49. Phil Kroft - University of Chicago - Head Coach - Men's Soccer

In this episode, I welcome Phil Kroft, the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Chicago. At the time of release of this podcast, his team is headed into the third round of the NCAA tournament as they look to defend the national championship. Coach Kroft discusses his thoughts on recruiting and coaching.

Summary

In this conversation, Phil Kroft, the head coach of the University of Chicago men's soccer team, discusses the recruiting process and the differences between recruiting at different levels of college soccer. He shares his own experiences and insights into the challenges and considerations of recruiting high academic student-athletes. He also provides advice for student-athletes on how to navigate the recruiting process and communicate effectively with coaches. Additionally, he addresses common misconceptions and myths about college soccer recruiting and offers guidance on financial aid and net price calculators. In this conversation, Phil Kroft and Scot Cooper discuss the college soccer recruiting process. They cover topics such as considering different options, the importance of personalized emails from coaches, the transfer portal, researching schools, observing players' behavior, and the importance of transition moments. The conversation emphasizes the need for players to find the right fit for their four-year college experience.

Takeaways

Consider all options and be open to personalized emails from coaches.

Don't overlook smaller schools or schools you haven't heard of.

Think about the status vs starter dilemma and what experience you want at the college level.

Do thorough research on schools, including their academic programs and soccer team dynamics.

Pay attention to players' behavior on and off the field, including body language and attitude.

Transition moments are crucial in soccer, so players should showcase their abilities in those situations.

Find the right fit for your four-year college experience, considering factors like location, academics, and personal goals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:31 Recruiting at Different Levels

05:23 Taking Over a National Championship Program

08:24 Recruiting Process at University of Chicago

13:44 Recruiting Timeline and Communication

15:16 What Coaches Look for in an Email

17:12 Admissions and Financial Aid

19:25 Misconceptions and Myths about Recruiting

24:15 Different Levels of College Soccer

27:34 Financial Aid and Net Price Calculators

32:54 Not Hearing Back from Coaches

35:59 Considering Different Options

37:08 Status vs Starter

38:40 The Transfer Portal

45:01 Researching Schools

48:30 Observing Players' Behavior

54:33 The Importance of Transition Moments

56:06 Finding the Right Fit