discourage future conversations with you (“if my first call with a coach went on for an hour, I’ll bet the second one does, too…and I don’t have time for that”)
Our quick podcast message today outlines why keeping your first contact short sets you up for better recruiting conversations as the process unfolds, unlike your competition who isn’t reading this and still thinks this generation of recruit sees value in long, boring, sales-focused conversations with a college coach they don’t know.
Like what you’re reading? Want to make sure you continue to get this special daily training from Dan Tudor and the team of experts at Tudor Collegiate Strategies? Invest $1 a day into your college recruiting skills, and learn how to dominate through a more strategic approach.
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