How to Cold-Call Coaches During the Recruiting Process

 

Calls are easier when they are scheduled, but making a “cold-call” to a coach is a great way to demonstrate initiative, maturity, and genuine interest. Very few people proactively call coaches, so if you’re one of the few people who picks up the phone and makes a call, you are really going to stand out. It’s a scary thing to do, especially in this day and age when kids almost never talk on the phone. But it’s worth it, I promise. I’ve seen the cold-call help kids break through communicating with coaches. They sent a couple emails and never heard anything, and then they called the coach, and boom, the dialogue was open. So, how do you cold-call coaches during the recruiting process

In an ideal world, you’ll start communicating with coaches via email and then, once you have established that you are a good fit for a school’s team, schedule a call with the coach. The coach might suggest a call or you can ask for one to learn more about their program. But what should you do if the coach doesn’t respond to your email? Or if your requests for a call go unanswered? First and foremost, keep emailing coaches. Just because a coach doesn’t respond, don’t assume they aren’t interested. There are many reasons why a coach might not respond to your first email or two. Second, call the coach anyway! 

 

Here are a few tips to help you prepare and nail a cold-call to a coach:

1. Email First!

Make sure you have already emailed the coach to introduce yourself. You want the coach to be able to find your email and relevant information. The coach will probably pull up your email and look you up on JGS while he or she is on the phone with you.

2. Prepare Questions

Have a list of questions prepared. Because the coach isn’t expecting your call, you are going to be in the driver’s seat, so you need to be ready to carry the conversation yourself. You’ll want to ask questions about the program and where they are in their recruiting process.

3. Introduce Yourself

Start the conversation by introducing yourself… “Hi Coach, this is (your name), I’m a rising junior from (state) and I am really interested in learning more about your program. Is now a good time for us to talk?”

4. Advocate For Yourself

You’ll need to share some of your information and accomplishments with the coach. After you introduce yourself, mention a few of your recent results and then ask what the coach typically looks for in top prospects.

5. Ask Your Questions – Order Matters!

Always start by asking about the experience of playing on their team, and then shift gears and ask about recruiting. It’s important that you ask your questions in this order or else the coach will think you are only interested in getting in, not actually playing on the team.

6. Keep The Ball

Leave a message if the coach doesn’t pick up, but keep the ball in your court. If the coach doesn’t answer your call, leave a short message and then tell the coach that you will call back. Give them a specific time when you are planning to make the next call so that they can potentially plan to be available at that time.

7. Call Again

Try back again in a few days, but don’t leave another message. Send a follow up email saying you’re sorry you missed him or her and ask your questions via email.

 

In all likelihood, if you don’t hear back from a coach after a few emails and cold-call attempts, the coach is pursuing other prospects. But don’t give up until the coach tells you that. You’d be surprised how many coaches become interested much later in the recruiting process than you’d think! For more info on that, check out my post on why a coach isn’t responding to my email?