58. Julianne Sitch- University of Denver Women's Soccer & Jamie Gunderson- Christopher Newport University Women's Soccer

In this episode I’m fortunate to welcome two coaches who have won college national titles. Julianne Sitch holds multiple school records and accolades at DePaul University and was recently inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame. Congratulations Julianne! She went on to play professionally in the US, Australia, and Sweden. As a coach, she was the women’s assistant coach at the University of Chicago and in the professional ranks as an assistant with the Chicaco Red Stars in the NWSL. She returned to the University of Chicago and led the men’s soccer team to an undefeated record culminating in a national championship. She is now the head coach of the women’s soccer team at the University of Denver. Returning to the podcast is Jamie Gunderson, who is the head coach of women’s soccer at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. Jamie has yet to lose as head coach. We discuss Julianne’s playing career as a youth player, into college and as a professional. She shares lessons she learned as an athlete and is passing on to her student athletes. We delve into the steps of the recruiting process and get their views on what’s important. Thank you to Julianne and Jamie for a great episode and for sharing so much of their perspective.

Summary

The conversation explores the challenges and stress of the recruiting process for both coaches and players. The guests discuss the overwhelming nature of finding the right fit academically, athletically, and culturally. They emphasize the importance of building relationships and creating a supportive team environment. The guests share their personal soccer stories and the lessons they learned from playing professionally. They also discuss the culture of women's soccer overseas and the importance of being authentic and vulnerable as a coach. The conversation concludes with advice on how players can differentiate themselves and make a lasting impression during the recruiting process. The conversation covers various aspects of the college soccer recruiting process. It discusses how to handle position changes, set expectations at events, create a game plan after the event, and navigate the timeline for recruiting classes. The importance of asking questions during visits and considering factors on campus is emphasized. The conversation also addresses how to handle offers and manage player expectations and emotions.

Takeaways

Be open to playing different positions and focus on giving your best effort in any role.

Expectations at events should include being open to communication from coaches and understanding different timelines for contact.

After the event, be patient with coach correspondence and consider reaching out for follow-up if needed.

When considering offers, ask questions about coaching philosophy, program goals, and the overall experience.

Chapters

00:00 The Stress of Recruiting

04:38 Challenges in Recruiting

08:54 Personal Soccer Stories

13:21 Overcoming Doubts and Challenges

15:38 Lessons from Playing Professionally

18:07 Women's Soccer Culture Overseas

19:43 Life Lessons from Playing Professionally

23:27 Building Team Chemistry and Trust

30:25 Creating a Supportive Team Environment

36:02 Importance of Team Support in Difficult Times

38:33 Stand Out in Recruiting

42:45 Handling Position Changes

46:48 Expectations at the Event

49:03 Game Plan and Timeline After the Event

51:54 Recruiting Class Status

57:03 Timeline for Recruiting Classes

58:27 Asking Questions During Visits

01:01:35 Factors to Look for on Campus Visits

01:04:47 Handling Offers

01:08:59 Dealing with Player Expectations and Emotions